Manatt Adds Leaders to Enhance Life Sciences and Digital Health Legal and Advisory Practices

Christina Farr, Tom Cassels, Dr. Shamiram Feinglass and Melindah Sharma bring extensive experience and notable industry track records to Manatt’s renowned life sciences and digital health practices

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, a multidisciplinary, integrated professional services firm, today announced the arrival of four new Managing Directors to the Firm’s Health Care industry group—Christina (Chrissy) Farr, Tom Cassels, Dr. Shamiram (Shami) Feinglass and Melindah Sharma—who will join Manatt’s expanding bench of accomplished professionals throughout the country who work with life sciences and digital health clients in a wide range of consulting, advisory, technology and legal matters.

Farr’s vast knowledge of the emerging digital and health technology landscape, Dr. Feinglass’ and Sharma’s deep expertise in medical affairs, product development and commercialization across life sciences and devices, and Cassels’ sophisticated background in both strategy and operations in digital health, health technology and life sciences strengthen Manatt’s role as the go-to-market partner for clients working to advance outcomes, increase access to care and improve innovation.

“Chrissy, Tom, Shami and Melindah bring a business savvy and technical understanding that not only complements our dynamic life sciences and digital health practices, but also adds to our strengths more generally as a Firm relating to venture capital, emerging companies, entertainment and beyond,” said Manatt CEO and Managing Partner Donna L. Wilson. “Their leadership backgrounds and successes in the market at the intersection of health care and innovation make them the ideal additions to our Firm and reinforce why we believe it is critical to provide clients with comprehensive counsel across legal, business, policy and technology.”

Farr, Cassels, Dr. Feinglass and Sharma will provide business advisory services to help clients—ranging from pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies to emerging start-ups, investors and innovators alike—achieve their business goals and thrive in today’s market. They work collaboratively with strategy, commercial, policy, innovation and product teams to develop actionable insights and implement innovative solutions for go-to-market strategies. This will complement the Firm’s deep experience relating to the impact of federal and state policy, regulatory and compliance, data privacy and cybersecurity, and supply chain and asset management in the ever-evolving health care environment.

“One of the unique parts of Manatt is our proven ability to attract top tier talent which combines business acumen, broad relationships and strategic, policy and legal advice into engagements that accelerate client growth at all levels of their development,” said Manatt Health Leader Bill Bernstein. “Chrissy, Tom, Shami and Melindah present a big step forward which will allow us to build upon our already recognized brand in the life sciences, AI and digital spaces.”

Farr brings “go direct” communications savvy and a deep understanding of the health industry and emerging trends, with an emphasis on the intersection of health and venture capital. At Manatt, she will provide a range of go-to-market, content development, social media, investor relations and communications counsel to both emerging and established companies as well as the investors behind them. As an angel investor, she will additionally leverage her experience to offer strategic counsel to the Manatt Venture Fund. Farr immediately enhances the Firm’s robust digital health and heath tech capabilities, supporting the Firm’s industry-leading clients as they continue to innovate and harness technology to transform their fields.

Most recently, Farr was an investor at OMERS Ventures, where she focused on health tech with an emphasis on behavioral health, telemedicine, electronic medical records and women’s health. With almost 300,000 followers across social media platforms, Farr is the owner and editorial lead of the weekly newsletter Second Opinion Media, which provides insights on the latest health technology news and trends to 20,000 subscribers and hundreds of thousands of readers. Previously, she was a health tech reporter and on-air contributor for CNBC, Fast Company and Reuters, as well as other renowned news organizations and publications.

Cassels brings deep experience in growth strategy, corporate development and investment advisory services to health care companies ranging from growth equity to the Fortune 500. He will combine his active governance and investment expertise with Manatt’s comprehensive regulatory, policy and strategy consulting services for pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, medical device manufacturers, providers, health plans and private investors. He will equip clients to move wisely and at the right pace to grow, innovate and stay ahead of competition amidst the ever-shifting health care landscape.

Previously, Cassels was president and CEO of Rock Health Advisory, a digital health strategy group. Prior to that he cut his teeth as an intrapreneur, serving as Chief Strategy Officer for an incubated software business within Leidos Health. He started his career with a 15+ year stint at the Advisory Board Company, where he led the company’s flagship research membership before launching the firm’s Strategy consulting practice, working with clients on engagements from enterprise strategic plan development, regional health systems M&A, ambulatory network strategy, consumer digital marketing transformation, post-merger integration of corporate services and payer-provider partnership development.

With notable experience in global executive leadership roles and government, Dr. Feinglass has a sophisticated understanding of the business and policy needs of health systems, medical device, diagnostic and life sciences companies and will be instrumental in strengthening Manatt’s life sciences, public policy, strategy, regulatory and reimbursement capabilities.

Serving as an executive and Chief Medical Officer in large multi-national life sciences corporations, Dr. Feinglass has successfully transformed business systems at scale by integrating and streamlining medical affairs strategy and operations into product development, commercialization and M&A preparation and execution. In parallel, she has driven policy changes alongside senior government officials and CEOs around the world to influence health policy, regulation and access. This holistic approach enables companies to move more swiftly to market, meeting patient needs and the public's health more effectively. A public health doctor, she was the trusted medical leader responsible for coordinating the pandemic response across 80,000 associates globally.

As a health care executive, Sharma has advised leading organizations in pharma, biotech, consumer health, medical devices, digital health and care systems on strategic, operational, policy and financial matters. She has delivered sustainable and scalable solutions in commercial, supply chain, capital/portfolio management to create value for stakeholders. Sharma has led and worked with global cross-functional teams to develop and execute growth and transformation initiatives to facilitate investments, negotiations, M&A and integrations that enhance the performances and outcomes of health care ecosystems.

Previously, Sharma has worked with multi-billion dollar, multinational companies and was also the co-founder of VLAB Partners, working with stealth and series A companies to address the deep fragmentation across pharma, biotech, devices, digital health and delivery systems.

“The first time I met the Manatt team, I was struck by the idea that these are even bigger health care nerds than myself, with a true passion for improving health care. Joining this brain trust is such an incredible next step and I plan to work collaboratively with the teams across health, digital, policy, venture and entertainment to innovate on behalf of our clients,” said Farr.

“A few years ago, leading health care companies could afford to explore new product lines far and wide; today the risks associated with innovation are as high as I can remember. Manatt’s client-centric approach to advising clients through multiple lenses—strategic, legal, regulatory, etc.—creates a unique ability to support clients holistically,” said Cassels.

“Helping companies look for unique opportunities to transform health care, whether by leveraging medical affairs, the promise of AI, or speed to market, is critical to the health ecosystem. I’m looking forward to working alongside the talented Manatt team to help companies create a competitive advantage as they quickly bring needed solutions to patients,” said Dr. Feinglass.

“I was attracted by Manatt’s culture and exceptional capabilities in policy, consulting and law. With the vision of driving commercial success and innovation, we now have unparalleled expertise to accelerate the health care journey for patients in need. This strengthens our commitment to delivering impactful solutions that bridge the gap between life sciences, hospitals, state/federal policies and access. I am humbled to be a part of this important mission with an incredible team,” said Sharma.

Farr, Cassels, Dr. Feinglass and Sharma join the Firm’s roster of legal and consulting professionals who have also joined over the last year across core practices, including Corporate and Finance (Bill Broome); Digital and Technology (Tim Andrews and Lisa W. Rosaya); Entertainment (Binta Niambi Brown); Financial Services (Warren Biro, Haley Fiallo, Mike Katz, Jessica Sklute and Troy Zander); Health Care (Heide Bajnrauh, Axel Bernabe, Robert (Rob) Fraiman, Seth Frazier, Eric Gold, Paul Irving, Dr. Tracy Johnson, Anna Lansky, John O’Brien, Thomas (Tom) Robertson, Lisa Sbrana, Jerry Tichner and Mark Wietecha); and Litigation (Schuyler G. Carroll, Dylan Carson, Randy S. Grossman, Kareem A. Salem and Justin Wolosz).

Farr earned her M.A. from the University College of London and an M.A. in Journalism from Stanford University.

Cassels earned his B.S. from Georgetown University and his M.P.P. from the Georgetown Public Policy Institute.

Dr. Feinglass earned her A.B. from Smith College, M.P.H. from Emory University School of Public Health and M.D. from Emory University School of Medicine.

Sharma earned her A.L.B. from Harvard University.

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