Life Sciences Transactions Partners Lila Hope and Jennifer Raab Join Sidley, Accelerating Further Growth in Life Sciences and the Palo Alto Office

Palo Alto – Sidley is pleased to announce that Lila Hope and Jennifer Raab have joined Sidley’s office in Palo Alto as partners in the firm’s Technology and Life Sciences Transactions practice. Dr. Hope and Ms. Raab join from Cooley LLP.

Dr. Hope and Ms. Raab bring market-leading transactional practices focused on life sciences companies discovering, developing, and marketing pharmaceuticals in all modalities, medical devices, and diagnostic and digital health products. Their practices involve complex intellectual property, business, operational, and legal issues, including strategic partnerships, platform discovery, and option deals. In addition, they help management, operational, and legal teams navigate day-to-day matters involving licensing, supply, distribution, clinical trials, research collaborations, and vendor services.

“Lila and Jen have built a destination practice in high stakes, cross-border biotech transactions that are a perfect complement for Sidley’s best-in-class global life sciences platform,” said Yvette Ostolaza, Chair of Sidley’s Management Committee. “Their addition demonstrates our continuing commitment to Palo Alto and this important industry vertical. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Lila and Jen to our culture of teamwork and collaboration.”

“Lila and Jen are trusted advisers to many of the most innovative companies in the life sciences ecosystem, and their arrival significantly expands our ability to support clients in transformative strategic transactions throughout their lifecycle,” said Martin Wellington, a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, managing partner of the Palo Alto office, and co-leader of the Emerging Companies and Venture Capital (ECVC) practice. “Their deep roots in the Silicon Valley market further strengthen the connections between our life sciences, technology, and emerging companies practices in Northern California and across the firm.”

Dr. Hope and Ms. Raab follow a number of lateral partners who have joined Sidley offices in California since the start of 2025 as the firm continues to invest in this important biotech hub. ECVC partner Mike Podolny also joined Palo Alto in 2025, and in 2026 the firm has already welcomed Corporate and Securities partner Steve Przesmicki and Class Action and Commercial Litigation partner Michelle Doolin to its San Diego office, and Global Finance partner Ike Chidi to Century City.

Sidley’s industry-recognized Tier 1 Global Life Science practice leverages integrated teams across regulatory, compliance, enforcement, litigation, corporate, and transactional practice groups to advise life sciences and healthcare clients throughout their lifecycle.

Sidley is an elite global law firm. With approximately 2,300 lawyers and 160 years of experience, we have established a reputation for deploying innovative legal strategies to achieve powerful results for our clients in complex transactional, restructuring, crisis management, investigation, regulatory, and litigation matters.

Our perspective and reach are truly global, supported by 21 offices strategically situated in key commercial, regulatory, and financial centers across the world. Our lawyers and business professionals, fluent in more than 75 languages, possess the cultural awareness and cross-border legal acumen needed to bring clarity to a dynamic business landscape.

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