Profilo
Wayne H. Elowe is Co-Chair of the firm’s global Life Sciences and Medical Technology Group and Co-Chair of the Corporate Practice in Atlanta. He concentrates his practice on corporate counseling, international business and complex commercial transactions, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic investments and alliances, licensing, and technology transactions. He represents publicly traded and privately held multinational corporations, private equity funds and other investors in various industries, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, information technology, media, manufacturing, real estate, telecommunications, outsourcing, chemicals and food. Wayne is regularly involved with complex relationships involving the acquisition, licensing, sharing, development and monetization of various technology-driven assets. He is frequently called upon to work with clients across multiple jurisdictions around the world to ensure that strategic goals are consistently implemented in their transactions and partnering relationships.
Wayne has represented clients in over 50 countries in North America Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. He has more than 28 years’ experience representing U.S. companies doing business in China and representing Chinese public and privately-owned companies as their global counsel. Wayne also represents a number of European and Asia-based clients in connection with their transactions and strategic growth in the U.S. and globally.
In addition to his transactional experience, Wayne also serves in the role of outside general counsel to a number of multinational clients and is actively involved with their senior executive teams in developing and implementing strategy-concerning matters such as new business and product initiatives as well as corporate matters and litigation.
Concentrations
- Global
- Cross-border mergers and acquisitions and investments
- International joint ventures
- Strategic alliances
- Pharmaceuticals, medical devices and life sciences, media, and information technology
Competenze
Esperienze Professionali - Attività Accademiche
- Represented Huadong Medicine, a Chinese publicly traded pharmaceutical company in signing a $300 million license, development and commercialization agreement with Immunogen for the further development and commercialization of mirvetuximab soravtansine (IMGN853) in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
- Represented Huadong Medicine, a Chinese publicly traded pharmaceutical company in signing a $200 million license, development and commercialization agreement with Provention Bio to develop and commercialize PRV-3279, a DART® (bispecific antibody-based molecule) targeting the B cell surface proteins CD32B and CD79B, in Greater China.
- Represented Tiancheng Investment Management in the $370 million sale of 25 blood plasma collection centers owned by its UK-based portfolio company, Bio Products Laboratory to Grifols. S.A.
- Represented Biotest AG, a German publicly traded biotechnology company in signing $573 million global license, development and commercialization agreement with Abbott Laboratories for the further development and commercialization of a novel anti-CD4 antibody for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and psoriasis.°
- Represented Biotest AG in connection with its $286,000,000 sale of its U.S. blood plasma collection business to Grifols S.A. through a competitive auction process and including significant CFIUS and antitrust counseling.
- Represented Biotest AG in connection with the carve-out sale of its plasma therapy business to ADMA Biologics, Inc. and in connection with the related commercial agreements between the companies concerning ongoing plasma supply.
- Represented Biotest AG in connection with an exclusive licensing transaction with ADMA Biologics with respect to ADMA’s Respiratory Syncytial Virus assay process.
- Represented China Grand Pharma Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Grand Enterprises in connection with a $127 million licensing transaction with a U.S. biotechnology company for the development and commercialization of a drug product in China.
- Represented Grunenthal GmbH in connection with a $400 million licensing and commercialization transaction to obtain rights to commercialize in the European Union patent technology rights and products developed by a U.S. biotechnology company.°
- Represents aap Implantate AG, a German public medical device company that manufactures and distributes globally trauma products for orthopedics in connection with aap’s commercial distribution and related agreements; corporate matters, transactions and litigation.
- Represented PRA Health Sciences, a global clinical research organization in connection with the creation of a joint venture in Japan with Takeda Pharmaceuticals for the provision of clinical development services to Takeda.
- Represented PRA Health Sciences, a global clinical research organization in connection with the creation of a joint venture in China with WuXi AppTech to provide clinical research services and in connection with merger and acquisition activity in China.
- Represented a Chinese private equity investment fund in connection with a $300 million acquisition of a U.S. life sciences company, including through a lengthy CFIUS approval process.
- Represented VcanBio Technologies, a Chinese publicly traded pharmaceutical company in connection with a $285 million acquisition of a U.S. gene technology and engineering company, including through a lengthy CFIUS approval process.
- Represents a global hospitality company in connection with the expansion of its time share business in China, Japan and other countries.
- Represents U.S. technology device manufacturer in connection with a venture capital investment in a Chinese manufacturer and a long-term manufacturing, supply and distribution relationship.
- Represents Seegene, Inc., a Korean public company and producer of PCR diagnostic testing technology and related devices in connection with joint ventures in Mexico and France and in connection with its strategic distribution and sale agreements as well in connection with market entry and expansion of its business in the U.S. and other countries.
- Represents U.S.-based pharmaceutical corporation in connection with all of its corporate matters including the in-licensing of innovative patented technology used in connection with alliances and procurement of new product development technology platforms.
- Represents Dart Neuroscience in connection with its strategic licensing and monetization of compounds for the development of neuro disease-related drugs and other strategic transactions.
- Represented Chinese biotech company providing antibody discovery and engineering platform services in connection with a research and commercialization relationship for the discovery and commercialization of various antibodies directed against specific target epitopes identified by the commercial partner.
- Represented a Chinese biotechnology company in connection with its alliances and other corporate transactions in the U.S. and globally.
- Represented U.S. biotechnology company in the licensing of its compounds to an India-based pharmaceutical company for the development and commercialization of drug products in India.
- Represented Cantex Pharmaceuticals in connection with its strategic supply contracts for drug product ingredients.
- Represents U.S.-based manufacturer of multiple monitoring devices in connection with its international distribution relationships and in connection with related counseling concerning export requirements.
- Represented The Weather Company (f/k/a global media and technology company The Weather Channel) as global counsel in connection with the global expansion of its business and product offerings across its platform, including counseling on the international organization of its businesses, joint ventures in China and, partnering deals with major online providers and handset manufacturers, alliances, FCPA compliance and regulatory compliance.
- Represents Neusoft Corporation, a Chinese public company and the largest software development and information technology outsourcing company in China, and its affiliates in connection with various cross-border transactions and joint ventures involving the sharing and development of complex technology platforms and related products, venture capital financings and commercial relationships and in connection with FCPA compliance and general corporate matters.
- Represented a Chinese publicly traded environmental engineering company in connection with its first M&A transaction in the U.S.
- Represents a large Chinese LED lighting manufacturer in connection with its expansion into the United States.
- Represents LINE Corporation, a Korean online texting and voice communications company with over 500 million subscribers globally.
- Represented Dutch manufacturer of complex FDA-approved bottling and food processing equipment.
- Represent Genesco Inc., a NYSE-traded retailer in connection with its U.S. and foreign operations including contract negotiations and corporate counseling.
- Represented U.S. specialty architectural engineering firm in connection with the formation of a joint venture in the U.A.E. with respect to the design and development of construction projects throughout the Middle East involving healthcare, biotech and other specialty facilities.
- Represented WebMD in connection with a $1 billion joint venture with NewsCorp.°
- Represented WebMD in connection with its joint venture with Japan's Softbank Corp., a to expand the WebMD technology platform in Japan.°
- Represented AT&T in connection with an alliance with Microsoft concerning AT&T’s Yellow Pages business and use of Yellow Pages as a preferred directory service for Microsoft’s online consumer platform.
- Represented AT&T as part of a multidisciplinary team in connection with AT&T’s strategic alliance with Yahoo! whereby Yahoo!’s online platform and search technology was used to power AT&T’s online consumer website, advertising and consumer services platform.
- Represented U.S. operator of hospitals in connection with the formation of a Dutch Co-op joint venture with a U.S. multibillion health care company to develop a hospital management business throughout the Middle East.
- Represented Blue Cross Blue Shield Association in connection with the strategic development and expansion of its business in China.°
- For 10 years, served as corporate and transaction counsel to TLC Beatrice International Holdings, a $2 billion annual revenue multinational, and at the time, the largest African American-owned business in the U.S., in transactions including:
- the $573 million auction sale of its French food distribution;
- the $190 million auction sale of its ice cream business in Spain;
- the €146 million sale of its holding companies located in the Netherlands;
- the structuring and negotiation of multiple joint ventures, financings and acquisitions in China;
- the $45 million auction sale of bottling business in the Netherlands and Belgium to management led buy-out group; and
- the $500 million liquidation of the parent company and distribution of proceeds to the shareholders resulting in a significant return on equity.°
- Represented Fortune 500 manufacturer of carpets and floor coverings in connection with structuring an implementing joint ventures and commercial relationships with Chinese manufacturers.°
- Represented NYSE-traded manufacturer Acuity Brands, Inc. one of the world's leading providers of lighting fixtures and related products and services in connection with its market entry into China and in connection M&A transactions, joint ventures and technology alliances with a strategic alliance with a Chinese and Dubai-based developer of multiple technology providers to develop and expand its LED lighting technology capability and related service offerings.°
- Represented UK billionaire investor in connection with the $120 million sale of his casino located in Argentina.
- Represented UK billionaire investor in connection with the sale of his Planet Hollywood franchises in Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Argentina and the Cayman Islands to a Mexican public company.
- Represented a Swedish private equity fund in a $500 million leveraged buyout of a U.S.-based specialty chemical business.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Elowe prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Riconoscimenti e Premi
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2018-2025
- Listed, The Legal 500 United States, 2011-2012, and 2022-2024
- Industry Focus > Healthcare: Life Sciences, "Recommended Lawyer," 2022-2024
- Listed, IFLR1000, "Highly Regarded Practitioner - M&A (Georgia)," 2018-2024
- Listed, LMG Life Sciences, "Life Science Star," 2017-2024
- Team Member, Corporate Board Member magazine and FTI Consulting Inc., one of "America’s Best Corporate Law Firms," 13th Annual Legal Industry Study, 2013
- Named, Legal Media Group: Guide to Leading Practitioners - China, "Leading Practitioner in Mergers and Acquisitions and Finance Law," 2011
- Rated, AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5.0
Formazione
Formazione
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Laurea magistrale in Giurisprudenza, Case Western Reserve University School of Law
- Notes Editor, Case Western University Law Review
- Diploma di maturità, Connecticut College
Abilitazioni
- Georgia
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Admitted in Georgia. Has not taken the Chinese national PRC judicial qualification examination.
Lingue
- Francese, Colloquiale