18 November 2026 • 20 minute read

Global Life Sciences Summit 2026

Name: Global Life Sciences Summit 2026
Start: 2026-11-18

Connecting minds, advancing life

18 November 2026, DLA Piper London

DLA Piper will host its annual Global Life Sciences Summit in London on 18 November 2026.

Bringing together senior leaders from across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device sectors, the Summit offers a platform to explore issues shaping the industry.

Attendees will include organisations at all stages of the product lifecycle, creating an opportunity to exchange perspectives and insights across markets and practice areas.

On Tuesday, 17 November we will host an exclusive networking reception at the Courtauld Gallery, offering the opportunity to connect with peers ahead of our Summit. Find out more here.

What to expect

Join senior leaders from across the global life sciences community for a day of insight, discussion and networking.

Through plenary panels and interactive breakout sessions, the Summit will explore the geopolitical, legal and regulatory, technological and commercial forces shaping the sector. Topics will range from transactions and private capital to major regulatory changes, AI, cybersecurity, connected healthcare, product liability, drug pricing, China, and other emerging markets.

Attendees can expect industry leaders, policymakers, investors, advisers and legal specialists, alongside opportunities to exchange experiences and build connections with peers from across the sector. The day will conclude with a cocktail reception.

Speakers

Kirsten Axelsen

Senior Policy Advisor
DLA Piper

Subin Baral

Global Deals Leader
EY LifeSciences

Patience Bin

Head of Enterprise AI & Data Governance
Law & Compliance
Bristol Myers Squibb

Sandra Bjegovic

Vice President
Global Investigations & Remediation Lead
Pfizer

David Cameron

(The Rt Hon the Lord Cameron)

Former UK Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary
Consultant
DLA Piper

Raquel Frisardi

Associate General Counsel
Novo

Konstantina Katcheves

Senior Vice President
Chief Business and Strategy Officer
Acadia Pharmaceuticals

Victoria Kitcatt

VP & Associate General Counsel
Pfizer

Geoff Levitt

Head of Global Regulatory Law
argenx

Ashwin Maini

Head of Global Anti-Bribery & Anti-Corruption Compliance
AstraZeneca

Stefano Marino

Senior Consultant
DLA Piper

Simon Neill

Senior Director
Legal Policy & Risk Management EMEA & Assistant General Counsel
Johnson & Johnson

Jamie O'Donnell

Vice President & General Counsel
Resmed

Adriana Passos

Head of Legal
Partner Markets
GSK

Ombretta Poli

Vice President – International Legal
Eli Lilly

Florian Schmidt

Deputy Head of Unit
DG SANTE
European Commission

Hirsh Shukla

Managing Director
Healthcare Investment Banking
Goldman Sachs

Andrzej Balicki

Partner
DLA Piper

Greg Bodulovic

Partner
DLA Piper

Richard Burr

Principal Policy Advisor
Chair, Health Policy Strategic Consulting practice
DLA Piper

Chris Campbell

Partner
Chair, Product Liability and Mass Torts Group
Co-Chair, Product Liability, Mass Torts & Class Actions Group
DLA Piper

Paula González de Castejón

Partner
DLA Piper

Sonia de Kondserovsky

Partner
DLA Piper

Dr. Lyndsey Hudson

Head of Strategic Delivery, Life Sciences
DLA Piper

Kristi Kung

Partner
Chair, Healthcare Regulatory Practice
DLA Piper

Rebecca Lawrence

Partner
DLA Piper

Christine Liu

Partner
Foreign Legal Consultant (Hong Kong)
Co-head, White Collar Crime adnd Investigations, Life Sciences Sector

Karina Lynch

Partner
Global Co-Chair, Government Affairs and Public Policy
DLA Piper

John McKinlay

Partner
DLA Piper

Ross McKean

Partner
DLA Piper

Marco de Morpurgo

Partner
Global Co-Chair, Life Sciences and Healthcare Sector
DLA Piper

Lauren Murdza

Partner
Co-Chair, Technology and Life Sciences Licensing and Commercial Transactions
DLA Piper

Mark O'Conor

Partner
Managing Director Sectors, Data & AI
DLA Piper

Michael Patrone

Partner
DLA Piper

Ron Plesco

Partner
DLA Piper

Vernessa Pollard

Partner
Chair, FDA Regulatory Practice
DLA Piper

Emilio Ragosa

Partner
Managing Partner, Short Hills
Global Co-Chair, Life Sciences and Healthcare Sector
DLA Piper

Victoria Rhodes

Partner
DLA Piper

Howard Schwartz

Partner
Baltimore Corporate Head
DLA Piper

Jeffrey Scott

Of Counsel
DLA Piper

Rob Shaffer

Partner
Head of Life Sciences Patent Litigation practice
DLA Piper

Siona Spillett

Partner
DLA Piper

Richard Sterneberg

Partner
Global Co-Chair, Government Affairs Practice
DLA Piper

Gareth Stokes

Partner
Global Co-Chair, Technology Sector
DLA Piper

Danny Tobey

Partner
Global Co-Chair and Chair of DLA Piper Americas AI and Data Analytics Practice
DLA Piper

Nick Tyacke

Partner
Head of Life Sciences Sector, Australia
DLA Piper

Adam Vause

Partner
DLA Piper

Ting Xiao

Partner
Regional Life Sciences and Healthcare Lead, Asia
DLA Piper

Agenda

Morning plenary

08:00 – 08:50

Registration and coffee

09:00 – 10:40

Opening remarks

Mark O'Conor – Managing Director, Sectors, DLA Piper

Marco de Morpurgo – Global Co-Chair, Life Sciences and Healthcare Sector, DLA Piper

Setting the scene: Facts, forces, and the future of life sciences

What is happening in the sector today and what are the forces defining its future? This interactive session will explore how life sciences companies are changing the way they innovate and operate, and the innovations that are shaping the treatment and care landscapes of the future.

Speaker:

Dr. Lyndsey Hudson - Head of Strategic Delivery, Life Sciences and Healthcare, DLA Piper

Navigating disruption: Risk, resilience, and the road ahead

Geopolitics is no longer background noise for life sciences companies. It is a board-level business risk. Tariffs, investment screening, supply chain security and shifting political priorities in Washington, London and Brussels now shape where companies invest, manufacture and bring products to market. Join our panel of experts for a candid discussion on trade, national security and political change, and on what life sciences leaders should be preparing for next.

Speakers:

The Rt Hon the Lord Cameron – former UK Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary; Consultant, DLA Piper

Senator Richard Burr – former US Senator; Principal Policy Advisor, DLA Piper

Karina Lynch – Global Co-Chair, Government Affairs Practice, DLA Piper

Richard Sterneberg – Global Co-Chair, Government Affairs Practice, DLA Piper

The state of global life sciences transactions

Our panel of experts, representing leading global investment bankers and clients ranging from pharma to medical devices, will discuss current trends in global, cross border transactions, including the increased use of structured transactions with complicated earnouts coupled with multiple milestones that require deep industry expertise to navigate successfully.

Speaker:

Hirsh Shukla – Managing Director, Healthcare Investment Banking, Goldman Sachs

Emilio Ragosa – Global Co-Chair, Life Sciences and Healthcare Sector, DLA Piper

10:40 – 11:20

Networking break

11:20 – 12:45

Keynote: “Choose Europe for Life Sciences”: An update on the European Commission's strategic agenda

Speaker:

Florian Schmidt – Deputy Head of Unit, DG SANTE, European Commission

EU Pharmaceutical law reform: Ready for implementation?

With formal approval and publication of the final text expected in November, this expert panel will cut through the complexity of the EU pharmaceutical legislation reform, covering its key anticipated impacts, the EU institutions’ implementation roadmap, and what forward-thinking pharma companies are doing now to stay ahead of the curve.

Speakers:

Victoria Kitcatt – VP & Associate General Counsel, Pfizer

Ombretta Poli – Vice President – International Legal, Eli Lilly

Florian Schmidt – Deputy Head of Unit, DG SANTE, European Commission

Stefano Marino – Former Head of Legal Department, European Medicines Agency; Senior Consultant, DLA Piper

Marco de Morpurgo – Global Co-Chair, Life Sciences and Healthcare Sector, DLA Piper

Cyber Threats: Are you prepared?

In March 2026, a leading global medical device manufacturer disclosed a major cyberattack involving compromise affecting endpoints across 79 countries. In this session Ron Plesco and Ross McKean, two partners in our global cybersecurity practice, will provide a situation report on the current threat landscape across the sector and discuss the key questions arising from the March 2026 attack which every board should now be asking itself: could this happen to us, and are we prepared to answer our regulators, investors, claimants and our own board if it did?

Speakers:

Ross McKean – Partner, DLA Piper

Ron Plesco – Partner, DLA Piper

Morning wrap-up

Marco de Morpurgo – Global Co-Chair, Life Sciences and Healthcare Sector, DLA Piper

Lunch

12:45 – 14:00

Lunch

Breakout session 1

14:00 – 14:35

Shaping inorganic growth: Life sciences M&A and partnerships

As life sciences companies look beyond organic growth, dealmaking is evolving rapidly. This interactive panel will explore emerging M&A, licensing and partnership structures, increasing activity in asset acquisitions and collaborations, continued strength in venture and large-cap transactions, and the implications for mid-market dealmakers navigating a changing investment landscape.

Speakers:

Subin Baral – Global Deals Leader, EY LifeSciences

Konstantina Katcheves – Senior Vice President, Chief Business and Strategy Officer, Acadia Pharmaceuticals

Victoria Rhodes – DLA Piper

Mike Patrone – DLA Piper

Sonia de Kondserovsky – DLA Piper

More speakers to be announced

AI v patents: Rethinking global patent strategy for life sciences

As AI transforms life sciences R&D, what does it mean for global patent strategy? This session explores the implications of AI-assisted innovation for inventorship, patentability, validity, ownership and enforcement, and how life sciences companies can navigate developing approaches across key jurisdictions while building practical, future-ready global IP strategies.

Speakers:

Raquel Frisardi – Associate General Counsel, Novo

Nick Tyacke – DLA Piper

Rob Shaffer – DLA Piper

Dissolving barriers in connected healthcare

Digital health is reshaping the entire patient journey, from virtual care and AI-enabled diagnostics to in-home monitoring and treatment. This session will explore how organisations can balance innovation with trust, transparency and patient outcomes while navigating evolving regulatory, privacy, cybersecurity and AI governance requirements across global markets.

Speakers:

Jamie O'Donnell – Vice President & General Counsel, Resmed

Kristi Kung – DLA Piper

Greg Bodulovic– DLA Piper

More speakers to be announced

Beyond the core: Succeeding in emerging life sciences markets

Speakers:

Adriana Passos – Head of Legal, Partner Markets, GSK

Marco de Morpurgo – DLA Piper

Adam Vause – DLA Piper

More speakers to be announced

14:35 – 14:45

Break

Breakout session 2

14:45 – 15:20

Structuring commercial transactions in the life sciences industry

How are life sciences companies structuring commercial transactions in today's market? Join us for an interactive discussion on collaboration, licensing, manufacturing and supply arrangements, exploring approaches to managing IP, data and commercial risk across the product development, manufacture and supply lifecycle.

Speakers:

John McKinlay – DLA Piper

Lauren Murdza – DLA Piper

More speakers to be announced

EU Product Liability Directive: A unified approach?

The implementation deadline for the EU's Product Liability Directive is weeks away. This session will look at its potential impact and whether innovators can expect to see greater or lesser alignment across the globe in patient litigation.

Speakers:

Simon Neill – Senior Director, Legal Policy & Risk Management EMEA & Assistant General Counsel, Johnson & Johnson

Siona Spillett – DLA Piper

Chris Campbell – DLA Piper

More speakers to be announced

Not the wild west: Compliance and regulatory considerations when expanding in the US market

Expanding into the US life sciences market presents unique regulatory and enforcement challenges. Through practical case studies, our panel will explore the key compliance risks facing international companies, including promotional practices, AI-driven enforcement, pricing scrutiny, interactions with healthcare stakeholders, and patient support programmes, with actionable takeaways for growth.

Speakers:

Geoff Levitt – Head of Global Regulatory Law, argenx

Kristi Kung – DLA Piper

Jeffrey Scott – DLA Piper

Vernessa Pollard – DLA Piper

Private capital in life sciences: Fuelling innovation through market cycles

Our panel of experts representing venture capital, private equity, private credit, and sovereign wealth funds will discuss private capital solutions to fund innovation from drug development through commercialization and global expansion.

Speakers:

Emilio Ragosa – DLA Piper

More speakers to be announced

15:20 – 15:30

Break

Breakout session 3

15:30 – 16:05

China’s life sciences boom: Navigating risk for growth

China’s life sciences sector continues to expand rapidly, creating significant opportunities for companies and investors. This session explores key growth drivers, M&A, licensing and investment trends, and the impact of evolving regulations governing cross border transactions involving China. Gain practical insights on navigating risk and unlocking growth in this dynamic market.

Speakers:

Howard Schwartz – DLA Piper

Ting Xiao – DLA Piper

More speakers to be announced

AI under scrutiny: Transforming investigations, compliance and risk

AI is rapidly reshaping how organisations detect risk, conduct investigations and strengthen compliance. Join in-house counsel and DLA Piper lawyers as they explore real-world applications of AI, lessons learned from early adoption, emerging regulatory expectations, and the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Speakers:

Patience Bin – Head of Enterprise AI & Data Governance, Law & Compliance, Bristol Myers Squibb

Sandra Bjegovic – Vice President, Global Investigations & Remediation Lead, Pfizer

Ashwin Maini – Head of Global Anti-Bribery & Anti-Corruption Compliance, AstraZeneca

Adam Vause – DLA Piper

Christine Liu – DLA Piper

More speakers to be announced

US Most Favored Nation drug pricing and impacts on global markets

The U.S. continues to implement policies encouraging multinational biopharmaceutical companies to align medicine prices with other developed markets through voluntary and compulsory agreements. Gain insight into the current status of these policies and how Europe is responding, including the U.S. perspective and views from both MFN-referenced countries and markets outside the reference basket.

Speakers:

Kirsten Axelsen – DLA Piper

Sonia de Kondserovsky – DLA Piper

Paula González de Castejón – DLA Piper

Andrzej Balicki – DLA Piper

16:05 – 16:20

Break

Closing plenary

16:20 – 16:55

The cure for AI phobia: The beneficial effects of intelligent systems in Life Sciences

This session will explore how life sciences companies, healthcare institutions and patients can benefit from the transformative impact of AI. Taking a deliberately optimistic perspective, the discussion will focus on AI's potential to drive meaningful innovation and value, while also examining the practical challenges of adoption, regulation and governance.

Speakers:

Jamie O'Donnell – Vice President & General Counsel, Resmed

Danny Tobey– Global Co-Chair and Chair of DLA Piper Americas AI and Data Analytics Practice, DLA Piper

Gareth Stokes – Global Co-Chair, Technology Sector, DLA Piper

16:55 – 17:00

Closing remarks

Marco de Morpurgo – Global Co-Chair, Life Sciences and Healthcare Sector, DLA Piper