Finalists Announced for 2026 Life Sciences Awards Across EMEA Region

The Life Sciences Awards has officially released the full list of finalists for the 2026 Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Awards, spotlighting leading law firms and attorneys excelling in the life sciences industry. These awards serve as a prestigious platform to honour outstanding legal achievements across the region.

The winners will be announced during a black-tie gala on June 4, 2026, at The Biltmore Mayfair in London, bringing together the legal community to celebrate excellence in life sciences law.

The Life Sciences Awards research team conducted a comprehensive selection process. This included analyzing direct submissions, gathering client feedback, and engaging in rigorous deliberations. Individual practitioners and Rising Stars were assessed not only on the complexity of their legal work but also on their contributions to thought leadership within the sector.

For inquiries about the research methodology, Alexander Griffiths, Head of Research, is the designated contact.

Those interested in learning more about the gala event or promoting their achievements can reach out to Ahmed Hadi for further details.

The shortlisted finalists span multiple categories, reflecting the diverse expertise within life sciences law across the EMEA region.

In the Africa & Middle East Lawyer of the Year category, nominees include Altair Richards (ENSafrica), Abimbola Akeredolu (Banwo & Ighodalo), Chinyere Okorocha Jackson (Etti & Edu), Neil Kirby (Werksmans), Andrea Tithecott (Al Tamimi & Company), and Adam Vause (DLA Piper).

Central & Eastern Europe Lawyer of the Year finalists are Francine Brogyányi (Dorda), Tomáš Čihula (Kinstellar), Michał Czarnuch (Rymarz Zdort Maruta), Paulina Kieszkowska (KRK Kieszkowska Rutkowska Kolasiński), and Georg Kresbach (Wolf Theiss).

The M&A Lawyer of the Year category features Simon Amies (Cooley), Gunnar Sachs (Clifford Chance), Marc Castagnède (A&O Shearman), Paul Claydon (Covington & Burling), Adrian Maguire (Kirkland & Ellis), Julian Long (Freshfields), and Henning Schneider (Latham & Watkins).

Patent Litigator of the Year: Biologics & Biosimilars nominees include Hiroshi Sheraton (Morgan Lewis & Bockius), Inmaculada Lorenzo (Hogan Lovells), Zoe Butler (Powell Gilbert), and Andri Hess (Homburger).

For Patent Litigator of the Year: Medical Devices, the shortlist comprises Andreas Bothe (Hogan Lovells), Siddharth Kusumakar (Powell Gilbert), Tim Powell (Morgan Lewis & Bockius), Eleanor Root (Bird & Bird), and Wim Maas (Taylor Wessing).

Regulatory Advisor of the Year finalists are Adela Williams (Arnold & Porter), Lincoln Tsang (Ropes & Gray), Eveline Van Keymeulen (Latham & Watkins), Jörg Schickert (Hogan Lovells), and Wilfred Steenbruggen (Bird & Bird).

The SPC Litigator of the Year category includes Aoife Murphy (DLA Piper), Jennifer Antcliff (Carpmaels & Ransford), Laëtitia Bénard (A&O Shearman), and Peter von Czettritz (Preu Bohlig & Partner).

Antitrust & Competition Lawyer of the Year nominees are Marc Besen (Clifford Chance), Frances Murphy (Morgan Lewis & Bockius), Ruchit Patel (Ropes & Gray), James Killick (White & Case), and Jana K Dammann de Chapto (Latham & Watkins).

Licensing & Collaboration Lawyer of the Year finalists include Barbara Mutsaers (AKD), Frances Stocks Allen (Cooley), Lydia Torne (Latham & Watkins), Stephen Reese (Clifford Chance), and Patrick Duxbury (Gowling WLG).

In the Nordics Lawyer of the Year category, nominees are Camilla Appelgren (Mannheimer Swartling), Erik Ficks (Roschier Advokatbyrå), Niels Bang (Gorrissen Federspiel), Ben Rapinoja (Borenius), and Martin Levinsohn (Setterwalls).