Andreas Balsiger Betts and Olivier Goarnisson joined Sidley Austin as a senior advisor and a counsel in the life sciences practice, respectively, in the firm’s Swiss office.
Their addition expands Sidley’s life sciences capabilities to serve all language areas of Switzerland, strengthening the firm’s position as a provider of life sciences legal services in Europe and around the world.
Balsiger Betts previously served as the head of Legal Affairs and member of the Management Board of Swissmedic, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products. In this capacity, he had a leading role in drafting the complete revision of the Swiss Federal Act on Therapeutic Products and its ordinances, which will come into force in 2019. He represented Swissmedic in all the Swiss parliamentary committee meetings in this context as well as in all meetings with EU member state agency counterparts. At Sidley, he will advise on regulatory matters in the life sciences industry.
Goarnisson possesses dual qualification as a lawyer and medical doctor and will focus his practice on matters related to clinical trials, non-interventional studies, pharmacovigilance, marketing authorizations, market access, data protection, and compliance and enforcement. He previously served as director of Medical Affairs Operations Europe, worked for six years in Sidley’s Brussels office and worked as a lawyer at a global pharmaceutical company
“Andreas’s arrival initiates our effort to provide the first comprehensive global life sciences legal practice in Switzerland, offering a deep, three-continent perspective to established global companies, to the emerging biotechnology sector, and to the many global life sciences companies that call Switzerland home,” said Scott Bass, leader of Sidley’s global Life Sciences practice. “Andreas is highly recognized in the Swiss life sciences industry for his in-depth knowledge of the regulatory environment. His insights into Swiss institutions will significantly bolster our ability to offer global solutions to local challenges for clients in the life sciences sector. We are very happy that Olivier also joins our firm, bringing his experience in a wide range of matters related to life sciences regulatory law, specifically in the pharmaceutical industry.”
Sidley Austin currently operates 20 offices and employs 2,000 lawyers around the globe.
