Barbara Kosacz is a partner in the Business department of Cooley's Palo Alto office, and the international head of the Firm's Life Sciences practice. Ms. Kosacz has 25 years of experience in counseling clients in the Life Sciences arena. Her clients range from early-stage start ups to larger public companies.
Ms. Kosacz advises clients on a variety of legal and business issues. Her particular expertise is in complex strategic partnering transactions and mergers and acquisitions. She also represents companies and investors in private financings, strategic investments, spin-outs, and public offerings. Some of Ms. Kosacz' recent transactions include Infinity Pharmaceuticals' global strategic collaboration with Abbvie Inc.for the development and commercialization of Infinity's PI3K inhibitor compound for multiple oncology indications; Reata Pharmaceuticals groundbreaking ex-US collaboration with Abbott for development and commercialization of bardoxolone, Reata's oral, first-in-class antioxidant inflammation modulator, with upfront and near-term payments to Reata of $450 million and a minority equity investment by Abbott; the sale of Rempex Pharmaceuticals, to the Medicines Company for up to $474 million in upfront and earnout payments, as well as the sale of NextWave Pharmaceuticals to Pfizer following Pfizer's exercise of its option to buy the Company, for a total deal value of $700 million.
Ms. Kosacz is known for working closely with her clients as an integral part of the management team in setting strategic direction, and structuring and negotiating mission-critical transactions. Her combination of business and legal experience covers the full spectrum of transactions and issues facing Life Sciences and other technology companies.
In 2001, Ms. Kosacz left the practice of law and served as the vice president, business development and general counsel of iScribe, Inc., a venture-backed healthcare IT start up, where she gained critical operating experience. Her company experience allows her to be especially attuned to the issues emerging company clients will face.
