Business Development Senior Coordinator

Clifford Chance strengthens life sciences licensing and collaboration capabilities with Zhenghui (Alan) Wang, Ph.D. October 6, 2026. Global law firm Clifford Chance has added Zhenghui (Alan) Wang to its transaction advisory team in New York, strengthening the firm's offerings across the healthcare and life sciences sector. Wang represents pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology innovators and other life sciences organizations in licensing, collaboration, co-development and co-commercialization transactions. He advises on the structuring and negotiation of strategic alliances and intellectual property-driven transactions across the sector, from research-stage collaborations through commercial licensing and partnership arrangements. Wang holds a Ph.D. in biological chemistry and, fluent in both Mandarin and English, advises clients in China and internationally on acquisitions, licensing and commercialization of innovative pharmaceutical products worldwide, with particular experience in the growing cross-border transactions involving such products developed in mainland China. Sarah Jones, Global Head of Corporate Transactions & Advisory, said, "Alan's arrival further strengthens our ability to advise clients on the strategic transactions that are driving growth, innovation and investment across the life sciences sector. His experience navigating intellectual property and transactional issues complements our global platform and enhances the support we provide to our global biopharmaceutical clients pursuing sophisticated cross-border transactions." Corporate Healthcare & Life Sciences Partner Peter Laveran-Stiebar said, "Alan's experience with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies on strategic collaborations and licensing arrangements will help clients pursue innovation and bring new products to market. His work across these and other life sciences transactions, combined with a Ph.D. in biological chemistry, allows him to bring unique value to clients working through scientific and commercial issues." Wang said, "I was drawn to Clifford Chance's momentum in the market, its significant investment in and expansion of its healthcare and life sciences capabilities, and, most importantly, the strength of its global platform. The firm's ability to bring together lawyers across jurisdictions to deliver seamless advice to participants in the biopharmaceutical industry on cross-border matters is a tremendous advantage for clients, and I am excited to be part of that team." Wang's arrival marks the latest step in Clifford Chance's strategic expansion of its US healthcare and life sciences platform, which has been strengthened in recent years through targeted investments in M&A, licensing, collaboration and antitrust capabilities. His addition follows the recent arrival of intellectual property partner Jonathan Chu in Hong Kong, further enhancing the firm's ability to advise on IP-driven transactions across key innovation sectors, including healthcare and life sciences. With more than 450 attorneys across New York, Washington, DC, Houston and São Paulo, the firm combines deep local market knowledge with the reach of a fully integrated global partnership. The Americas team advises clients on complex US, Latin America and cross-border transactional, regulatory and disputes matters across key sectors including private capital and financial services, healthcare and life science, technology, infrastructure, and energy.

Insurance leadership moves: Euna, ABI, Gallagher and Sompo announce key appointments. Published in: News Four organisations have announced leadership and senior appointments this week, covering personal lines, industry membership and commercial development, European M&A advisory, and commercial underwriting across Continental Europe. Euna appoints Steve Morse as head of personal lines. Specialist managing general agent (MGA) Euna has appointed Steve Morse as head of personal lines, reporting to chief executive Ross Dingwall. Morse joins Euna from Aviva, where he served as underwriting director for Aviva Private Clients. He previously held a similar position at AXA XL and spent more than 15 years with Hiscox, becoming a partner in 2017. His appointment follows Euna's expansion into personal lines in July with the launch of Specialist Home, its non-standard residential and contract works product. The offering covers areas including non-standard construction, listed buildings, unoccupied homes and high-profile clients. ABI appoints Dimitra Christakou as membership and commercial development director. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has appointed Dimitra Christakou as director of membership and commercial development. In the role, Christakou will oversee member relationships as well as the ABI's events, networking, and learning and development programmes. She joins the ABI after holding senior leadership positions at BusinessLDN and Bloomberg. Her background includes commercial development and stakeholder engagement rather than technical underwriting. Gallagher expands European PEMA practice with two appointments. Gallagher has strengthened its European private equity and M&A (PEMA) practice with the appointments of Philip Frerks as head of transaction solutions in Germany and Andrea Karkotis as associate director, warranty & indemnity, in the Netherlands. The appointments form part of Gallagher's continued expansion of its PEMA operations across Europe. The business has also appointed country heads in Italy, the Nordics and France since June. Based in Frankfurt, Frerks joins from Malakut Group, where he spent a decade advising on M&A-related risk. Karkotis, who will be based in Amsterdam, joins Gallagher from Clifford Chance. The latest appointments add to Gallagher's presence across multiple European markets as it continues to develop its PEMA practice on a pan-European basis. Sompo appoints Scott Toland as head of commercial lines in Continental Europe. Sompo has appointed Scott Toland as head of commercial lines and insurance in Continental Europe. Based in Zurich, Toland will report to Ralph Brand, president of insurance in Continental Europe & Turkey. In his new position, Toland will be responsible for defining and executing the company's commercial lines underwriting strategy across the region. His responsibilities will include underwriting, distribution, client management and risk control services. Toland brings more than 25 years of insurance experience across the US and Europe. He joins Sompo from a large international insurer, where he most recently served as chief underwriting officer for EMEA.

WilmerHale restocks London disputes bench with double partner hire. Jeremy Kosky joins from Clifford Chance to head London disputes practice as arbitration partner Charlie Lightfoot moves over from Cooley following earlier exits 05 October 2026 Jeremy Kosky Credit: WilmerHale WilmerHale has hired two senior partners in London to restock its disputes bench. Jeremy Kosky has joined after 36 years at Clifford Chance as head of the US firm's London disputes practice, while Charlie Lightfoot has joined the international arbitration practice from Cooley. Their hire follows eight arbitration partners defecting to King & Spalding over the summer across the US and UK, led by renowned New York practitioner Gary Born. Five partners moved over in London - Steven Finizio, Jonathan Lim, Franz Schwarz, Marleen Krueger and Charlie Caher. WilmerHale said Kosky and Lightfoot reflected "continued investment in the growth of our London office." Advertisement "Jeremy and Charlie are exceptional litigators who bring experience handling the very kind of matters our clients need us for: complex, high-stakes disputes that span markets and jurisdictions," said Anjan Sahni, WilmerHale's managing partner. "London is a critical part of [our] global platform, and we are investing with conviction in its future. Charlie and Jeremy reflect our commitment to give clients in the UK and across Europe the depth of trial and disputes capability they have come to expect from WilmerHale," he added. Kosky's arrival, the firm said, would boost its ability to support clients in complex commercial claims in London, focusing on high-value complex commercial litigation for public and private companies, private capital sponsors, financial institutions, family offices and corporate boards. That represents an important distinction from Born's era, when WilmerHale's arbitration practice held a distinct primacy within the disputes practice. Kosky wrote on LinkedIn his was "to lead a strong and deeply collaborative disputes practice. We will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our clients as they navigate their most complex, high-stakes and business-critical challenges. We will represent them with creativity and relentless commitment while maintaining the highest of ethical standards. LAW OVER BORDERS COMPARATIVE GUIDES Enforcement of Judgments Law Guide This comparative guide offers a practical overview of the enforcement of judgments and arbitration awards across multiple jurisdictions... | 4mos. Clifford Chance thanked Kosky for his contributions and wished him well. Lightfoot, meanwhile, adds senior international arbitration experience, with WilmerHale noting demand for advocacy, arbitration and expertise in public international law was "in great demand". He has 25 years of experience representing companies and states in international disputes across sectors like defence, energy, and life sciences. He acts as an advocate in arbitration and the High Court and also serves as an arbitrator. Lightfoot leaves Cooley after three years, where he chaired that firm's global arbitration practice from London, having been a partner at Jenner & Block for eight years and White & Case for five years before that. He said: "I am excited to help grow the London office and work with colleagues across the firm globally on the most complex matters in our field," adding, on LinkedIn, that he "couldn't be more thrilled" to join WilmerHale.