Robbie McLaren

Partner, Vice Chair of Healthcare & Life Sciences, Latham & Watkins

Robbie McLaren, Global Vice Chair of the firm’s Healthcare & Life Sciences Industry Group, advises healthcare, technology, and life sciences companies across the full corporate life cycle.

Robbie leverages extensive experience on all sides of a transaction to represent market innovators in:

• Cross-border mergers and acquisitions
• Private equity
• Joint ventures
• Equity fundraisings
• Public company representation
• Carve-outs
• Asset swaps 

A recognized leader within the firm, he previously served as Co-Chair of the London Corporate Department.

Chris McDonald

Minister for Science, Innovation and Investment, Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC)

Chris McDonald MP was appointed Minister for Industry in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) on 11 September 2025. His responsibilities include advanced manufacturing, chemicals and plastics, infrastructure, green jobs and skills,green growth sectors and industrial decarbonisation. He was elected as the MP for Stockton North in July 2024. 

Chris studied Chemical Engineering at Cambridge, graduating with BA and MEng degrees. He also completed an MBA at the University of Warwick. Before becoming an MP, Chris spent 20 years working in the steel industry, with a focus on research. In 2008, he became a laboratory manager within the research division of Tata Steel. In 2014 he led the divestment of the Materials Processing Institute from Tata Steel UK, becoming CEO. Chris is also a Fellow at the Royal Academy of Engineering.