What we do
We are a life sciences advisory firm. We specialise in a small sector of technology and science – but we can say with confidence that we are the leading experts in the legal, regulatory, and ethical issues in this field. We advise clients on legal, ethical, and policy issues arising out of innovative research, product development, and clinical application.
As innovation and evolution are the hallmarks of the life sciences and healthcare sectors, we recognise the need to keep pace with the dynamic nature of the ecosystem. Our clients will have different perspectives, requirements, and needs depending on whether they are a startup, an established business, a large multinational, a hospital, university or research institution.
Reproductive and Fertility Law
We are recognised leaders in this highly specialised field, advising clinics, fertility providers, and professionals across the assisted reproduction sector. Our expertise spans fertility preservation, legal parenthood, surrogacy, donor arrangements, encompassing diverse family structures and with it, the evolving frameworks of modern family law.
We also advise on wider reproductive healthcare services, including abortion, maternal health, and sexual and reproductive health, particularly where clinical practice intersects with regulation. We support HFEA and CQC-regulated providers, drawing on our extensive experience in healthcare governance.
We are committed to supporting those who deliver reproductive care in all its forms, bringing legal precision and principled judgment to a field where stakes are professional, personal and political.
Related insights and cases
Contact
James Lawford Davies
Tel.: +44 (0) 1904 9009-14
Email: james@ldmhpartners.com
Our team have been involved in many of the most high-profile fertility cases in the UK.
We have advised numerous clinics and patients on the implications of the storage of their embryos and gametes, and the post-mortem use of the material.
We are leading experts in assisting clinics and patients in regularising consent in circumstances where there have been regulatory issues.
Genomic and Cellular Innovation
From gene therapies to cell-based treatments, this is a sector where the science moves faster than the rulebook. We advise clients working at the frontier of genomic and cellular innovation, where legal clarity is essential to navigate evolving standards, manage risk, as well as to build public and regulatory trust.
Advising across the full spectrum of genomic and cellular work, from early-stage research to clinical application, our strengths lie in reproductive and genetic technologies, genetic testing, and genomics. We work with universities, researchers, and spinouts across the innovation pipeline, supporting progress from lab to clinic to market.
We help turn scientific breakthroughs into regulated, real-world solutions, ensuring the legal foundations are in place for safe, ethical, and impactful innovation.
Related insights
Contact
Nils Hoppe
Tel.: +44 (0) 1904 9009-15
Email: nils@ldmhpartners.com
We have helped clients navigate the translational pathway from innovative cell-based product to ATMP.
We are leading experts in regulatory, legal, and ethical issues in biobanking and have assisted and advised biobanks in the UK and the EU.
We have provided training to research and clinic staff on the legal and ethical aspects of working with human tissues and biomaterials.
Health Data, AI, and Digital Technologies
At the heart of modern healthcare innovation lies data – sensitive, high-value, and increasingly regulated. We advise clients working with electronic health records, medical informatics platforms, AI- and ML-powered tools, and other data-driven technologies.
We specialise in guiding clients to address the full spectrum of legal issues, from data protection, commercialisation, and cross-border transfers to algorithmic accountability and patient rights.
Our expertise covers the full spectrum of legal challenges in this field, spanning dimensions of data-driven science, data protection and privacy, and the governance of emerging technologies.
We collaborate with health tech companies, research institutions and digital platforms to ensure that innovation is not only compliant but also trusted and future-proof. By leveraging our knowledge, we help you unlock the potential of health data.
Related insights
Contact
Jasjote Grewal
Tel.: +44 (0) 1904 9009-13
Email: jasjote@ldmhpartners.com
Our lawyers are involved in some of the leading research projects in AI and medicine.
We have advised a consortium developing an AI powered app for transplantation patients.
Our lawyers have advised on secondary data use of imaging data from population-based studies.
Medical Devices and Pharma
Bringing innovative medical devices, pharmaceutical products, and diagnostics to market is complex, and our expertise ensures you navigate the translational pathway successfully.
We assist clients developing and delivering cutting-edge medical devices and diagnostics, supporting progress from concept to commercialisation. From implantable devices to rapid diagnostic tests, we guide you through the legal and regulatory frameworks.
Our advice spans the full product lifecycle: clinical evaluation, UKCA and CE marking, MHRA engagement, and post-market surveillance. We also advise on product liability, data protection, advertising compliance, and commercial agreements, helping manage risk and unlock opportunity without slowing innovation.
Whether you’re launching a new product, scaling operations, or responding to scrutiny, we work alongside you to move decisively in a sector where compliance, safety and market access are paramount.
Related insights
Contact
James Lawford Davies
Tel.: +44 (0) 1904 9009-14
Email: james@ldmhpartners.com
We have advised clients on the conditions for marketing authorisation for their devices.
We have advised on to-market strategies for innovative tissue-engineered implants.
We have advised on regulatory issues surrounding the introduction of a cannabis-based device into the UK market.
Clinical Trials
Our team have been at the forefront of advising some of the most complex, ethically challenging, cross-border clinical trials. We fully understand that delay is one of the main issues affecting clinical trials, and we help our clients in ensuring that projects are kept on track, and on time.
From cross-border issues in international collaborative projects, over challenges of vulnerable research participant populations, to rare diseases research, we have been able to assist clients in performing successful clinical trials in the UK and Europe.
We help in drafting ethical frameworks, ensure compliant regulation, unlock secondary data uses, and ensure smooth transfer to data and materials across borders and institutions.
We have particular expertise in advising non-orthodox clinical trial consortia with particular methodological and epistemic challenges in evidence-generation, including in the context of implants, ATMP, and biologicals.
Related insights
Contact
Nils Hoppe
Tel.: +44 (0) 1904 9009-15
Email: nils@ldmhpartners.com
We advised a university hospital running a clinical trial on a rare disease on negotiating a consortium agreement with partners in six different jurisdictions.
We drafted material and data transfer agreements for a pan-European research consortium to ensure free flow of data and samples within a trial.
We advised a clinical trial consortium on compliance and ethics issues surrounding recruitment of vulnerable research participants.
Health Regulation, Public Bodies, and Policy
In an ever-evolving landscape, we provide seasoned guidance on the legal frameworks that shape how health and care are delivered.
Our clients include providers, innovators, charities, and research bodies operating in complex regulatory environments. We advise on statutory powers, regulatory enforcement, and the legal risks that arise when public bodies make decisions that affect care, funding, or innovation. Our work often intersects with public law and individual rights, addressing critical issues of access, fairness, and accountability.
Whether you’re navigating regulatory challenges or striving to ensure fairness and accountability in health systems, our team is here to support you in making impactful changes.
Related insights
Contact
James Lawford Davies
Tel.: +44 (0) 1904 9009-14
Email: james@ldmhpartners.com
We are a leading adviser on issues in relation to HFEA and HTA regulation.
We have been involved in some of the highest profile judicial reviews challenging public authority decisions in IVF and science.
We have provided policy advice to governments, public bodies, and advisory committees in the UK and Europe.