Robbie McLaren’s practice primarily includes cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and emerging companies. Mr. McLaren represents clients who principally operate in the life sciences, healthcare, and technology industries. Mr. McLaren is Global Vice Chair of the firm’s Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Group and former Co-Chair of the London Corporate Department.

Mr. McLaren's experience includes advising:

Life Sciences and Healthcare

  • Norgine, a Netherlands-based specialty pharmaceutical company, in its US$2 billion sale to Goldman Sachs
  • TPG on the acquisition of a majority interest in DOC Generici, a leading generic pharmaceutical company based in Milan, from ICG and Merieux Equity Partners
  • Nordic Capital on the US$846 million acquisition of ADVANZ PHARMA, a specialty pharmaceutical company
  • Eleusis, one of the leading psychedelics to medicine science companies, on its:
    • US$446 million merger with Silver Spike Acquisition Corp.
    • Acquisition of Kalypso TC, a provider of ketamine infusion therapies used to treat mental and physical conditions, such as major depressive disorder
  • Abcam, a global leader in the supply of life science research tools on its US$340 million acquisition of BioVision
  • BC Partners on the acquisition of a majority interest in the complex generic medicines business of Synthon International, a Netherlands-based multinational pharmaceutical company
  • Atnahs Pharma (now Pharmanovia) on its acquisition of assets related to five hypertension medicine brands from AstraZeneca
  • Acino on its acquisition of various pharmaceutical products and related assets in the NEMEA region from Takeda
  • Apotex on the sale of two pharmaceutical products to Intas which are aimed at stimulating white blood cells during chemotherapy
  • Baxter International Inc., in connection with its US$625 million acquisition of Claris Injectables Limited, an India-based manufacturer of sterile injectables
  • Sienna Biopharmaceuticals in connection with its acquisition of Creabilis plc, a privately held specialty pharmaceutical company
  • An Asian investor on their investment into Aerogen, an acute aerosol drug delivery business
  • The shareholders of Pharmathen SA, a Greek pharmaceuticals company, on their sale of a controlling interest in Pharmathen to BC Partners
  • Zogenix on its acquisition of Brabant Pharma, a UK-based pharmaceutical company
  • Novo A/S in connection with the initial public offering of ADS on Nasdaq of Freeline Therapeutics
  • Watson Pharmaceuticals / Actavis / Allergan on its:
    • €4.25 billion acquisition of the Actavis Group, making Watson the third largest global generics company
    • Divestment of part of its Western European generics sale and marketing business to Aurobindo
    • US$40.5 billion sale of its global generics pharmaceuticals business to Teva
  • Theramex, a global specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to women’s healthcare, in connection with its:
    • US$703 million acquisition by CVC Capital Partners of women’s healthcare assets from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd
    • Acquisition of certain pharmaceutical products from Janssen
    • Sale to a consortium controlled by Carlyle and PAI

Technology, Media, and Telecoms

  • Rivulis, a portfolio company of Temasek, on the acquisition of the international irrigation business of Jain Irrigation Systems, an India-based micro irrigation systems company
  • Darktrace plc in connection with its £1.7 billion initial public offering and listing on the London Stock Exchange
  • The underwriters in connection with the £7.59 billion IPO of Deliveroo Holdings plc, listed on the London Stock Exchange
  • Vertical Aerospace on its US$2.2 billion business combination with Broadstone Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company
  • Centricus Acquisition Corp, a special purpose acquisition company, on its US$1 billion business combination with Arqit, a London-based developer of a quantum encryption platform
  • Canva, an Australia-based online graphic design and publishing company, on its acquisition of Kiln Enterprises, a data visualization company
  • Impact Holdings, Inc. on its acquisition of Trackonomics, a data management and digital marketing company
  • Mimecast on the acquisition of Simply Migrate, a London-based provider of archive data migration technology
  • Sony Pictures Entertainment and its subsidiary, Columbia Pictures Corporation, on the acquisition of Silvergate Media, a developer of children’s brands for broadcasters, streaming platforms, and retail partners (including the Octonauts, Peter Rabbit, and Hilda animated series)
  • An Asian investor on their equity investment in:
    • Sound Cloud, a Germany-based company engaged in providing online audio platform services
    • Claroty, a cybersecurity software company
    • Common Sense Robotics
    • South pole
  • Telenor on its €2.8 billion sale of its assets in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) to PPF Group
  • Netflix Inc. on the acquisition of Millarworld, a comic book company founded by Mark Millar
  • Andreessen Horowitz on its minority investment in Improbable World Limited, a UK-based software developer focused on virtual and simulated worlds

Emerging Companies

  • Moneybox, the leading digital wealth manager, on its £35 million Series D funding round
  • Osler Diagnostics, a health technology company, on its Series C financing round
  • Bloom and Wild on its:
    • Series C financing round
    • Acquisition of Bergamotte, a French online florist
    • Acquisition of Bloomon, a Netherlands-based online florist
  • Carbon Clean, a global leader in cost-effective industrial carbon capture on the investment made by Chevron, one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies
  • Novo Holdings on its:
    • £230 million disposal of Archimedes
    • US$800 million acquisition of Xellia
    • £400 million acquisition of BBI

Bar Qualification

  • England and Wales (Solicitor)
  • Scotland (Solicitor)

Education

  • Diploma in Legal Practice, University of Edinburgh, 2004
  • LLB (Hons), University of Edinburgh, 2003

Languages Spoken

  • English