Deepa M. Rich

REDWOOD CITY - Deepa M. Rich represents private and public companies in the life sciences and health care industries through her practice in general securities and corporate law.
She joined Goodwin in 2019 after working at the Silicon Valley offices of other firms, notably at Latham & Watkins LLP for mentor Alan C. Mendelson, a life sciences industry pioneer who chaired Latham's practice in that sector and also formerly ran its emerging companies practice.
"I worked with Alan and came to share his passion for life sciences," she said. "I take great pride working in an industry that saves lives and alleviates human suffering. And at Goodwin, I get to work every day with colleagues who share this passion."
Mendelson passed away on Oct. 8, 2021. He was 73.
Earlier in the pandemic, Rich co-led a Goodwin team advising AbCellera Biologics Inc. in its $555.5 million IPO. Simultaneously with the IPO process, Rich also co-led the U.S. acquisition team that helped AbCellera acquire Trianni for $90 million. The timing of the acquisition was crucial since it enabled the company to develop its technology stack and investor narrative for the IPO.
"Doing an IPO during the early days of the pandemic was spectacular proof that the life science industry hadn't shut down," Rich said.
"With the distractions caused by COVID and complexities of running a research business and conducting clinical trials during the pandemic coming to an end, we are seeing a broad set of innovative companies with amazing science make great strides with new diagnostic and therapeutic technologies," Rich continued. "There is a flight to quality, with the best deals still getting financed, but valuations are under pressure. It is reassuring that the funding has not completely stopped and that these cutting-edge companies are still getting funded."
Rich concluded: "I believe that if we start to see good data from these new technologies, the entire industry will take off as investors gain confidence that these new treatment modalities lead to meaningful patient outcomes."