Back to lawyer directory

Michael Clancy

Partner

Sample Lawyer

"Incredibly responsive, he operates almost as an in-house lawyer for the business, and [has] an incredible understanding of the pharmaceutical industry."

Acritas, Thomson Reuters 2020

Overview

Michael Clancy is a competition lawyer who focuses on providing clients with actionable, commercially-minded advice and solutions, allowing clients to manage complex internal and external challenges and achieve their objectives.
 
Michael works with clients in a range of industries and has extensive experience in the life sciences sector, where he advises clients on the competition law issues arising throughout the lifespan of a product, including:
 

Licensing & R&D Collaborations

Developing and implementing effective licensing and R&D collaboration arrangements that take into account the limits imposed by the competition laws on issues ranging from pricing control, trade management, information exchange, exclusive arrangements and any required approvals from competition authorities.

Pricing Strategies & Governance

Working closely with clients’ pricing and reimbursement teams to develop effective and compliant pricing strategies that address threats from competitors and allow successful agreements with payors and authorities. Michael also provides advice on internal and external pricing governance systems that allow clients to implement desired pricing strategies across different countries and regions.

Supply and Distribution

Working with clients to structure and implement compliant distribution systems intended to ensure the appropriate and adequate supply of products to patients in each country.

Compliance Tools

Developing effective compliance tools, tailored to the clients’ specific business, which allow in-house counsel to constructively advise and guide business teams on issues such as dawn raids, market definition, collection of market intelligence, industry associations and trade activities, competitive pricing, distribution and supply and late life cycle management.

Investigation Defense & Complaints

While the objective is always to help clients avoid legal issues and regulatory scrutiny, where legal challenges arise, Michael works with clients on proactive strategies intended to quickly resolve the issue or investigation.  Michael also supports clients where necessary to take legal actions against competitors engaging in illegal activities.

Languages

English

Recommendations

  • Legal 500 for Healthcare and Life Sciences (‘Next Generation’ leading lawyer)

Education

  • Yale Law School, J.D., 2003
  • University of Dayton, B.A. in Mechanical Engineering, 2000

Publications

Articles on competition law issues arising in the life sciences and other sectors.

Bar Admissions

New York
Brussels

Expertise

Publications and insights

Sign up for updates
    • 25/11/2020
    • News

    "Preparing For Brexit" series of webinars: Recordings

    • 17/06/2020
    • News

    Van Bael & Bellis named Litigation & Enforcement Firm of the Year: Antitrust/Competition in LMG Life Sciences Awards Europe 2020

    • 01/02/2020
    • News

    Van Bael & Bellis Promotes Michael Clancy

    This week, Van Bael & Bellis in Brussels promotes Michael Clancy to its partnership. Michael is known for acting as a valued adviser to clients, delivering actionable legal advice and effective solutions, allowing clients to manage complex internal and external circumstances and achieve their objectives. He has extensive experience in the life sciences sector, where he advises on the competition law issues arising throughout the lifespan of products. Michael’s other notable experience includes successfully defending clients in antitrust investigations by the European Commission and other authorities in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics sectors and his ongoing work on the appeal against the Commission's first decision on reverse-payment patent settlements in the pharma industry. Michael says "I am delighted and honoured to be joining the partnership at Van Bael & Bellis, which has been a thought-leader on competition law matters for the past 35 years, and which includes so many great colleagues who are industry-leading experts focused on delivering the highest quality legal services to our clients." David Hull, senior competition partner, commented: “I have worked closely with Mike for over 10 years. He is a superb lawyer who has developed deep expertise in the life sciences sector. Our clients in that sector are increasingly seeing him as their go-to competition lawyer who combines a broad knowledge of the sector with a practical approach to solving competition issues.” Jean-François Bellis, Chairman, remarked: “In the five years Mike has been with us, I have only heard praise about his work coming from all directions, clients, his colleagues in the firm and his peers outside the firm. His accession to the partnership reinforces our competition law team as one of the strongest in Brussels.” Michael joined Van Bael & Bellis as Counsel in 2014 and was promoted to Senior Counsel in 2018. He previously worked in Brussels and London at other international law firms. The firm's EU competition team now includes 14 partners and 7 counsel in its Brussels office.

    Read more
View all publications and insights

Subscribe to our updates

Please select the practice areas you are interested in: *