CMS has hired a team of four lawyers from life sciences boutique Danevych.Law in Ukraine to expand its global life sciences coverage.

The strategic deal sees Danevych founder Borys Danevych join as a partner and head of life sciences in the firm’s Kiev office, CMS Kyiv. He will be accompanied by senior associate Anastasiya Filipiuk and associates Artem Grudinin and Anastasiya Maistruk, plus administrative executive Iryna Tvardovska. 

Graham Conlon, CMS managing partner in Kiev, said: “With life sciences increasingly attracting the global spotlight, this important expansion of the team demonstrates our ongoing commitment to delivering best-in-class advice for our clients. The breadth and depth of Borys’ experience, along with the expert support of his committed team, will strengthen and expand our life sciences offering.”

Danevych brings with him more than 15 years of experience advising international pharma, biotech, healthcare services and medical device companies on everything from regulation and competition law to anti-counterfeiting and IP. He has also supported clients with investor disputes, data protection issues and white-collar criminal investigations.

Danevych said: “CMS has a very impressive global life sciences group and I see many opportunities to further develop our capabilities for clients in areas such as biotech, brand protection and health tech. I also see significant additional value in terms of being able to offer strong transactional, IP, dispute resolution, TMT and tax capability to our clients going forward.”

Danevych.Law was founded in 2018 and has helped global pharmaceutical companies do business in Ukraine, such as providing advice on market access and clinical trials compliance. Prior to launching Danevych.Law, Danevych was co-founder and partner of Marchenko Danevych. He also spent more than 10-years at Ukrainian law firm Paritet, during which he had a brief stint as a legal advisor at the Eurovision Song Contest, according to his LinkedIn profile.

CMS boasts more than 300 life sciences across its global network. The team will join the UK LLP's Kiev branch.

CMS is the latest international law firm to state its intent to strengthen its presence in the life sciences market. Last week Goodwin Procter announced the arrival of life sciences partner Adam Bellack from Hogan Lovells. He joined the firm’s Washington DC office, where he will advise life sciences businesses on licensing and other commercial deals.

IN March, UK Magic Circle firm Allen & Overy ended its longstanding alliance with its Romanian ally in a move that saw six-partner Radu Taracila Padurari Retevoescu relaunch as a standalone practice.