Rosenblatt unveils biotech link-up with Bridgehead

PHARMACEUTICALS: firm targets niche expansion

City firm Rosenblatt is set to break into the biotechnology sector by launching a joint initiative with leading healthcare consultancy Bridgehead Technologies.

The ten-partner practice has teamed up with Bridgehead to offer a combined legal and advisory service to public and private pharmaceutical companies from 1 July.

Senior partner Ian Rosenblatt said: 'We identified the biotech sector as one where there is going to be plenty of work for solicitors over the next few years and set about trying to develop our expertise in it.

We have worked with Bridgehead before; they are a well-known name in the area, and we suggested the initiative.'

Mr Rosenblatt said both sides would undertake a joint marketing initiative to take advantage of the 'City contacts and clients' they had gained over the years.

However, the relationship is non-exclusive.

'We really wanted to break into this market and what better way to do it than to get into business with people already established within it?' he said.

'As far as I know, there are no other firms with similar initiatives in the area.'

Mr Rosenblatt said he did not anticipate the firm needing to expand to deal with any work that came in as a result of the agreement.

'We already have a strong intellectual property and corporate practice and see this initiative as simply broadening our existing skills base,' he said.

'We will do what we can to avoid taking on more staff - we want to add more fees without adding costs.'

Andrew Towler