Women Leaders in Life Sciences Law

Co-Chairs’ Opening Remarks

Examining the Impact of The Last Year’s Profound Events on Women in the Life Sciences Legal Industry

Monique Hunt McWilliams
Assistant General Counsel
Eli Lilly and Company

Deborah Logan
Associate General Counsel
EMD Serono, Inc.

Women around the world, including those in the life sciences legal industry, have been deeply affected by the events of the last year and a half. The COVID-19 pandemic had a near-immediate effect on women’s professional and personal lives, causing many to have to adapt rapidly to challenging “new normals.” Our esteemed conference co-chairs will kick off this year’s conference with an exploration of how the last year’s events have impacted women in the life sciences legal industry, and insights on moving forward together.

Keynote Address with Dr. Julie Gerberding

Dr. Julie Gerberding
Executive Vice President & Chief Patient Officer
Merck
(Former Director, CDC)

We are so pleased to welcome Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, a world-renowned infectious disease and vaccine expert, and the first woman to serve as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as this year’s keynote speaker. During her tenure at the CDC, Dr. Gerberding led responses to more than 40 public health crises, including the anthrax attacks in 2001, SARS and the avian influenza. When she was president of vaccines at Merck, she was instrumental in increasing access to the company’s vaccines to people around the world. Dr. Gerberding has profound expertise on infectious diseases, vaccines, public health and on the COVID-19 pandemic, so don’t miss the chance to tune in and hear her timely and valuable perspectives.

Interactive Think-Tank

How Can We Work Together to Restore and Boost Female Workforce Momentum in the Wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic

Lisa Jakob
Managing Counsel, Trademarks
Merck

Melinda Roberts
Partner
Venable LLP

Melanie Rupert
Partner and Global Co-Chair, Talent Development
Paul Hastings LLP

Take advantage of an opportunity to join an interactive segment where attendees can come on camera, meet face-to-face and engage in a think-tank style discussion on how women in the workplace can recover from the pandemic and regain and retain momentum within the new normal.  Our discussion leaders will drive the dialogue and invite attendee feedback on topics including:

• How can we restore strong female talent that has left the workforce?
• How can we ensure that increased gender bias is not an unintended consequence of women choosing to continue working remotely?
• How can we best feed the STEM pipeline to increase the chances of growing the careers of women in life sciences?
• Strategies for managers: how can managers best navigate the new normal?
• What are the challenges we anticipate with a return to office, and how can we best address them?

Morning Break

A Practice-by-Practice Examination of Key Legal Developments Impacting the Life Sciences Industry in the Last Year

Deborah Logan
Associate General Counsel
EMD Serono, Inc.

Sophie F. Wang
Principal
Choate Hall & Stewart LLP

Jeny Maier
Partner
Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP

Carly W. Stephani
Principal Litigation Counsel
Medtronic

In the year since we last met, there have been highly influential court decisions, legislation and regulation which will have crucial implications for life sciences legal practitioners. This session will provide attendees with the big picture of the most critical legal developments of the year which impact the various facets and disciplines of the life sciences industry (including IP, products liability and compliance) and which will ultimately set the pace for 2022 and beyond.

Getting Hired and Getting Noticed in a Virtual World: Tips and Tools for Interviewing, Onboarding and Moving Up the Ranks in a Virtual Environment

Alane Barnes
Chief Legal Officer
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals

Diane E. Lifton
Senior Vice President, Legal
Sumitovant Biopharma

Gael Tisack
Deputy General Counsel, IP
Olympus Corporation

Moderator:

Eve Costopoulos
Of Counsel
Loeb & Loeb LLP

Since the beginning of 2020, many women in the life sciences legal industry have moved into different roles, different companies or different law firms – and many are in the process of seeking out a move as we speak.  While this endeavor can in and of itself be challenging, many women are facing the added new challenge of engaging in this process from behind their computer screens.  This panel will discuss and share insights on:

• How to master virtual interviews
• How to be proactive about engaging in the onboarding process from home
• How to hit the ground running after landing the job
  • Who should you reach out to? What should your priorities be? How can you best facilitate connections?
• Who should you reach out to?  What should your priorities be?  How can you best facilitate connections?
• How to network at a company where all of your interviews have been remote?
• How to get noticed and move up the ranks in this type of environment?

1:1 Networking

Take advantage of 1:1 speed networking and direct video chats with fellow conference participants. Your next legal team, business partner, mentor or client could be right in one of our virtual networking rooms — it is up to you to find them!

Lunch Break

Diversity Equity & Inclusion Town Hall:

An Honest Discussion of What’s Working, What’s Not and How to Keep Our Strong Female Talent Once We’ve Gotten Them Through the Door

Debbie Walters
Vice President & Assistant General Counsel
Pfizer

Laurie Hill
Vice President, Intellectual Property
Genentech

Marcella Ducca
Shareholder
Greenberg Traurig LLP

Moderator:

Katherine A. Helm
Partner
Dechert LLP

Successful diversity and inclusion initiatives are far more complex than merely generating a list of general objectives – in many cases it requires a dedication to building increased equity, diversity, and inclusion into your company’s DNA and operating behaviors. As many in the life sciences industry have seen however, this is not always as simple as it sounds, and an added challenge comes in not just trying to recruit strong, diverse female talent – but in retaining them. Join this panel in a discussion of what D&I initiatives are currently working to yield lasting effects, and strategies for recruiting, developing and retaining diverse female attorneys both in house and in law firms. Let your voice be heard in this unique “open floor” session, designed to give attendees an opportunity to come on camera and add to the dialogue.

Afternoon Break

Assessing the Recent Explosion of Digital Health and Health Tech: An Industry Discussion of the Latest Deals, Increasing Regulations and the Top Legal Issues to Have on Your Radar

Kellie Combs
Partner
Ropes & Gray LLP

Elizabeth Richards
Partner
Latham & Watkins LLP

Erin Whaley
Partner
Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP

Chekesha Kidd
CEO
Digibite
Executive-In-Residence at Archetype Solutions Group

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically accelerated the shift to digital health and the need for tech-enabled health services, with many healthcare companies having to innovate at lightning speed to adapt to new needs.  As a result, we have seen over $50 billion in digital health M&A deals in the last year, as well as increasing regulations to address the risks associated with these new technologies.  This panel will examine the recent health tech explosion with a 360 degree lens, and discuss topics including:

• An overview of the latest digital health advancements impacting and disrupting the healthcare market:  connected medical devices, predictive analytics, cloud computing, symptom checking bots, vaccine passport apps, etc.
• The most interesting and impactful health tech deals in the last year
• The new and emerging regulatory landscape governing these new technologies
• The legal hurdles associated with using patient data, data privacy, medical confidentiality, cybersecurity, and beyond

End of Day Wrap-Up With Our Co-Chairs

Grab your beverage of choice and join our co-chairs and fellow attendees for a face-to-face recap of highlights from the day and biggest takeaways.

Conference Adjourns

Co-Chairs’ Opening Remarks

Recap of Day One

Monique Hunt McWilliams
Assistant General Counsel
Eli Lilly and Company

Deborah Logan
Associate General Counsel
EMD Serono, Inc.

Empowering Female Colleagues Across Generational Differences: How Can We Manage and Capitalize on Generational Diversity in the Workplace

Tamara Joseph
Chief Legal Officer
Spero Therapeutics

Lori Cohen
Vice Chair, Co-Chair, Global Litigation, Chair, Pharmaceutical, Medical Device & Health Care Litigation Group
Greenberg Traurig LLP

Honorable Teresa Rea
Partner
Crowell & Moring LLP
(Former Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Former Acting Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office)

Allison Ng
Attorney
Greenberg Traurig LLP

Generational diversity continues to grow in the life sciences legal industry, with companies today often employing women from up to four different generations.  From seasoned Baby Boomers with years of experience, to fresh faced Generation Z-ers who are constantly connected, each generation brings their own set of unique needs, goals, skills and challenges to the table.  This panel will tackle important topics including:

• Overcoming generational stereotypes and stigmas
• Understanding each generation’s strengths and weaknesses, and leveraging generational strengths to create a dynamic and productive workforce
• Achieving effective communication across generations
• Learning how to integrate different work styles to move everyone forward collectively

The Good the Bad and the Ugly of Remote Work

Learning to Set Boundaries and Achieve Professional and Personal Balance in a Work-From-Home World

Gloria Fuentes
Vice President & Assistant General Counsel
Bristol Myers Squibb

Maria Pasquale
EVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Incyte Corporation

Tiffany R. Moseley
Partner
Loeb & Loeb LLP

For decades, women have promoted and yearned for the long sought-after “work-life balance.” With the ongoing pandemic however, virtual work has permeated many of our lives, often leaving little to no space for separation between our personal and professional worlds. This panel will discuss best practices for creating a healthy distinction between work and home life, setting boundaries and learning to say “no” when needed. Through personal stories, these panelists will provide insights on how to overcome the challenges of working, managing, mentoring and networking in a work-from-home world, while also trying to prioritize self-care and balance. Attendees will then have the opportunity to come on camera at the end of the session to meet the speakers face-to-face, share their own personal insights and stories, and ask questions of our panelists.

Morning Break

Tackling the Legal Challenges Being Faced by Life Sciences Companies in the COVID-19 Fight

Tara K. Giunta
Partner
Paul Hastings LLP

Elizabeth Feeney
Vice President, Assistant General Counsel
Incyte

Donna Meuth
Associate General Counsel, Intellectual Property
Eisai

Ana C. Ward
Deputy General Counsel - Legal Strategic Transactions
Astellas Pharma US

• Gauging the continued impact of COVID-19 across global life sciences markets
• Examining the legal implications of companies mobilizing around the rapid production of Covid cures, treatments and preventatives
• Addressing sustainability / ESG concerns relevant to life sciences companies
• Analyzing recent changes to FDA approval processes, the use of Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs), and future potential implications on product liability cases
• How do we expect PREP Act immunity to be applied and interpreted in cases moving forward?
• Exploring legal challenges related to equitable distribution of vaccines, and the potential impact that government use provisions, “march in rights” and compulsory licensing laws will have on life sciences companies developing pharmaceuticals and medical devices to address the ongoing pandemic

1:1 Networking

Take advantage of 1:1 speed networking and direct video chats with fellow conference participants. Your next legal team, business partner, mentor or client could be right in one of our virtual networking rooms — it is up to you to find them!

Lunch

Knowing Your Worth, And Then Asking For It: How to Effectively Negotiate Salaries While Leaving Your Emotions at the Door

Sarah Padgitt
Associate General Counsel
Baxter

Suzanne Galvin
Partner
Thompson Coburn LLP

When it comes to asking for the money you think you deserve, women often get tied up with an array of different emotions – guilt, shame, pride, self-worth, competitiveness, resentment, fear – that it is no wonder women often find it challenging to initiate conversations about compensation.  This panel will provide effective tactics for making the ask, negotiating a salary, demanding equal pay, and leaving emotions at the door.  Discussion topics will include:

• Doing your due diligence: understanding the value you provide relative to others
• Going into the conversation with confidence and building a business case for yourself
• Articulating your value in a tangible way
• Considering additional benefits you might want and using them as buffers to the negotiation

Afternoon Break

What I Wish I Had Known

Advice from Inspiring and Influential General Counsel / Chief Legal Officers in the Life Sciences Industry

Shannon Thyme Klinger
Chief Legal Officer
Moderna

Robin A. Walker
Chief Legal Officer
Goldfinch Bio

Laurie Keating
EVP and Chief Legal Officer
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

Moderator:

Stacie L. Ropka PhD
Partner
Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP

Don’t skip this opportunity to network with and learn from inspiring senior female leaders who will provide guidance for women at all stages of their career on advancing within the ranks of the life sciences world. The esteemed panelists, divided into one track for in house counsel and one for law firm counsel, will share their road to the GC/CLO office or law firm partnership, advice for shattering the glass ceiling, skills necessary to thrive at the executive or partnership level, tools for gaining a seat at the boardroom table, what they look for in relationships with their in-house counsel /outside counsel and with their legal teams, and balancing management of a successful department or tram with a robust and full personal life. Attendees will have the opportunity to come on camera at the end of the session to meet the speakers face-to-face, share their own personal insights and stories, and ask questions of our panelists.

In-House Counsel Break Out

Law Firm Counsel Break Out

Conference Concludes – Virtual Champagne Toast