Cristiana Spontoni is internationally recognized as a leader in life sciences, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food and cosmetics, as well as in general EU product and industries regulation. She is also actively involved in the shaping and interpretation of EU legislation affecting many different regulated industries and has successfully represented clients in legislative challenges based on EU law. Cristiana frequently coordinates large international assignments and provides comprehensive one-stop-shop solutions for cross-border regulatory issues affecting clients' operations. She has coordinated projects in more than 80 countries worldwide and is co-leader of the Firm's Health Care & Life Sciences Practice.
Cristiana advises clients from the pre-market phase, including clinical trials and pre-market authorizations, to post-market issues, including product liability, marketing/advertising, distribution, and compliance (including sector-specific antibribery and data privacy).
Cristiana handles safety and compliance issues for a large variety of clients both in the life sciences and consumer products sectors, including in regards to product regulation, crisis management (e.g., recalls), regulatory enforcement and media attacks, as well as in marketing/advertising/claims and associated substantiation matters.
Cristiana frequently speaks at and chairs major international conferences. She is recognized in the leading lawyer directories including Chambers, Legal 500, Best Lawyers, and International Who's Who and has received several important awards, including "Life Sciences Lawyer of the Year"(Corporate LiveWire 2018 Global Awards) and the ILO Client Choice Award for EU-wide Healthcare & Life Sciences. She has been named a "Star" by LMG Life Sciences and Acritas.
Experience
The following represents experience acquired prior to joining Jones Day.
Advised a pharma and medical device manufacturer in connection with product liability claims associated with participation in a clinical trial in Europe.
Coauthored a report, on behalf of the Kuwaiti government, on the legal implications of the creation of a high-technology hub, addressing issues such as cybersecurity laws and biotechnology regulation.
Advised a fashion giant in the sale and marketing of cosmeto-textile products on a pan-European basis.
Led a global due diligence exercise in connection with the successful US$800 million sale of the diagnostic business of a major Japan-based medical device manufacturer.
Advised a major satellite operator in the successful bid to obtain frequencies for the operation of mobile satellite services in the first ever EU-wide award procedure launched by the European Commission.
Acted as strategic and regulatory counsel to one of the world's leading clinics in connection with the internationalization of its activities in Europe.
Speaking Engagements
- January 17-21, 2022
Annual European Pharma Law Academy, Pharmaceutical Law, Downing College, Cambridge University, speaker, Cambridge United Kingdom - May 19, 2021
Annual European Pharma Law Academy, Pharmaceutical Law, Downing College, Cambridge University, Cambridge United Kingdom. Chaired interactive discussion - May 17-20, 2021
14th Annual European Pharma Law Academy, Pharmaceutical Law, Downing College, Cambridge University, Speaker, Cambridge United Kingdom - September 15-17 & 23-24 2020
13th Annual European Pharma Law Academy, Pharmaceutical Law, Downing College, Cambridge University, Speaker, Cambridge United Kingdom - September 9-12, 2019
12th Annual European Pharma Law Academy, Pharmaceutical Law, Downing College, Cambridge University, Speaker, Cambridge United Kingdom - June 18, 2019
Annual Life Sciences Seminar, Speaker, EU Regulations - September 26, 2018
Annual Congress of the Dutch Clinical Research Foundation (keynote speaker) - September 10-13, 2018
11th Annual European Pharma Law Academy – Pharmaceutical Law Downing College, Cambridge University - June 19-20, 2018
Women Leaders in Life Sciences Law "Recognizing Your Own Leadership Style and Learning How to Be Perceived as a Leader" - March 6-7, 2018
CBI’s EU Clinical Trial Regulation Summit: CTR, MTR and GDPR – The Big Bang of New EU Regulations Impacting The EU Clinical Regulatory Landscape - November 28-29, 2017
EU Clinical Trial Regulation, speaker, Informa's Clinical Trial Supply - March 14-15, 2017
New personal data protection regulation in the EU and potential applications to the plasma collection, speaker, International Plasma Protein Congress 2017 - November 9, 2016
Jones Day Global Life Sciences Conference – 2016 Issues & Trends - June 9, 2016
Transparency in the Pharmaceutical Sector, Pharmaceutical Contract Management Group Annual Conference, Speaker - March 30, 2016
Pharmacon China, "Driving Resilient Partnerships for Growth", Speaker - March 22-23, 2016
International Plasma Protein Congress, speaker - February 2, 2016
"Conflict resolution", Pharmaceutical Contract Management Group, Speaker - September 17, 2015
“Sunshine Act”, “Doctor-Initiated Clinical Study” and“Off-label Promotion and FCA claims”, Jones Day Conference on Enforcement and Compliance Trends in the Life Sciences Industry, Speaker - September 9, 2015
“M&A in Life Sciences”, Annual Conference of China’s Private Equity Association, Speaker - June 15, 2015
Plasma Protein Forum, Speaker - June 10, 2015
Advertising and Food Products - Which Rules and Which Trends in Europe? - The European Rules of Food Communication, Speaker - April 22, 2015
Pharmaceuticals Regulatory Developments Including New Clinical Trials Legislation, Women Leaders in EU Life Sciences Law, Speaker - March 4, 2015
Negotiating an Effective Clinical Trial Agreement and Limiting Litigation Exposure, ABA Life Sciences Legal Summit, Speaker
- Collegio Europeo di Parma (LL.M. with distinction 1995); Universita degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza" (Law Degree summa cum laude 1994)
- Belgium (EU List) and Italy
- Civil Servant, European Commission, Brussels (1996-1997); Trainee, European Council of Ministers (1996); Trainee, Italian Attorney General's Office (Avvocatura Generale dello Stato) (1995-1996)
Chambers: "excellent," "keen business sense," "smart, very precise, well regarded and well connected"
Legal 500: "excels at identifying potential legal issues across a range of jurisdictions and providing clear and pragmatic solutions"; "a real star"
"Life Sciences European Union Star," LMG Life Sciences
Best Lawyers
International Who's Who of Life Sciences Lawyers
Life Sciences Lawyer of the Year, Corporate LiveWire Global Awards, 2018
Acritas "Star Lawyer"
- English, French, and Italian