Pharmaceutical spending in Sub-Saharan Africa is forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11% from 2013 to 2023 (according to Business Monitor International). This is due to increasing wealth and demand for the treatment of chronic diseases.
Our team (consisting of corporate, competition, regulatory and dispute resolution lawyers who focus on the pharmaceuticals and healthcare sector and who have gained considerable industry insight) is well placed to partner with our clients and assist them in pursuing these opportunities.
We have extensive experience in, and regularly advise stakeholders across, the healthcare services and products supply chain, including pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, pharmacies, hospitals, health practitioners (through the Medical Protection Society) open and restricted medical schemes, medical scheme administrators and managed healthcare providers.
Our clients include two of the South African listed private hospital groups, one of the world’s largest mutual indemnity associations and a number of multinational and local pharmaceutical companies supplying products in a variety of therapeutic categories.
Our services span a wide range of practice areas which include advising on all aspects of the regulation of medicines (including complementary medicines) and medical devices, pharmacies, hospitals, healthcare professionals, medical schemes and medical insurance.
We have extensive experience advising on mergers and acquisitions (including due diligence investigations and related agreements), competition issues and employment law within the sector.
We have also assisted our clients in effectively resolving disputes within the pharmaceuticals and healthcare sector.
- Advised My Dawa Limited, a leading e-pharmacy, on its expansion into Uganda through the acquisition of a traditional pharmacy chain, including the acquisition of the holding company and its Ugandan operating subsidiary.
- Acts as Company Secretary and external legal counsel to the Infectious Diseases Institute, advising on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, laboratory license renewals, immigration matters and company secretarial services.
- Represented the Infectious Diseases Institute in a tax dispute involving PAYE and withholding tax, resulting in a High Court decision clarifying the test for employment status for tax purposes.
- Advised Cipla Quality Chemical Industries Limited and Cipla Limited on the assignment and licensing of intellectual property relating to pharmaceutical products manufactured in Uganda.
- Advised Walter Bushnell International LLC on trademark registration and protection in Uganda, including representation before the Intellectual Property Office following a trademark objection.
- Acted for and advised The AIDS Support Organization (TASO) and TASO College of Health Science in connection with a multi financing.
- Advised Baylor College of Medicine on corporate governance matters, including board training and fiduciary duties as part of the firm’s company secretarial practice.
