Michael C. Sweeney

Michael C. Sweeney

Senior Associate

Los Angeles + 1 213 443 5433

Michael Sweeney is a senior associate in the Technology Transactions and Licensing Group.  He advises life science companies, investors and other financial institutions on complex corporate transactional matters, with a specific focus on the biopharmaceutical industry. Mr. Sweeney represents clients in drafting and negotiating commercial agreements, including license, research and collaboration, manufacturing, co-commercialization and co-promotion, royalty purchase and sale, services, distribution, clinical trial and supply agreements. He also assists with intellectual property due diligence for mergers and acquisitions and private and public financings, including IPOs and follow-on offerings.

Mr. Sweeney is registered to practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office and developed substantial experience at a prior firm advising companies and academic institutions on patent prosecution and counseling matters. He practiced at two major international law firms prior to joining WilmerHale. 

Mr. Sweeney also maintains an active pro bono practice. 

Select Representative Matters

  • Mr. Sweeney has represented high-profile clients in a wide range of matters over the course of his career, including the following:

    • CytomX Therapeutics’ in its:
      • Collaboration and License Agreement with Regeneron
      • Collaboration and License Agreement with Moderna
      • Clinical Trial, Collaboration and Supply Agreement with Merck
    • Icosavax in its upsized IPO and subsequent acquisition by AstraZeneca
    • Sanofi in its: 
      • Collaboration with Teva Pharmaceuticals to co-develop and co-commercialize a clinical asset for the treatment of Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease
      • COVID-19 vaccine collaboration with Novavax Collaboration with Formation Bio and OpenAI
      • Collaboration with Scribe Therapeutics to advance in vivo genetic medicines for sickle cell and other genomic diseases
    • Verona Pharmaceuticals in its revenue interest purchase and sale agreement (RIPSA) and strategic financing agreements providing access to up to US$650 million from funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (Oaktree) and OMERS Life Sciences (OMERS)
    • Metsera, Inc. in its Supply Agreement and License Agreement with Amneal Therapeutics
    • Orbital Therapeutics in its license and collaboration agreement with Beam Therapeutics
    • Nestle in its US$5.75 billion acquisition of the core brands of The Bountiful Company
    • Representing issuers and underwriters in various IPOs and other capital market offerings, including on behalf of major US banks and financial services organizations
    • Numerous emerging growth companies in license agreements with universities as part of negotiations to spinout technologies from university research
    • Experience prosecuting patent portfolios for large cap companies, universities, and research institutions in fields such as biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, and other therapeutics

  • Thought Leadership

    • "Correcting Bayh-Dole's Inefficiencies for the Taxpayer”, 10 NW. J. TECH. AND INTELL. PROP. 295 (2012)
    • “Fanapt Product Labels: Establishing Infringement of Personalized Treatment Claims” NATIONAL LAW REVIEW (2018)
    • “Agricultural Bioengineering: Navigating the Regulatory Terrain”, FOOD ONLINE AND FEED AND GRAIN (2018)

Insights & News

View all of Michael's insights & news

Credentials

  • Education

    • MS, Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 2017

    • JD, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, 2012

    • BA, Law & Society, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2006

  • Admissions

    • California

    • US Patent and Trademark Office

Credentials

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