Ropes & Gray Presents From The Boardroom
Option Transactions in Today’s Market:
Unlocking Maximum Value While Minimizing Risk Sunday, January 12, 2025 3:30 pm PT
The St. Regis San Francisco 125 3rd St.
Option Transactions in Today’s Market:
Unlocking Maximum Value While Minimizing Risk
Option deals in the life sciences sector offer numerous strategic advantages.
Our engaging panel of industry experts will discuss how companies can use option structures to pursue valuable collaborations and pipeline opportunities while achieving balance sheet objectives.
The panel will offer an opportunity to gain valuable insights from industry leaders on the advantages and complexities of option structures, including the many ways in which these transactions can be crafted to meet bespoke business objectives.
Our From the Boardroom panels typically run 70 minutes in length, ending with an open Q&A session with the audience. We invite you to join us for a networking cocktail hour immediately following the program.
Panelists
Casarine (Cassie) Chong
Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Transactions
Bristol Myers Squibb
Casarine (Cassie) Chong is
Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Transactions for Bristol Myers Squibb. Cassie and her organization provide strategic and business-enabling support of all significant transactions, including mergers & acquisitions, venture investments and strategic licenses and collaboration, as well as support for global alliance management and global corporate and operational contracting. Cassie is a member of the BMS Law Department senior leadership team and the Strategy & Business Development senior leadership team, and Executive Sponsor of the BMS Law Department’s Pro Bono Committee.
Cassie has strong legal experience in the biopharma industry. She was previously with AbbVie, where she was the Section Head of R&D, Alliance Management and Transactions, and a member of the AbbVie Legal Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Cassie began her in-house legal career at Abbott Laboratories, and prior to Abbott, Cassie was a Corporate & Securities associate at the Chicago office of Mayer Brown LLP. Cassie earned her JD from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and her MBA from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.
Chris Frankenfield
Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer Xilio Therapeutics
Chris Frankenfield is an accomplished biotechnology executive with over 15 years of experience guiding companies on capital markets and business development transactions, corporate and financial strategy, operations, corporate governance, and legal matters. Mr. Frankenfield has served as Xilio’s chief financial officer since August 2024 and chief operating officer since August 2023. Prior to that, he served as Xilio’s chief
legal and administrative officer from August 2022 to August 2023, and general counsel from March 2021 to August 2022. In these roles, Mr. Frankenfield has helped lead the execution of Xilio’s corporate and financial strategy as well as operations across multiple business functions.
Prior to joining Xilio, Mr. Frankenfield served as vice president of corporate legal affairs at Blueprint Medicines and as a member of its management team. At Blueprint Medicines, he led public company reporting activities, advised on capital markets strategy and supported multiple successful equity offerings, supported commercial product launches and helped execute multiple successful collaborations and partnerships with Roche and Genentech, CStone Pharmaceuticals, and Ipsen. Before Blueprint Medicines, Mr. Frankenfield was a senior associate at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, with a focus on capital markets and strategic transactions, public company reporting and corporate governance matters.
Mr. Frankenfield began his career in the advisory practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. He received his B.A. in economics from the College of William & Mary and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.
John Mayfield
Senior Vice President of Business Development & Strategy Flagship Pioneering
John D. Mayfield joined Flagship Pioneering in 2024 as Senior Vice President of Business Development & Strategy. In this role, John leverages his expertise in licensing, transactions, and establishing strategic collaborations within the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and diagnostics industries to head business development efforts for Flagship companies.
Before joining Flagship, John was the Chief Business Officer at Be Biopharma, building out the BD function, leading partnering efforts, and exploring technologies to empower the platform. John also held roles at EQRx where he was
most recently the VP, Corporate and Business Development, leading a team that executed significant deal-flow spanning co-development and co-commercialization partnerships to licensing and collaboration agreements for preclinical, clinical and commercial-stage medicines. John also held business development roles of increasing responsibility at Voyager Therapeutics and Foundation Medicine and was a member of the development teams at Foundation Medicine and Illumina. John has served as an advisory board member of the University of Florida Innovate | Accelerate since 2021 and TGEN Enterprise Directed Programs since 2023.
John holds a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Florida, and a Bachelor of Science in biology from Southeast Missouri State University. He conducted postdoctoral research at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Duke University.
Siobhan Pomeroy Vice President, Corporate Development Gilead Sciences
Siobhan Pomeroy joined Gilead Sciences Corporate Development team in June 2019 and has held roles of increasing responsibility. In her current role as Vice President, Corporate Development, Siobhan oversees a team responsible for executing transactions, including M&A and licensing, across Gilead’s core therapeutic areas – virology, oncology and inflammation. She also oversees Corporate Development activities for Gilead’s cell therapy affiliate, Kite Pharma. Since joining Gilead, Siobhan has been instrumental in executing a variety of transactions and partnerships, including the acquisitions of Immunomedics and Miro Bio and strategic collaborations with Arcus, Dragonfly and Tentarix. She sits on the Board of Tizona Therapeutics and is a Board Observer for Tentarix Biotherapeutics.
Siobhan previously spent four years at AbbVie, where she focused primarily on oncology opportunities and led negotiations for several transactions, including novel early-stage
collaborations with Pure MHC and Genomics Medicine Ireland. In 2015, Siobhan was involved in AbbVie’s acquisition of Pharmacyclics and later transitioned to California, as AbbVie built out their West Coast presence. Siobhan began her BD career as an Associate in Smith & Nephew’s Strategy & Business Development group.
Siobhan received a B.S. in Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In her free time, Siobhan enjoys traveling, skiing, and spending time with her husband, son and two cats.
Moderator
Amanda Austin Partner Ropes & Gray
Amanda is a key transactions advisor for a broad range of clients in the life sciences industry. She represents and counsels multinational pharmaceutical companies, medical device and biotechnology companies, startups and early-stage enterprises, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions in transactions critical to their business and mission, including cross-border deals.
Amanda’s practice includes a full range of life sciences transactions, including: licensing agreements, research and development collaboration agreements, strategic commercial partnerships, joint ventures, co-promotion relationships, and distribution and manufacturing arrangements.
The unique breadth of her client base and experience enables Amanda to provide sophisticated strategic counsel on transactions involving many of the life sciences industry’s most important emerging technologies.
Amanda received her AB (Government) from Harvard University and her JD from Harvard Law School.
Ropes & Gray Global Healthcare & Life Sciences
Ropes & Gray’s healthcare and life sciences industry group serves the legal and business needs of the world’s leading industry participants. Representing clients across all sub-sectors, our internationally recognized team counsels pharma, biotech and medical device companies; digital health enterprises and technology companies expanding into the industry; major hospital systems, academic medical centers, healthcare service providers; and hundreds of investors, including private equity, asset management, venture capital, and investment banking firms. Drawing on resources in our offices around the globe, which include EU, UK and Asia regulatory specialists, we focus on developing cutting-edge solutions to help clients meet their business goals.
■ Mergers & Acquisitions
■ Licensing, Collaborations & Joint Ventures
■ Capital Markets
■ Private Equity
■ Venture Capital & Emerging Companies
■ Business Restructuring
■ Healthcare & FDA Regulatory and Compliance
■ Antitrust
■ Intellectual Property
■ Government Enforcement
■ Real Estate
■ Securities Litigation & Enforcement
■ Tax, Benefits and Executive Compensation
■ Privacy & Cybersecurity
Our Global Healthcare & Life Sciences Client Offering
Where We Excel
For Our Clients
Mergers & Acquisitions
Our life sciences M&A team has represented clients in many large, high-profile mergers and acquisitions. Unique to our team is our ability to handle an entire transaction under one roof, calling upon experts in our IP, healthcare and FDA regulatory, antitrust, labor and employment, litigation and tax groups to conduct due diligence and provide advice on various issues that arise during transactions.
Licensing, Collaborations & Joint Ventures
We represent life sciences and healthcare companies in structuring and negotiating commercial agreements involving licensing, co-marketing, co-promotion, distribution and other arrangements.
Capital Markets
We have extensive experience representing life sciences corporate issuers, major investment banks, and leading private equity firms in all aspects of capital markets financings.
Private Equity
We have one of the leading, and most robust, private equity practices in the world. Together with our globally renowned healthcare and life sciences team, Ropes & Gray is uniquely positioned to help private equity investors thrive in the many types of industry deals and investments taking place around the world.
Venture Capital & Emerging Companies
We advise life sciences venture capital investors throughout the lifecycle of their investments. From negotiating and closing seed financings to assisting growth stage investors in developing successful portfolio companies and structures, we have the experience to support clients from the time of initial investment through their ultimate exit. We are proud to be alongside emerging growth companies through all phases of their lifecycles.
Business Restructuring
Our business restructuring team provides healthcare and life sciences clients with creative strategies and practical solutions for addressing the challenges of financial distress and insolvency.
Healthcare & Life Sciences Regulatory And Compliance
As a true healthcare and life sciences firm, we have made a long-term investment in building out a global team of top healthcare and life sciences regulatory subject matter experts. We know the ins and outs of regulatory risks, cross-border compliance and enforcement.
Where We Excel For Our Clients
Antitrust
We represent life sciences companies before the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Department of Justice, and other agencies. We also advise in connection with nonpublic government investigations and represent plaintiffs and defendants in litigating cutting-edge issues.
Intellectual Property
Our IP professionals evaluate third-party IP and provide opinions, perform due diligence, conduct portfolio assessments, develop domestic and international patent strategies, prepare and evaluate IP-related securities disclosures, advise on licensing and collaboration transactions, and deliver litigation services to global life sciences companies.
Government Enforcement
We have a long, successful track record of partnering with healthcare and life sciences companies and other organizations on the full spectrum of internal investigations and white-collar enforcement matters.
Real Estate
Our real estate team has a unique understanding of our life sciences clients’ needs around R&D and manufacturing, as well as the challenges that arise in developing, leasing, acquiring, structuring, financing, owning and operating real estate for life sciences use.
Securities Litigation & Enforcement
Our litigators have defended numerous securities fraud claims, including those related to regulatory disclosures.
Tax, Benefits And Executive Compensation
Our tax and executive compensation teams provide comprehensive advice related to aspects of mergers and acquisitions and business restructurings, joint ventures, tax planning and tax controversies.
Privacy & Cybersecurity
We help healthcare and life sciences industry clients manage issues and matters involving privacy and cybersecurity law by counseling on privacy and cybersecurity compliance as well as incident prevention and response. We also advise on the privacy and cybersecurity risks in corporate transactions and provide representation in litigation and regulatory investigations arising from cyber incidents and alleged privacy violations.
Our Market Recognition
Corporate Practice of the Year, Pharma and Health Care
The American Lawyer Industry Awards 2024 & 2022
Health Care Practice Group of the Year
Law360 2023, 2021, 2020, 2019
Band 1 – Elite, Nationwide Healthcare Elite Chambers USA 2024
Managing IP Americas Awards
IP Transactions Firm of the Year 2023
Licensing and Collaboration Firm of the Year
Three-time winner LMG Life Sciences Awards
M&A Firm of the Year
LMG Life Sciences 2022
Top-Tier Life Sciences Regulatory/Compliance Practice Chambers USA 2024
UK Life Sciences Firm of the Year
LMG Life Sciences EMEA Awards 2024
Leading Firm, Multi-Jurisdictional: Life Sciences
Chambers Global 2024
Law Firm of the Year, Leveraged Buyouts & Private Equity Law
U.S. News & World Report 2023
Industry Insights & Resources
Ropes & Gray continually provides informed perspectives on global, regional, industry-specific, and practice-focused legal issues. Below is a sampling of recent and upcoming thought leadership and events.
Please click here for more details
Events
Upcoming Webinar –Life Sciences and the FTC in the Trump Administration: Implications and Opportunities for Dealmakers
January 21, 2025, 1–2 pm ET
The return of Donald Trump to the White House has raised the question of whether the past four years of pronounced hostility from federal antitrust enforcement agencies to M&A and the life sciences industry is likely to continue. In other words, are we likely to look at the Biden FTC as an unpleasant detour or a horrifying on-ramp with respect to future antitrust enforcement? At the same time, the announcement of new Merger Guidelines, the advent of new HSR rules, and recent lawsuits and opinions may have significant implications for planning and executing deals in this new environment. During this webinar, three leading antitrust practitioners with involvement in some of the most important life sciences M&A matters will describe what all of this means for dealmaking. Request invitation: RGEvents@ropesgray.com
Upcoming Webinar –Life Sciences Regulatory Outlook 2025
January 28, 2025, 10–11 am ET
As a new administration enters the White House in the US, life sciences companies and investors are preparing for potential changes in the regulatory, compliance, and enforcement environment. Join our global Life Sciences Regulatory & Compliance team to hear about the most noteworthy developments
emanating from DC, as well as key regulatory issues to watch in Europe, the UK, and Asia that are likely to impact life sciences companies in 2025.
Request invitation: RGEvents@ropesgray.com
Upcoming In-Person Event –3rd Annual Ropes & Gray Rare Disease Forum
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Kimpton Marlowe Hotel, Cambridge, MA
Please join a cross-disciplinary group of Ropes & Gray attorneys and industry experts as they explore new developments in the regulatory framework, compliance risks, transactional considerations and other key topics related to the development and commercialization of rare disease products.
Request invitation: RGEvents@ropesgray.com
Recent Webinar –Drug Pricing Under the New Administration: The Prospect of Congressional Investigations and How to Prepare
This session discusses the current federal policy landscape related to drug pricing and what we might expect under the Trump Administration and new Congress. It then delves into lessons-learned from past Congressional drug pricing investigations and where the 119th and 120th Congresses are likely to focus over the next four years, informed by the views of some of the individuals who have been involved at the ground-level.
Insights
Article – Litigation Attorneys Share Predictions for Antitrust Enforcement of Life Sciences Under Trump Administration
Litigation & enforcement partner Jackie Grise and associate Shane Bryan authored an article for Law360 discussing how life sciences companies and transaction counsel are preparing for the antitrust environment in 2025 with a new administration.
Please click here to learn our perspective
Resources
IPO Resource Center
The IPO Resource Center provides resources and practical guidance for taking your company public.
Please click here to learn more
Podcast – New HSR Rules: Impacts to the Pharma Industry
On this Ropes & Gray podcast, strategic transactions partner Hannah England is joined by antitrust partners Jackie Grise and Zak Goodwin to discuss the practical implications of the new Hart–Scott–Rodino Act rules, which go into effect on February 10, 2025, the challenges faced by pharmaceutical clients and the strategic adjustments required for compliance. Tune in to understand how these changes will affect acquisitions, licensing and collaboration transactions and other strategic transactions, and the overall regulatory landscape.
Please click here to learn our perspective
Podcast – Health Care Transaction Laws
Unwrapped: Recent Antitrust Developments
Ropes & Gray antitrust partner Jane Willis and counsel David Young explore the intersection of health care transaction laws and antitrust enforcement. They discuss major trends influencing health care transactions, the impact of political changes on antitrust enforcement, and specific issues such as community hospital acquisitions, system-to-system mergers, and private equity investments in health care. The episode provides insights into how these factors shape the regulatory landscape and what health care providers and investors can expect moving forward.
Please click here to learn our perspective
HealthTrax –A Health Care Transaction Laws Tracker
Health care transactions, including private equity health care transactions, are under review from both federal and state regulators and legislators. New state competition, quality, access and cost laws are creating additional requirements on health care entities considering new transactions, from private equity backed entities to management services organizations. Learn how to navigate this shifting regulatory landscape.
Please click here to learn more
Get in Touch
Ropes & Gray regularly hosts various programs and provides in-depth insights into a variety of topics facing the healthcare and life sciences industry, including corporate, regulatory, privacy, intellectual property, and litigation and enforcement issues.
Please click here to subscribe our healthcare and life sciences communications and receive recently published articles, podcasts, and notifications about upcoming events and thought leadership.
We Hope to See You Tuesday!
Ropes & Gray’s 16th Annual Executive Cocktail Reception
Tuesday, January 14, 2025, 5:30 pm PT
Hotel Nikko
222 Mason St, San Francisco
(Just off Union Square)
To register for the reception, please click the RSVP button below. Please note, only registered guests will be admitted.
RSVP