The Freshfields Podcast

Essential Antitrust #33: Antitrust insights in Asia: navigating complex regulations and investment challenges

Over the past few years, competition law regimes in Asia have been undergoing dynamic changes and there has been a noticeable uptick in enforcement since the end of the pandemic. In our latest episode of our Essential Antitrust podcast, we provide a bird’s eye view of the intricate world of antitrust and foreign investments screening in this rapidly evolving region.

Join our host Jenn Mellott, as she engages in a thought-provoking discussion with a panel including Kaori Yamada, head of our Asia antitrust practice in Tokyo, Ninette Dodoo, partner in Beijing, Laurent Bougard, counsel in Hong Kong, and Hazel Yin, partner from RuiMin Law Firm in Beijing. Together, they provide unique insights into the complexities and challenges facing business in the region. From the fast-paced changes in competition law enforcement, to the impact of geopolitical tensions on merger control and foreign investment, this episode covers it all. Tune in to stay ahead in the dynamic world of antitrust and foreign investment in Asia.

MedTech Across Borders – Recent Developments in Japan and the US

Join partners Takeshi Nakao (Tokyo) and Vinita Kailasanath (Silicon Valley) for the latest episode of the Freshfields MedTech podcast. With a focus on Japan and the US, they discuss trends and innovations in MedTech, and potential risk and regulation that companies with MedTech products and services face.

Introduction (English translation): Hello everyone. My name is Takeshi, Managing Partner of Freshfields Tokyo Office. In today's podcast, we will discuss MedTech. MedTech is the word combining “medical” and “technology”, referring to using  IOT and other technologies in healthcare. I will ask the speaker about this area, starting with the definition, which I am sure many of you have heard recently. Technology developments have led to many innovations in the field of healthcare, making it one of the growth areas and an area of high interest. Today I would like to bring you together with an expert in this field from the United States, Vinita Kailasanath. Vinita is the head of Freshfields' MedTech practice and has extensive experience in the field, particularly where both life sciences and technology are concerned. She has been involved in transactions that are strategically very important to our clients in the MedTech and digital health sectors. She provides advice in licensing transactions, research and development, and those kinds of areas. In fact, before becoming a lawyer, Vinita was doing research in the field of neuroendocrinology at the graduate level, which is a word I looked up in the dictionary. She also has experience providing marketing and sales support to pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

Outro (English translation): This time, we started with a high-level conversation with the theme of MedTech, explaining recent trends in regulations. Vinita is an expert in the field of MedTech, and we would like to send you another podcast when we hear about new developments as new trends emerge, etc.. Thank you for listening.

MedTech x Creating System Change – Reducing clinician burnout, effectively using AI and more

In this episode of our MedTech podcast series, Freshfields partner Vinita Kailasanath and Subha Airan-Javia, MD, Founder and CEO of CareAlign, discuss Subha’s career path, how she’s addressing clinician burnout and where AI fits into the landscape.

Essential Antitrust #32: New US HSR Rules and Merger Guidelines: key takeaways

The US FTC and DOJ recently released long-awaited updates to the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Form and Merger Guidelines for assessment of mergers.

The proposals entail much higher costs to notify transactions to the agencies, and we explore the substantive implications, including for industries such as tech, life sciences, and private equity.

In this episode of the Essential Antitrust podcast, our host Jenn Mellott is joined by Washington-based colleagues Bruce McCulloch and Laura Onken.

For more information, turn to our A Fresh Take blog posts on the HSR changes and the draft Merger Guidelines.

Managing risk in Asia #7: Managing licensing and collaboration risks in the life sciences arena in Asia

With the continued growth of the life sciences sector in Asia, companies are increasingly entering into licensing and collaboration arrangements to drive innovation and manage risk.

Understanding the risks involved in licensing and collaboration agreements is crucial for companies looking to tap into the thriving Asian market and establish successful partnerships. In this episode of our two-part series focusing on life sciences, podcast host Ninette Dodoo is joined by Kristen Riemenschneider, Mary Lehner, Richard Bird, and Xin Liu to discuss the complex regulatory landscape associated with licensing and collaboration arrangements. This includes anti-bribery, sanctions and export control risks, unique IP ownership challenges, data sharing issues and antitrust considerations concerns, which can make or break these deals.

Essential Antitrust #31: Recent developments in antitrust, data and IP – generative AI and MedTech

Regulators across the globe are keeping a close eye on the rising influence of generative AI.

In a few short months, generative AI has proven to be a potent tool and global sensation. With perspectives from the United States, Europe and China, we dive into how regulators are responding to generative AI, focusing particularly on the MedTech space.

In this MedTech-centered episode of the Essential Antitrust podcast, our host Jenn Mellott and guest host Vinita Kailasanath (Silicon Valley) are joined by Ninette Dodoo (Bejing), Rikki Haria (London) and Justin Stewart-Teitelbaum (Washington, DC).

Essential Antitrust #30: ASSA ABLOY/Spectrum Brands: a breakthrough for M&A remedies in the US?

The Biden Administration antitrust agencies have viewed merger remedies in the US with strong skepticism. The Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division’s attempt to block ASSA ABLOY’s acquisition of Spectrum Brands’ Hardware and Home Improvement division was a case in point, until the trial concluded due to a rare settlement in May 2023, opening the door for the transaction to proceed subject to a divestiture remedy.

In the latest episode of our Essential Antitrust podcast our host Jenn Mellott is joined by Justin Stewart-Teitelbaum, partner in Washington, DC, and Angela Landry, counsel in Washington, DC and Silicon Valley, to discuss the implications of the settlement and what it means for merging parties considering remedy packages.

Essential Antitrust #29: Microsoft/Activision: parallel reviews in high-innovation digital deals

Antitrust authorities are taking tougher and more interventionist approaches to merger reviews, deploying novel theories of harm and more forward-looking approaches to assessing nascent markets and technologies. These challenges are on full display in the Microsoft/Activision deal, which was recently blocked by the UK Competition and Markets Authority whilst receiving clearances from the European Commission and other authorities.

In this latest episode of our Essential Antitrust podcast, our host Jenn Mellott is joined by our two newest antitrust partners, Rikki Haria and Jenny Leahy, to discuss the nuances underpinning these different results and how companies can navigate these key antitrust enforcement trends in future deals.

Global Perspectives on Health Data Offerings and Considerations for Innovators

In this episode of our MedTech podcast series, Freshfields Partners Vinita Kailasanath and Timothy Howard and Principal Associate Philipp Roos discuss what is top of mind for clients in terms of health data considerations, including with respect to AI usage, in both the US and EU. Other topics include GDPR and EU digital strategy; HIPAA and the Dobbs decision as it relates to reproductive health data in the U.S.; and ways to safely and securely store data globally.

Essential Antitrust #28: Collusion or collaboration: competition and the fight for net zero

As international competition and antitrust laws continue to evolve, companies are concerned with ensuring that their sustainability collaborations do not fall foul of the law.

With regulators globally continuing to set out their differing, and sometimes divergent, positions, it has never been more critical for multinational business to stay abreast of the latest developments. Covering the European Commission, UK CMA, and the FTC/DOJ and State Attorneys General in the United States, we look at the current ESG and antitrust landscape and the implications for regulatory strategies.

In this special sustainability edition of our Essential Antitrust podcast our host Jenn Mellott is joined by Tim Wilkins (New York), Jake Reynolds (London), Martin McElwee (London), Sarah Jensen (London), Justin Stewart-Teitelbaum (Washington, DC) and Donna-Faye Imadi (Washington, DC).