BIA webinar: The UK’s new National Security and Investment regime and the life sciences sector

Sarah is the Deputy Director for National Security and Investment and part of the leadership team in the Consumer and Competition Directorate in BEIS. She is currently leading a team to develop the policy and legislation for investment screening. She previously worked on consumer policy and prior to that worked extensively in energy policy, including oil and gas and low carbon technology. She has a degree in Environmental Science, a PhD in Isotope Geochemistry and a Master’s in public policy.

James Marshall is a Partner in Covington's London office with extensive experience in all major aspects of EU and UK competition law and sector regulation, counseling clients on merger control, investigations and enforcement, commercial deals, abuse of dominance, sector regulation, and compliance. He is a member of the firm's dedicated Foreign Direct Regulation (FDI) team, leading on the work related to UK FDI. Covington's FDI team advises clients on foreign investment issues across Europe, including evolving FDI screening regimes, and represents clients before the European Commission and the competent authorities in Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Jonathan Wakely is a senior associate at Covington who practices at the intersection of national security and the private sector, advising clients on a range of significant international trade, cross-border investment, national security, supply chain security, and public policy matters. He has been recognized by Chambers USA for his leading expertise in securing national security-related regulatory approvals for foreign investments. He regularly represents clients before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

Martin joined the BIA in April 2016 as Policy and Projects Manager and was promoted to Head of Policy and Public Affairs in January 2019. He is responsible for the BIA's policy outputs and public affairs activities. He also leads on innovation and industrial strategy policy and provides the secretariat for the BIA’s Finance and Tax Advisory Committee and the Intellectual Property Advisory Committee.

Martin has eight years’ experience in policy and public affairs and has worked at the Royal Society, the Campaign for Science and Engineering, and the Association of Medical Research Charities. Before embarking on a career in policy, Martin completed a PhD in molecular biology at the University of Sheffield, where he also co-founded and was director of an award-winning science communication charity called Science Brainwaves. He has a BSc in molecular biology from the University of Manchester.

Eric joined the BIA in March 2017. Previously he worked for the NHS in patient confidentiality and data protection. As a student, in Australia and Scotland, he held part-time positions in legal and parliamentary research.

Originally from Sweden, Eric holds a 1st Class Masters degree in International Economic Law from the University of Edinburgh and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Relations from Murdoch University in Australia.

In his spare time, Eric enjoys the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and travelling to warm and sunny locations.