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Emily Leonard is the vice-chair of the firm's Life Sciences Industry Group and a member of the corporate and intellectual property practice groups. She is resident in the firm’s Palo Alto office.
Ms. Leonard concentrates in transactions for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients, with an emphasis on complex strategic partnering and collaboration agreements, joint ventures, licensing and other technology transfer arrangements. She also advises clients ranging from early-stage ventures to large public and private companies with respect to the full range of clinical and commercial agreements that span the life cycle of a drug product or medical device, including technology evaluation, sponsored research, clinical study, clinical research organization, professional services, manufacturing and co-promotion agreements. Her early years at the firm also included experience in all facets of civil litigation, including second-chairing a three-week jury trial in which the jury returned a defense verdict for Covington's client in a defamation case, as well as representation of white collar and other defendants in criminal investigations and proceedings.
- Astellas in a global alliance with Medivation to develop and commercialize a Phase 3 investigational drug for the treatment of prostate cancer, which involved an up-front cash payment of $110 million, up to $655 million in development and commercial milestone payments and a US co-promotion option based on profit sharing (nominated as a candidate for Alliance Deal of the Year (In Vivo Blog 2009)); and in a global licensing arrangement with Ambit to develop and commercialize a Phase 2 kinase inhibitor for acute myeloid leukemia, which involved a $40 million up-front payment, up to $350 million in pre-commercialization milestones, and a US co-promotion option based on profit sharing.
- AstraZeneca in a strategic collaboration with Map Pharmaceuticals to develop and commercialize a Phase 3 product for the treatment of asthma, which involved upfront fees, milestones and funding commitments in excess of $900 million and a co-promotion option; and in a strategic collaboration with Abbott to develop and commercialize a fixed-dose combination therapy for cholesterol management.
- Biosynexus in its reacquisition of rights to its lead antibody product for the treatment of staph infections in premature infants.
- Gilead in a series of transactions with two multinational pharmaceutical companies concerning the development and commercialization of a combination antiretroviral drug, including various corporate and contractual arrangements for supply and distribution in the United States, the European Union, and the access countries.
- Institute of OneWorld Health, a non-profit pharmaceutical company, in the negotiation of collaboration and other agreements for the advancement and commercialization of drug products for neglected diseases, particularly those that disproportionately affect developing world countries.
- Medarex in a strategic alliance with a Japanese pharmaceutical company, involving the cross license of platform technologies consisting of transgenic and transchromosomic mouse technologies, and in connection with a number of other collaboration agreements concerning antibody products.
- Novartis (formerly Chiron) in various transactions, including the divestiture of an epidermal delivery technology, and in the divestiture of certain patent families from its gene therapy portfolio.
- P&G (formerly Gillette) in a worldwide licensing arrangement involving the acquisition of rights to exploit the first light-based aesthetic device to receive a 510(k) over-the-counter clearance from FDA.
- UCB in connection with a strategic partnership pursuant to which it granted rights to Wilex AG, a German biotechnology company, with respect to a preclinical oncology portfolio, comprising two small-molecule programs and three antibody programs, and retained rights to reacquire such programs following completion of initial clinical feasibility studies.
May 21, 2019
WASHINGTON—Covington advised Merck & Co., Inc., in its definitive agreement under which Merck, through a subsidiary, will acquire privately held Peloton Therapeutics, Inc. in exchange for an upfront payment of $1.05 billion in cash. In addition, Peloton shareholders will be eligible to receive a further $1.15 billion contingent upon successful achievement of ...
October 12, 2018, The Recorder
The Recorder featured the firm's move to Palo Alto and its tenth anniversary in Silicon Valley. It calls Covington "the high-powered firm known for its connection in the nation's capital" and quotes Emily Leonard, the managing partner of the firm's Palo Alto office and Tom DeFilipps, head of the firm's California Corporate practice. Ms. Leonard says, "We had a ...
June 1, 2018, Silicon Valley Business Journal
Emily Leonard was recognized among Silicon Valley Business Journal's "2018 Women of Influence." In discussing her career at Covington, Leonard says, "I have had the privilege of partnering with a large number of industry clients on challenging transactions that involve innovative technologies—some of which turn out to be life-changing therapies."
Life Sciences industry in the United States
2010-present
Ms. Leonard frequently speaks on issues affecting the industry in the U.S. including structuring and negotiating complex collaboration and joint venture arrangements. She has chaired a number of conferences on these issues in the last several years.
June 9, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC, June 9, 2015 — Euromoney Legal Media Group selected Covington partners Dianne Coffino and Andrea Reister for its annual Americas Women in Business Law Awards. The awards honor women who are leading the field in the legal sector across the Americas. Ms. Coffino, a partner in the firm’s New York office, was recognized in the “Best in Insolvency ...
August 8, 2014
SAN FRANCISCO, August 8, 2014 — Northern California Super Lawyers named Tammy Albarrán one of Northern California’s “Top 50 Women” lawyers and Robert Haslam one of the region’s “Top 100” lawyers. The publication selected 33 Covington & Burling lawyers for its 2014 list of top legal talent. Super Lawyers selects no more than five percent of the total lawyers who ...
January 13, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC, January 13, 2014 — For the second consecutive year, Law360 has named Covington & Burling’s life sciences practice as one of the top five “Life Sciences Practice Groups of the Year.” In a profile of the firm, Law360 noted that Covington “delivered for drugmakers on three continents in 2013, spearheading a momentous investment by U.K.-based ...
Covington Advises Natrogen on Agreements with Takeda
December 20, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC, December 20, 2013 — Covington & Burling advised Natrogen Therapeutics International in its agreement with Takeda Pharmaceuticals for the exclusive license for worldwide development of Natura-alpha, a synthetic small molecule oral compound that is believed to inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, as well as an option to acquire Natrogen. ...
April 23, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, April 23, 2012 — Covington & Burling represented AstraZeneca in its $1.26 billion acquisition of Ardea Biosciences. Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will pay $32 per share for all of the outstanding shares of Ardea. AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and ...
June 10, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, June 10, 2011 — Covington & Burling LLP received 123 individual mentions and 45 practice mentions in Chambers USA 2011. The guidebook, which ranks lawyers by state and national practice area, is designed to identify the most skilled legal practitioners based on the qualities most valued by clients. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
February 15, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, February 15, 2011 — For the seventh time, Practical Law Company has awarded Covington & Burling LLP its worldwide first place ranking in the Life Sciences Regulatory Super League category. PLC also singled out Covington’s Antitrust/Competition, Corporate, and Insurance practices, along with lawyers from each group, in its practice-specific ...
August 9, 2010
REDWOOD SHORES, CA, August 9, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP is pleased to announce that three partners from its Washington, D.C. office, Kurt Calia, Emily Henn, and Emily Leonard, have relocated to the Silicon Valley office. Their move will strengthen the link to the firm’s deep regulatory roots as well as further enhance the firm’s transactional and litigation ...
June 16, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, June 16, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP received 112 individual mentions and 44 practice mentions in Chambers USA 2010. The guidebook, which ranks lawyers by state and national practice area, is designed to identify the most skilled legal practitioners based on the qualities most valued by clients. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
June 12, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC, June 12, 2009 — Covington & Burling LLP received 100 individual mentions and 40 practice mentions in Chambers USA 2009. The guidebook, which ranks lawyers by state and national practice area, is designed to identify the most skilled legal practitioners based on the qualities most valued by clients. Here are the Covington lawyers and practices ...
Covington Advises Gilead Sciences in Agreement to Distribute HIV Medication in 12 Countries
8/5/2008
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, August 5, 2008 — Gilead Sciences and Merck & Co., Inc. have entered into an agreement through which Gilead will assume the lead role for the distribution of the HIV medication Atripla(R) in 12 countries located primarily in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. Covington & Burling LLP advised Gilead in the agreement. Atripla is the first ...
June 16, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC, June 16, 2008 — Covington & Burling LLP received 81 individual mentions and 45 practice mentions in the newly released 2008 Chambers USA. The guidebook, which ranks lawyers by state and national practice area, is designed to identify the most skilled legal practitioners based on the qualities most valued by clients. Here are the Covington ...
June 18, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC, June 18, 2007 — Covington & Burling LLP received 44 practice mentions and 74 individual mentions in the newly released 2007 Chambers USA guidebook. The 2007 edition of Chambers USA attempts to identify the most skilled legal practitioners throughout the country based on the qualities most valued by clients. Covington attorneys have been ...
- Silicon Valley Business Journal, "2018 Women of Influence" (2018)
- Chambers Global, Life Sciences: Corporate/Commercial (2020)
- Chambers USA, recognized for Life Sciences: Corporate/Commercial (2007-2019)
- Legal 500 US, Patents: Licensing (2016-2017); M&A: Commercial Deals and Contracts (2016-2017); Healthcare: Life Sciences (2013-2014, 2017); and Media, Technology & Telecoms (2013)
- LMG Life Sciences, "Life Science Star" (2013-2019)
- Northern California Super Lawyers, Business/Corporate (2013-2015)
- The Daily Journal, Top Women Lawyers (2011)
- PLC Which Lawyer? Life sciences: Commercial and Partnering (USA) (2008-2012)