2026 ACI Women Leaders in Life Sciences Law

Troutman Pepper Locke is a proud sponsor of the 13th Annual Summit on Women Leaders in Life Sciences Law, presented by the American Conference Institute (ACI), July 29–30, 2026, in Boston, MA. Partner Mindy Rudolph will be speaking on the panel “Innovation Through Collaboration: Strategies for Structuring Successful Life Sciences Partnerships, Licensing Agreements, and Alliances” on Wednesday, July 29, at 1:45 p.m. ET.

Scientific breakthroughs rarely happen in isolation. Today’s life sciences innovation ecosystem increasingly depends on complex collaborations among pharmaceutical companies, biotech startups, academic research institutions, and patient advocacy organizations. For legal and compliance leaders, structuring these partnerships requires navigating sophisticated deal frameworks, intellectual property considerations, data sharing arrangements, and evolving funding models while preserving alignment among stakeholders with different incentives and goals.
This panel will explore:

• Structuring industry–academia collaborations, including governance models, funding structures, and managing intellectual property ownership
• Legal considerations around data sharing and AI model training within research partnerships
• Key terms and negotiation dynamics in pharma–biotech licensing and co-development agreements
• Managing disputes and decision-making through joint steering committees and collaboration governance frameworks
• The growing role of patient advocacy organizations in funding research, influencing clinical trial design, and shaping development priorities
• M&A and strategic investment trends in biotech, including valuation challenges and dealmaking strategies in uncertain markets
• Practical approaches for legal leaders to structure and manage partnerships that support innovation while mitigating legal and operational risks