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Kay Chandler

Partner

Our life sciences clients inspire me – I’m driven to work tirelessly and creatively with them to achieve their goals of developing and commercializing innovative healthcare products.

kchandler@cooley.com

Kay Chandler is chair of Cooley’s global life sciences industry practice and co-chair of the firm’s Women’s Initiative. Kay specializes in representing public and private life sciences companies in a wide range of commercial and corporate matters that are critical to their businesses. She counsels biotechnology, biopharmaceutical, diagnostic, and device companies on complex U.S., global and regional transactions, including technology and product licenses, acquisitions, and divestitures; research, development, and commercial collaborations; supply, distribution, and manufacturing agreements; and profit-sharing and co-promotion arrangements. Kay works collaboratively with her clients to understand each client's business and strategic objectives and to structure and negotiate transactions to meet those objectives. She applies corporate and securities experience to implement transactions in a manner that facilitates and supports the financing and corporate development strategies of her clients.

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Experience

  • Horizon Therapeutics to Be Acquired by Amgen for Approximately $28 Billion 

  • Biotech Company ViaCyte to Be Acquired by Vertex Pharmaceuticals 

  • Bristol Myers Squibb to Acquire Turning Point Therapeutics for $4.1 Billion 

  • Nykode Therapeutics Enters Collaboration Agreement with Regeneron 

  • Neurocrine Biosciences Enters Collaboration Agreement with Sosei Heptares 

  • View all

Education

  • University of Michigan Law School
    JD, 1988

  • University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
    BA, Economics
    with distinction, 1985


Admissions & Credentials

California

Memberships

  • American Bar Association

  • San Diego County Bar Association

Rankings & Accolades

    Chambers USA: Life Sciences: Corporate/Commercial - Nationwide and California (2009-2022)

    Legal 500: Key Lawyer, Healthcare: Life Sciences (2020 – 2021)

    The Best Lawyers in America: Biotechnology Law and Life Sciences 

    Southern California Super Lawyers: Securities and Corporate Finance (2007-2009, 2011-2019)

    The Best Lawyers in America: San Diego Biotechnology Lawyer of the Year (2011)

    Lawdragon: One of 500 dealmakers in America (2007)