Attorneys John Gourary, Rachel Beller and Sumantha (Sumi) Sedor have joined Foley Hoag LLP as Partners in the Business Department, all resident in the firm's New York office. Gourary and Beller will focus on pharmaceutical royalty monetizations, while Sedor will concentrate on life sciences licensing transactions, distribution and supply arrangements, product acquisitions, strategic licensing and corporate partnering.

Gourary and Beller will lead the firm’s newly established Royalty Monetization Practice Group, specializing in both classic and synthetic royalty monetizations for universities and non-profits, life sciences companies, individual inventors, royalty funds, pension plans and other investors.

“Foley Hoag continues to grow its life sciences transactions practice in the New York market,” said Jim Bucking, Foley Hoag Managing Partner. “John and Rachel have a market-leading practice representing domestic and international biotech companies. Sumi will help our clients with worldwide patent and regulatory exclusivity matters, as well as IP licensing and collaboration transactions.”

Gourary, widely recognized as the leading practitioner in the field of pharmaceutical royalty monetizations, has been involved in this market from its early stages. He has advised on deals with an aggregate value of over $10 billion, and has participated in virtually all of the landmark transactions in this unique area.

“Foley Hoag is an elite, entrepreneurial, growth-oriented firm,” said Gourary. “Throughout my career, I’ve worked with Foley Hoag lawyers on many transactions, and I’m excited to formalize that partnership by joining the firm.”

Beller has worked closely with Gourary for many years on the acquisition and financing of pharmaceutical royalty streams. She has also assisted clients with bank finance transactions, including acquisition finance, structured finance and other asset-based deals.

“Foley Hoag’s extensive work in intellectual property and corporate transactions allows us to offer clients a more comprehensive legal strategy and makes the firm a natural fit to become the long-term home for our royalty monetization practice,” added Beller.

In addition to Sedor’s expertise in life sciences transactions, specifically licensing transactions, product acquisitions, joint ventures, distribution and supply arrangements, strategic alliances and corporate partnering, she also has substantial experience in corporate restructuring, venture capital, private investments in public companies (PIPE) transactions, corporate compliance and disclosure, corporate governance and other general corporate matters.
 
“A life sciences-focused firm, Foley Hoag has extensive capabilities in IP law and reputation for excellent client service make it the ideal place for me to continue to grow my practice,” said Sedor.

Before joining Foley Hoag, Gourary was a partner at Covington & Burling LLP in New York. He earned a Juris Doctorate from Columbia Law School. Beller also joins from Covington & Burling LLP where she served as of counsel. She earned a Juris Doctorate from New York University School of Law. Sedor was previously a partner at the New York office of Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP and earned a Juris Doctorate from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University.

For more information about Foley Hoag’s new Royalty Monetization Practice Group, please click here.