For Helena Nilsson, partner at Setterwalls Advokatbyrå, the path to Life Sciences has been shaped by experience from the courts, the Swedish Government Offices and business law. Together, these experiences have given her a perspective that is highly valuable in her work today.
“My experience from legislation in the pharmaceutical and pharmacy sectors, combined with work in the courts, provides knowledge and a broader perspective that also includes the regulatory field, something our clients appreciate.”
She describes Life Sciences as both an important and rapidly growing industry, with companies developing products that society fundamentally depends on.
“From a legal perspective, Life Sciences is also particularly interesting because the issues are often complex and the regulatory landscape requires specialist expertise.”
As a partner at Setterwalls, she is also committed to developing the next generation of lawyers.
“Setterwalls has a strong position within Life Sciences, and as a partner I work to ensure that this continues, for example by mentoring young associates.”
Law as part of the bigger picture
In an industry where innovation is at the centre, law plays a crucial role.
“Life Sciences law spans many legal areas, including intellectual property, marketing law, data protection, regulatory matters and commercial agreements. This makes law central, and we strive to be a business partner to the companies we work with.”
At the same time, Helena highlights the importance of stable and predictable regulatory frameworks.
“From a legislative perspective, it is important that the regulatory framework is predictable, for example when it comes to financing and pricing. This applies at both Swedish and European level.”
The industry is also highly affected by the wider world.
“US policy has an impact not only on pricing, but also on where companies conduct their clinical trials and where they launch their medicines.”
She emphasises that Life Sciences is an area that needs to be regulated, but that regulation must be well balanced.
“The rules should not inhibit innovation, production or the distribution of medicines to patients.”
Building correctly from the start
When it comes to entrepreneurs within Life Sciences, Helena sees a clear pattern.
“Many underestimate the importance of having a plan for the company from the very beginning.”
This includes several critical elements, from intellectual property rights to agreements and business strategy.
“You need to make sure that agreements are in place and that your intellectual property rights are protected, such as patents and trademarks, but also other trade secrets.”
She also highlights the importance of understanding how the product is classified and which market it is intended for.
“All of this, in turn, determines what investments are required.”
The consequences of not doing this in time can be significant.
“Having a fantastic product but lacking protection or a clear plan to present to investors damages both the product and the company.”
A partnership with shared ambitions
The partnership between Setterwalls and VILDA is based on a shared view of both the industry and leadership.
VILDA is a network for women in Life Sciences that creates opportunities for knowledge sharing, networking and exchange of experience.
“Our values and ambitions align with VILDA’s, and we want to contribute to developing leadership and enabling more women to take on leading positions in the industry.”
The ambition is also to create concrete opportunities for women at different stages of their careers.
“We want to give all women, regardless of where they are in their careers, a platform for exchanging experiences, making contacts and building networks.”
Together, they have developed a webinar series with this focus.
“We have listened to the network, and the series reflects both their needs and our own recommendations, covering everything from how to protect your product and intellectual property rights to commercialisation, financing and shareholder agreements.”
Women and the importance of networks
For Helena, it is clear that women should play a central role in the development of the industry.
“It is clear that women should have a driving role in the development of the industry.”
She also connects this to the purpose of the industry.
“We all want to see products that contribute to good health for both women and men. The power of innovation should therefore also reflect the target group.”
Finally, she returns to the importance of networks.
“Make use of your network. You are not alone, and this is where you can get a lot of wise advice and valuable contacts. And you also become part of sharing knowledge with colleagues in the industry.”
