Nixon Peabody Adds FDA Insider to Leading Life Sciences Practice

By: Nixon Peabody LLP | 2 Shares 115 Reads

Areta Kupchyk Complements Strong Personalized Medicine Team

November 29, 2011 // Franchising.com // Washington, DC. - Nixon Peabody LLP announces a significant addition to its Life Sciences and Health Services practices with the arrival of partner Areta L. Kupchyk. Ms. Kupchyk comes to Nixon Peabody from Reed Smith, bringing more than 18 years of experience working at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). With a reputation as a thought leader and trusted advisor on FDA issues, she will be based in Nixon Peabody’s Washington, DC, office.

“With attorneys in major life sciences clusters such as Boston, California, France, and China, Nixon Peabody is a go-to firm for legal counsel on the full range of business and regulatory issues life sciences companies face,” said Andrew I. Glincher, the firm’s managing partner and CEO. “Having an FDA partner of Areta’s stature on our team affirms Nixon Peabody’s leadership in the life sciences sector.”

Ms. Kupchyk provides counsel on FDA regulation of drugs, medical devices, biologics, and biotechnology products. This encompasses development through post-approval or post-clearance, as well as enforcement actions. She also provides counsel on emerging technologies for which FDA jurisdiction and policy issues are evolving, such as: pharmacogenetics and biomarkers; in vitro diagnostics and laboratory-developed tests; new human tissue and cell-based products; and hospital information systems. In addition to her strong private practice experience, Ms. Kupchyk has served in related public sector roles as associate chief counsel for drugs and biologics, and as assistant general counsel for litigation at the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission.

During her time at the FDA, Ms. Kupchyk received numerous awards, including the prestigious FDA Commissioner’s Special Recognition Award, the Health and Human Services (HHS) General Counsel’s Leadership Award, and the HHS Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service. She is also a three-time recipient of the FDA Commissioner’s Special Citation for outstanding achievement.

“Areta offers our clients the unique and valuable perspective of one who spent considerable time as an FDA insider,” said Susan Robfogel, partner and chair of Nixon Peabody’s Life Sciences practice. “In addition, her experience fits perfectly with Nixon Peabody’s leadership in the area of personalized medicine. We are confident our clients will benefit from her experience and strategic contributions to achieving their objectives.”

Ms. Kupchyk received her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Maryland and continued her educational pursuits there, receiving her JD, with honors, Order of the Coif, from the University of Maryland School of Law. Following law school, she served as judicial clerk for the Honorable Hilary D. Caplan, Circuit Court of Baltimore.

About Nixon Peabody LLP

Nixon Peabody LLP is a full-service law firm that helps clients navigate complex challenges in litigation, real estate, corporate law, and finance. With approximately 700 attorneys throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia, our focus is on working collaboratively to serve clients ranging from private individuals and entrepreneurs, to large corporations and financial institutions. Employing innovative and client-centered approaches, the firm helps to anticipate and capture opportunities, prepare for and manage risks, protect intellectual property, and forecast and overcome obstacles. Nixon Peabody is committed to the clients it serves, the communities in which it serves them, and the diverse professionals who have helped make it a “Best Law Firm” and a “Best Place to Work.”

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