Peter Homberg

Expertise Peter Advises Experience Highlights Career History

Partner

Life Sciences, Corporate, M&A & Intellectual Property

+49 (0) 30 220 131 000 +49 (0) 162 23 35 000

Expertise

Peter Homberg specialises in life sciences, IP and corporate law, and M&A transactions.

He particularly advises companies in the pharmaceutical, diagnostics, medical device and biotechnology sectors on research and development contracts, collaboration agreements, cross-border IP licensing and IP strategies. He also has extensive experience in advising on compliance issues and advises companies extensively in the field of medical cannabis.

Peter is a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences and is the author of numerous articles and other publications on corporate or IP law in the areas of life sciences and medical cannabis. In addition, he has extensive transaction experience in Southeast Asia.

Peter Advises

His clients include:

  • Start-ups
  • Medium-sized companies
  • Listed companies
  • Nationally and internationally operating corporate groups
  • Financial investors
  • Strategic investors

Experience Highlights

  • DEMECAN GmbH: Preparation of a legal opinion on the compatibility of the legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes in Germany with international and European law. Identification of possible solutions to overcome obstacles under international and European law.
  • Canopy Growth Corp.: Advising the subsidiary of one of Canada’s leading medical cannabis providers in connection with the acquisition of the Storz & Bickel GmbH & Co. KG group of companies for a total of €135 million.
  • DEMECAN GmbH: Preparation of a comprehensive legal opinion on the legal hurdles to the legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes and analysis of possible legal solutions.
  • Proteona Pte. Ltd.: Advising the biotechnology company on the conclusion of an exclusive worldwide license agreement with the National University of Singapore (NUS).
  • Canadian supplier of medical cannabis: Advising in connection with the conclusion of a joint venture agreement with a German wholesaler of pharmaceuticals.
  • Scil Technology GmbH: Advising on the out-licensing of a program for the regenerative treatment of osteoarthritis and cartilage defects to Sanofi.
  • Scil Technology GmbH: Advising on the sale of its service and production division to Nanohale AG.
  • German biotechnology company: Advising on the sale of a technology for the treatment of certain forms of heart failure.
  • German mid-sized pharmaceutical company: Advising on the out-licensing and distribution of an API for the treatment of interstitial cystitis to a US-based multinational pharmaceutical company.
  • Large US-based pharmaceutical company: Advising on the due diligence of a technology portfolio in advance of the in-licensing of a technology for the production of vaccines.
  • Swiss biotech company: Advising on a planned collaboration with a French multinational pharmaceutical company.
  • German-Singaporean biotech company: Advising on the in-licensing of a key diagnostic technology from the National University of Singapore.
  • French venture capital fund: Advising on the acquisition of a block of shares in a German biotech company.
  • Medium-sized pharmaceutical company: Advising on the restructuring of sales in Portugal and various other European countries.
  • Various clients: Advising in connection with transactions in the life sciences sector, including technology transfer agreements, research and development agreements, corporate transactions (mergers & acquisitions), private equity transactions, arbitration proceedings and litigation.

Career History

  • 2012 -2024: Partner, Dentons (formerly Salans)
  • 2010-2012: Partner, (Head of German Life Sciences Practice) Raupach & Wollert-Elmendorff, Frankfurt
  • 2001-2009: Partner, Jones Day (Head of German and European Life Sciences Practice and Intellectual Property Practice), Frankfurt
  • 1996-2001: Deputy Head of Legal Department, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim
  • 1994-1996: Head of the investment projects department, Debis Marketing Services
  • 1990-1994: Head of Singapore office, Thümmel Schütze & Partner, Singapore
  • 1989-1990: In-house Counsel, C. Wuppesahl Insurance Brokers

Memberships

  • Member, Licensing Executive Society (LES)
  • Member, German Association for Intellectual Property and Copyright (GRUR)
  • Member, German Institution for Arbitration (DIS)
  • Member, Pharma-Lizenz-Club Deutschland e. V.
  • Member, Branchenverband Cannabiswirtschaft e. V. (BvCW)

Education

  • Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany

 Publications

  • Co-author, “The permissibility of trading cannabis seeds,” Legal Industry Reviews Germany Vol. 5, September 2024
  • “Die Umsetzungspläne zur zweiten Säule der Cannabislegalisierung – ein Ausblick,” krautinvest, May 2024
  • “Online Platforms for Medical Cannabis Treatment and Legal Pitfalls,” Legal Industry Reviews Germany Vol. 4, April 2024
  • “Bundesrat macht den Weg für das Gesetz zum kontrollierten Umgang mit Cannabis frei,” Dentons Client Alert, March 2024
  • “Bundesrat gibt eine erste Stellungnahme zum geplanten Cannabisgesetz (“CanG”) ab,” Dentons Client Alert, October 2023
  • “Draft Bill German Cannabis Law—Consequences for Medical Cannabis,” Legal Industry Reviews Germany Vol. 2, September 2023
  • FOCUS online expert series on cannabis law with regular contributions, since April 2023
  • “CBD Oils: Food or Pharmaceutical?,” Legal Industry Reviews Germany Vol. 3, December 2023
  • “Current Developments in the German Legalization Process,” Cannabis Law Journal, November 2023
  • “Legalization in Germany: Official Draft Draft Law Published,” Cannabis Law Journal, September 2023
  • “Draft Bill German Cannabis Law—Consequences for Medical Cannabis,” Legal Industry Reviews Germany Vol. 2, September 2023
  • “Recent developments in the German legalization process of recreational cannabis,” Legal Industry Reviews Germany Vol. 1, May 2023
  • “Marketability of CBD products in Germany and the European Union,” Cannabis Law Journal, December 2022
  • “Grundlegende Änderungen in der zukünftigen Verschreibungspraxis von Medizinalcannabis,” krautinvest, December 2022
  • “Key Proposals Paper: New Details on Planned Cannabis Legalization in Germany,” Cannabis Law Journal, November 2022
  • “Geplante Cannabis-Legalisierung – Zwischen Wunschdenken und Rechtsrealität,” LTO, September 2022
  • “The Fate of the German Medicinal Cannabis Industry Post-Legalization,” Cannabis Law Journal, August 2022
  • “Online-Handel von Cannabis: Der Vertriebsweg der Zukunft?,” krautinvest, July 2022
  • “Legalization in Europe?—Candidates for the legalization of recreational cannabis in the near future,” Cannabis Law Journal, May 2022
  • “Warum die Legalisierung von Freizeitcannabis völkerrechtlich bedenklich ist,” krautinvest, April 2022
  • “The legalization of recreational cannabis in conflict to the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961,” Cannabis Law Report, December 2021
  • “Harmonisierung des Rechtsrahmens für medizinisches Cannabis auf EU-Ebene,” krautinvest, November 2021
  • Co-author, “Die Pflicht zur Deckungsvorsorge nach § 94 AMG für bestrahlte Cannabisblüten,” Pharma Recht 09/2021
  • “Künstliche Intelligenz unter der EU-Medizinprodukteverordnung,” Science4Life, 2021
  • “Neue Entwicklungen im deutschen Markt für medizinisches Cannabis und Cannabidiol (CBD) 2021 – ein Überblick,” Going Public, Biotechnology, 2021
  • Column about German and European regulation of medical cannabis, Cannabis Law Report, since 2020

Presentations

Peter regularly holds lectures at seminars and conferences. He also holds a monthly deep-dive webinar on current topics of medical cannabis law and the German and international medical cannabis market.

  • “Model Projects – Are They the Path to Pan-European Legalization?,” Panel Discussion, CB Expo 2024 in Dortmund, September 2024
  • “All over the place: The journey to GMP compliance,” Panel Discussion, CB Expo 2024 in Dortmund, September 2024
  • “Medical Cannabis in Germany”, ICBC Science & Technology 2024 in Bled, Slovenia, September 2024
  • “Werben & Verkaufen—Aktuelle Themen für den Handel rund um legale Hanf-Cannabisprodukte,” Panel Discussion, Mary Jane in Berlin, June 2024
  • “Development of Laws and Regs in the EU and UK with regard to Cannabis,” Panel Discussion, LegalTechTalk 2024 in London, June 2024
  • “The European Cannabis Industry—Challenges, Pitfalls and Outlook,” Keynote Speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, April 2024„Bio-Tech and Drug Development,” Talman Global Investment Forum, April 2024
  • “German Legislation on Cannabis,” National Council in Slovenia, February 2024
  • “Cannabis Legalization in Germany,” Keynote Speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, Slovenia, September 2023
  • „Five Years of Cannabis-As-Medicine-Act. The German Way“, Keynote Speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, Berlin, Juli 2023
  • “Cannabis Legalization in Germany,” Keynote Speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, Berlin, June 2023
  • “Cannabis Legalization in Germany,” Keynote Speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, Slovenia, September 2023
  • “Cannabis Legalization in Germany,” Keynote Speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, Berlin, June 2023
  • “Five Years of Cannabis-As-Medicine-Act. The German Way,” Keynote Speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, Berlin, July 2022
  • “Cannabis Legalization in Germany”, Keynote Speech, Keynote Speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, June 2022
  • “The German Way to Medical and Recreational Cannabis,” Keynote speech, Cannabis Business Europe Conference, Berlin, June 2022
  • “Developments of the German Cannabis Market,” Keynote speech, European Medical Cannabis Conference, September 2021
  • “Medical Cannabis from German Cultivation,” Keynote speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, August 2021

 

 

 

 

Peter is a partner in gunnercooke GmbH, whose registered office is Kurfuerstendamm 15, 10719 Berlin, AG Charlottenburg, HRB 224488 B. All lawyers of gunnercooke GmbH are admitted either in Germany or Austria to practise as Rechtsanwalt or Rechtsanwaeltin and are members of and regulated by the relevant local Bar (Rechtsanwaltskammer).

Expertise

Back to top

Peter Homberg specialises in life sciences, IP and corporate law, and M&A transactions.

He particularly advises companies in the pharmaceutical, diagnostics, medical device and biotechnology sectors on research and development contracts, collaboration agreements, cross-border IP licensing and IP strategies. He also has extensive experience in advising on compliance issues and advises companies extensively in the field of medical cannabis.

Peter is a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences and is the author of numerous articles and other publications on corporate or IP law in the areas of life sciences and medical cannabis. In addition, he has extensive transaction experience in Southeast Asia.

Peter Advises

Back to top

His clients include:

  • Start-ups
  • Medium-sized companies
  • Listed companies
  • Nationally and internationally operating corporate groups
  • Financial investors
  • Strategic investors

Experience Highlights

Back to top
  • DEMECAN GmbH: Preparation of a legal opinion on the compatibility of the legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes in Germany with international and European law. Identification of possible solutions to overcome obstacles under international and European law.
  • Canopy Growth Corp.: Advising the subsidiary of one of Canada’s leading medical cannabis providers in connection with the acquisition of the Storz & Bickel GmbH & Co. KG group of companies for a total of €135 million.
  • DEMECAN GmbH: Preparation of a comprehensive legal opinion on the legal hurdles to the legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes and analysis of possible legal solutions.
  • Proteona Pte. Ltd.: Advising the biotechnology company on the conclusion of an exclusive worldwide license agreement with the National University of Singapore (NUS).
  • Canadian supplier of medical cannabis: Advising in connection with the conclusion of a joint venture agreement with a German wholesaler of pharmaceuticals.
  • Scil Technology GmbH: Advising on the out-licensing of a program for the regenerative treatment of osteoarthritis and cartilage defects to Sanofi.
  • Scil Technology GmbH: Advising on the sale of its service and production division to Nanohale AG.
  • German biotechnology company: Advising on the sale of a technology for the treatment of certain forms of heart failure.
  • German mid-sized pharmaceutical company: Advising on the out-licensing and distribution of an API for the treatment of interstitial cystitis to a US-based multinational pharmaceutical company.
  • Large US-based pharmaceutical company: Advising on the due diligence of a technology portfolio in advance of the in-licensing of a technology for the production of vaccines.
  • Swiss biotech company: Advising on a planned collaboration with a French multinational pharmaceutical company.
  • German-Singaporean biotech company: Advising on the in-licensing of a key diagnostic technology from the National University of Singapore.
  • French venture capital fund: Advising on the acquisition of a block of shares in a German biotech company.
  • Medium-sized pharmaceutical company: Advising on the restructuring of sales in Portugal and various other European countries.
  • Various clients: Advising in connection with transactions in the life sciences sector, including technology transfer agreements, research and development agreements, corporate transactions (mergers & acquisitions), private equity transactions, arbitration proceedings and litigation.

Career History

Back to top
  • 2012 -2024: Partner, Dentons (formerly Salans)
  • 2010-2012: Partner, (Head of German Life Sciences Practice) Raupach & Wollert-Elmendorff, Frankfurt
  • 2001-2009: Partner, Jones Day (Head of German and European Life Sciences Practice and Intellectual Property Practice), Frankfurt
  • 1996-2001: Deputy Head of Legal Department, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim
  • 1994-1996: Head of the investment projects department, Debis Marketing Services
  • 1990-1994: Head of Singapore office, Thümmel Schütze & Partner, Singapore
  • 1989-1990: In-house Counsel, C. Wuppesahl Insurance Brokers

Memberships

  • Member, Licensing Executive Society (LES)
  • Member, German Association for Intellectual Property and Copyright (GRUR)
  • Member, German Institution for Arbitration (DIS)
  • Member, Pharma-Lizenz-Club Deutschland e. V.
  • Member, Branchenverband Cannabiswirtschaft e. V. (BvCW)

Education

  • Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany

 Publications

  • Co-author, “The permissibility of trading cannabis seeds,” Legal Industry Reviews Germany Vol. 5, September 2024
  • “Die Umsetzungspläne zur zweiten Säule der Cannabislegalisierung – ein Ausblick,” krautinvest, May 2024
  • “Online Platforms for Medical Cannabis Treatment and Legal Pitfalls,” Legal Industry Reviews Germany Vol. 4, April 2024
  • “Bundesrat macht den Weg für das Gesetz zum kontrollierten Umgang mit Cannabis frei,” Dentons Client Alert, March 2024
  • “Bundesrat gibt eine erste Stellungnahme zum geplanten Cannabisgesetz (“CanG”) ab,” Dentons Client Alert, October 2023
  • “Draft Bill German Cannabis Law—Consequences for Medical Cannabis,” Legal Industry Reviews Germany Vol. 2, September 2023
  • FOCUS online expert series on cannabis law with regular contributions, since April 2023
  • “CBD Oils: Food or Pharmaceutical?,” Legal Industry Reviews Germany Vol. 3, December 2023
  • “Current Developments in the German Legalization Process,” Cannabis Law Journal, November 2023
  • “Legalization in Germany: Official Draft Draft Law Published,” Cannabis Law Journal, September 2023
  • “Draft Bill German Cannabis Law—Consequences for Medical Cannabis,” Legal Industry Reviews Germany Vol. 2, September 2023
  • “Recent developments in the German legalization process of recreational cannabis,” Legal Industry Reviews Germany Vol. 1, May 2023
  • “Marketability of CBD products in Germany and the European Union,” Cannabis Law Journal, December 2022
  • “Grundlegende Änderungen in der zukünftigen Verschreibungspraxis von Medizinalcannabis,” krautinvest, December 2022
  • “Key Proposals Paper: New Details on Planned Cannabis Legalization in Germany,” Cannabis Law Journal, November 2022
  • “Geplante Cannabis-Legalisierung – Zwischen Wunschdenken und Rechtsrealität,” LTO, September 2022
  • “The Fate of the German Medicinal Cannabis Industry Post-Legalization,” Cannabis Law Journal, August 2022
  • “Online-Handel von Cannabis: Der Vertriebsweg der Zukunft?,” krautinvest, July 2022
  • “Legalization in Europe?—Candidates for the legalization of recreational cannabis in the near future,” Cannabis Law Journal, May 2022
  • “Warum die Legalisierung von Freizeitcannabis völkerrechtlich bedenklich ist,” krautinvest, April 2022
  • “The legalization of recreational cannabis in conflict to the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961,” Cannabis Law Report, December 2021
  • “Harmonisierung des Rechtsrahmens für medizinisches Cannabis auf EU-Ebene,” krautinvest, November 2021
  • Co-author, “Die Pflicht zur Deckungsvorsorge nach § 94 AMG für bestrahlte Cannabisblüten,” Pharma Recht 09/2021
  • “Künstliche Intelligenz unter der EU-Medizinprodukteverordnung,” Science4Life, 2021
  • “Neue Entwicklungen im deutschen Markt für medizinisches Cannabis und Cannabidiol (CBD) 2021 – ein Überblick,” Going Public, Biotechnology, 2021
  • Column about German and European regulation of medical cannabis, Cannabis Law Report, since 2020

Presentations

Peter regularly holds lectures at seminars and conferences. He also holds a monthly deep-dive webinar on current topics of medical cannabis law and the German and international medical cannabis market.

  • “Model Projects – Are They the Path to Pan-European Legalization?,” Panel Discussion, CB Expo 2024 in Dortmund, September 2024
  • “All over the place: The journey to GMP compliance,” Panel Discussion, CB Expo 2024 in Dortmund, September 2024
  • “Medical Cannabis in Germany”, ICBC Science & Technology 2024 in Bled, Slovenia, September 2024
  • “Werben & Verkaufen—Aktuelle Themen für den Handel rund um legale Hanf-Cannabisprodukte,” Panel Discussion, Mary Jane in Berlin, June 2024
  • “Development of Laws and Regs in the EU and UK with regard to Cannabis,” Panel Discussion, LegalTechTalk 2024 in London, June 2024
  • “The European Cannabis Industry—Challenges, Pitfalls and Outlook,” Keynote Speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, April 2024„Bio-Tech and Drug Development,” Talman Global Investment Forum, April 2024
  • “German Legislation on Cannabis,” National Council in Slovenia, February 2024
  • “Cannabis Legalization in Germany,” Keynote Speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, Slovenia, September 2023
  • „Five Years of Cannabis-As-Medicine-Act. The German Way“, Keynote Speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, Berlin, Juli 2023
  • “Cannabis Legalization in Germany,” Keynote Speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, Berlin, June 2023
  • “Cannabis Legalization in Germany,” Keynote Speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, Slovenia, September 2023
  • “Cannabis Legalization in Germany,” Keynote Speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, Berlin, June 2023
  • “Five Years of Cannabis-As-Medicine-Act. The German Way,” Keynote Speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, Berlin, July 2022
  • “Cannabis Legalization in Germany”, Keynote Speech, Keynote Speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, June 2022
  • “The German Way to Medical and Recreational Cannabis,” Keynote speech, Cannabis Business Europe Conference, Berlin, June 2022
  • “Developments of the German Cannabis Market,” Keynote speech, European Medical Cannabis Conference, September 2021
  • “Medical Cannabis from German Cultivation,” Keynote speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, August 2021

Back to top

 

 

 

 

Peter is a partner in gunnercooke GmbH, whose registered office is Kurfuerstendamm 15, 10719 Berlin, AG Charlottenburg, HRB 224488 B. All lawyers of gunnercooke GmbH are admitted either in Germany or Austria to practise as Rechtsanwalt or Rechtsanwaeltin and are members of and regulated by the relevant local Bar (Rechtsanwaltskammer).