Sarah Faircliffe
Sarah works as a Legal Director in London, as part of Bird & Bird’s Life Sciences and Healthcare Group. With over twenty years of experience, she advises clients on EU and UK laws, guidance and codes of practice concerning the regulation of medicines, medical devices and related areas. In 2022, Sarah was short-listed for the Advisory Lawyer of the Year at the LMG Life Sciences Awards, and she was also part of the winning team for the “Impact Case of the Year” at the same awards.
Having spent 10 years as a Legal Adviser at the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Sarah brings a wealth of industry and policy knowledge to her role, offering unique insight into the law and procedures governing medicines regulation. During this period, she advised the EMA and its scientific committees on a wide range of legal issues. She played a key role in ensuring that the new EU member states joining in 2004 brought their pharma legislation and procedures into line with EU requirements and worked closely with the European Commission on several cases litigated in the European Courts and on the drafting and implementation of various pieces of legislation.
Sarah uses her in-depth knowledge of the regulatory framework to assist a wide range of clients on all aspects of the regulation of products in the life sciences sector. This ranges from advising on the correct interpretation of legislation, guidelines and case law to helping to steer clients through procedures and negotiations relating to the marketing of their products, including representing them in discussions with regulatory bodies. Much of this work involves working closely with Bird & Bird colleagues in other offices to provide pan-European regulatory advice.
Complex strategies and disputes concerning regulatory data protection and orphan exclusivity are a particular focus of her work. Over the years, she has been involved in several of the cases shaping the interpretation of these concepts in the European Courts, and she is currently advising clients in a number of ongoing cases.
Sarah is a regular speaker at conferences and workshops and contributes to a number of publications.