Burness Paull has recruited Fiona Nicolson, a highly regarded intellectual property lawyer, who brings with her a track record over several decades of advising both UK and international clients in the life sciences sector, to lead its burgeoning Life Sciences practice.

Fiona specialises in helping companies to commercialise the assets they develop, often the output of intensive research and development investment. She has worked with a range of clients, from start-ups and SMEs to universities and the large multinational companies that shape the pharmaceuticals industry.

Fiona has been advising Burness Paull on it's Life Sciences growth strategy since early 2023. Much of her work in the sector is with businesses entering new markets using licensing and collaborative business ventures and, as a result, she has considerable international experience. She’ll continue to build on that work by harnessing Burness Paull’s membership of Lex Mundi, the global network of top tier independent law firms. 

Qualified in both English and Scots Law, Fiona has also had a long involvement with a number of life science trade bodies in the UK including the Scottish Life Sciences Association. Fiona is also a recent past president of the Licensing Executives Society International (LESI), a global membership organisation for professionals involved in commercialising intellectual property. She also chairs the Law Society of Scotland’s accreditation panel for intellectual property.

At Burness Paull Fiona will act as a consultant and lead the firm’s well established Life Sciences team which draws talent and health sector experience from the firms’ Corporate Finance, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Real Estate and Regulatory divisions. The team is already working with a wide array of established and early-stage businesses across gene therapy, drug discovery, biotech, medtech and digital health.

Peter Lawson, Chair of Burness Paull, said: “We were delighted to be able to attract a lawyer of Fiona’s quality and experience to lead our Life Sciences team and to strengthen our considerable intellectual property capability. Life Sciences is at the heart of Scotland’s economic growth strategy and helping client teams to both protect and commercialise their product development in this space is a key strength of the firm.” 

Fiona Nicolson said: “I am delighted to have joined Burness Paull at such an exciting time for the firm’s Life Sciences practice. The firm has substantial expertise in this area and a first-class client base. I look forward to working with our talented, multi-disciplinary team to support existing clients in the sector and to  provide advice to new clients in Scotland, across the UK and internationally as we expand the practice.”