Allen & Overy, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters have secured spots along with 22 other firms selected for Novartis’ panel, dubbed the ‘legal preferred firm programme’, reports The Lawyer newspaper.

Win-win

The shake-up is one of the first changes implemented by group general counsel Felix Ehrat – who joined from Swiss firm Bär & Karrer in October 2011. ‘The programme’s renewed focus on relationships creates a win-win environment,’ Mr Ehrat told the newspaper. ‘The commitments we’re making will lead to increased efficiency and effectiveness.’
Firms selected in the panel review will be required to meet an annual summit to ‘further relationships and develop a deeper understanding of Novartis business’.
The full panel:
Global instructions: Allen & Overy, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters, Morrison & Foerster and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.
US instructions: Arnold & Porter, Cravath Swaine & Moore, Kaye Scholer, White & Case.
US specialist instructions: Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott (litigation), Covington & Burling (regulatory), Faegre Baker Daniels (product liability), Greenberg Traurig (product liability), Hogan Lovells (regulatory), Hollingsworth (product liability), Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan (litigation), Seyfarth Shaw (employment) and Smith Gambrell & Russell (false advertising and commercial litigation).
US specialist intellectual property instructions: Fitzpatrick Cella Harper & Scinto, McDermott Will & Emery, O’Melveny & Myers, Rakoczy Molino Mazzochi Siwik, Williams & Connolly, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr and Winston & Strawn.