西盟斯律师事务所近日迎来天境生物前首席法务官李程以合伙人身份加盟其香港办公室，任医疗健康与生命科学组负责人。
李律师拥有超过15年的工作经验，尤其专注于医疗健康和生命科学领域。在天境生物工作期间，他曾负责公司的法律事务，包括资本市场、知识产权、临床运营、企业交易和美国业务，并为公司的业务增长提供支持。
在加入天境生物之前，李律师在科文顿·柏灵律师事务所工作。在此之前，他曾担任生命科学风险投资公司通和毓承的法务主管，并在职业生涯早期担任过霍金路伟律师事务所上海办事处的律师。
西盟斯亚洲负责人Jonathan Hammond在一份新闻稿中表示：“李律师的加入是西盟斯一项战略性的举措，彰显了我们在亚洲拓展业务的承诺。他在医疗健康和生命科学领域的丰富经验和深刻理解无疑将提升我们在大中华区和亚太地区的能力。”
今年初，已在纳斯达克上市的天境生物剥离了中国业务后，多名高管决定离开。
目前，西盟斯香港办公室共有34名法律专业人士，其中包括14名合伙人。今年早些时候，该所新增Jeffrey Friedenberg为私人基金业务主管，去年又引入了合伙人Wendy Wong和David Blumental。
Simmons hires I-Mab Biopharma’s CLO
UK law firm Simmons & Simmons has added Richard Cheng Li as a partner and head of the healthcare and life sciences group in its Hong Kong office. Li was most recently chief legal officer of biotech firm I-Mab Biopharma.
Li has more than 15 years of experience, with a particular focus on the healthcare and life sciences sector. At I-Mab, Li oversaw the company’s legal affairs, including capital markets, intellectual property, clinical operations, corporate transactions, and U.S. operations, and also supported its business growth.
Prior to joining I-Mab, Li led Covington & Burling's China life sciences transaction practice. He previously served as head of legal at 6 Dimensions Capital, a life sciences venture capital firm, and was an associate in the Shanghai office of Hogan Lovells earlier in his career.
"[Li’s] appointment is a strategic move that underscores our commitment to expanding our presence in Asia. His extensive experience and deep understanding of the healthcare and life sciences sector will undoubtedly enhance our capabilities in the Greater China and Asia Pacific region," said Jonathan Hammond, Asia regional head at Simmons & Simmons, in a statement.
Li exited I-Mab Biopharma earlier this year after the NASDAQ-listed biotech company decided to divest its China operations. U.S. lawmakers have recently been targeting Chinese biotech companies in a bid to halt their advance towards sophisticated biotechnologys, while bolstering domestic drug manufacturing capacity.
Simmons & Simmons now has 34 legal professionals in Hong Kong, including 14 partners. The office added Jeffrey Friedenberg as the head of its private funds practice earlier this year, and partners Wendy Wong and David Blumental last year.
