Robert Darwin

ROBERT DARWIN has a broad international practice focused on private equity, growth capital, M&A, and complex licensing and collaborations. He advises clients, often cross-border, across a wide range of industries and is particularly known for his work with global life sciences, healthcare and technology corporations, and investors. Robert is recognised for his work by both Chambers UK and Legal 500 UK.

• Chambers UK 2026: “Robert’s intellect is exceptional, and his experience is broad and deep, spanning high-stakes transactions, regulatory challenges and strategic investments…”
• Chambers UK 2024: “…responsive, super-smart, and very well connected.”
• Chambers UK 2026: “…the best lawyer I know and my 'go-to' for the most critical matters.”
• Chambers UK 2026: “really able to tune into the client's commercial objectives.”
• Chambers UK 2024: “in the premier league of life sciences dealmakers.”
• Legal 500 UK 2021: “Brilliant and incisive.”
• Legal 500 UK 2021: “A very adept negotiator who knows when to be tough and when to be pragmatic, with outstanding technical skills.”
• Legal 500 UK 2026: “the lawyer I trust with my most complex and critical work”
• Legal 500 UK 2025: “…very effective in rapid problem-solving. No fuss, just effective, concise, answers and solutions.”
  

Recent examples of Robert’s work includes acting for:

Private Equity/M&A

• Sylvan Group on its US$600 million investment into Juniper Biologics.
• Merck KGaA on strategic M&A, including its up to €1 billion immuno-oncology collaboration with F-Star and licensing and collaboration arrangements, followed by the subsequent restructure of those arrangements.
• Savillex Corporation, a portfolio company of private equity fund Thompson Street Capital Partners, in its strategic acquisition of ONFAB from Foresight Capital Partners.
• Peprotech Inc., a leading manufacturer of cytokines and antibodies for scientific application in relation to various corporate matters, and advising in relation to its sale for US$1.85 billion.
• San Reno Therapeutics on its acquisition by Novartis.
• Sedgwick Claims Management (then a KKR portfolio company) in relation to its acquisition of Cunningham Lindsey in the insurance sector.
• Cerberus Capital Management on the sale of Covis Pharma to funds managed by Apollo Global Management.
• A global private equity fund on its €1 billion bid to acquire a global healthcare group from another global private equity fund.
• Carlin Consumer Health in relation to the acquisition of Infirst Healthcare Inc. (marketer of Mylanta® and Mylicon®).
• The founder of Base Genomics on its sale to Exact Sciences for US$410 million.
• Judges Scientific plc in relation to over 15 acquisitions in the Life Sciences and Engineering sectors.
• Advent International in relation to the disposal of Oxea, one of the largest global manufacturers of Oxo chemicals, to Oman Oil Company, for US$2.4 billion.
• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on its multi-billion dollar global joint venture in metals machinery technology (with Siemens AG).
• Lynwood Investments in relation to its sale of some of its interest in Waterstones Booksellers to Elliott Private Equity.

Growth Capital and Venture Capital

• OrbiMed and RA Capital Management in relation to the US$410 million equity investment in Verdiva Bio.
• Novo Holdings on its £50 million investment in Oxford Nanopore Technologies.
• OrbiMed and RA Capital in relation to the US$410 million equity investment in Verdiva Bio.
• The Craftory, the US$585 million challenger-brand investment fund, in relation to its structuring and equity funding by three of the world’s largest family offices.
• Perspectum Group Limited on its US$55 million Series C lead by Oppenheimer Holdings.
• BeiGene in relation to licensing and investment in a Swiss biotech.
• One of the world’s largest family offices in relation to investments in the Life Sciences and Technology sectors.
• Funds advised by RedMile LLC in relation to the US$189 million Series C and D of Agomab Therapeutics NV.
• Funds advised by Orbimed Advisors LLC in relation to an investment in a UK biotech group.

Complex Licensing and Collaborations

• Juniper Biologics on its licensing and collaboration agreements with Helsinn S.A.(Aloxi, Akynzeo, Anamorelin, and Truseltiq) and Kolon Life Sciences (TG-C).
• BigHat Biosciences Inc. in a licensing and collaboration agreement with Synaffix B.V., a Lonza company.
• London Zoo in relation to various commercial aspects of its operations, including negotiations with the UK Government.
• The government of a country in south-eastern Europe in relation to its COVID-19 vaccine procurement program.
• Roha Africa in relation to hospital management arrangements relating to Roha Medical Campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
• Huma on a collaboration agreement with a global pharmaceutical company.
• BeiGene in relation to various commercial matters.

Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.

• Finance and Technical Committee, Biotech Industry Association