Described by Chambers as “a superb corporate lawyer,” Sophie McGrath is a partner in Goodwin’s Life Sciences, Healthcare and Technology groups. Sophie has over 20 years’ experience focusing on transactions in the life sciences, healthcare and technology sectors, acting for companies at all stages of development, as well as investors and management teams. She advises on a wide range of corporate matters, including private and public financings, mergers and acquisitions, public offerings, and restructurings.
Sophie is a recommended lawyer for Chambers UK and Legal 500. She is described by Legal 500 as having “unbeatable knowledge and experience, especially in the life sciences and technology industries” and as “one of the best VC lawyers in the market”.
As the Co-Chair of Goodwin’s European Healthcare initiative, Sophie plays a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s strategic initiatives in this sector. Sophie collaborates with Goodwin attorneys across multiple disciplines such as corporate, commercial, intellectual property, private equity and regulatory to ensure that the firm’s European Healthcare clients are receiving cutting edge legal advice on the distinct challenges and opportunities within the European healthcare sector. With a sharp focus on emerging legal trends, Sophie has a particular interest in the growth of private equity investments within the Life Sciences and Healthcare sectors and works closely with her colleagues in the Private Equity team to provide clients with invaluable insights and strategic legal counsel on these transactions.
Sophie is one of the leaders of Goodwin’s Women’s Health and Wellness Initiative and is heavily involved in supporting entrepreneurs, companies and investors dedicated to advancing innovation in the field of women’s health and wellness. Sophie is also passionate about promoting and supporting women in the Life Sciences, Healthcare and Technology sectors, representing an impressive portfolio of women led companies such as Micrographia, Dunad, Aavantgarde and Jeito, the first women led life sciences focused venture capital fund. Sophie leads various initiatives and events at Goodwin focusing on women, including its annual Women in Life Sciences networking event and its Female Founders Dinner.
Sophie was the recipient of the Collaborative Leadership Award at the 2024 Women, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) UK Awards. Sophie has also been shortlisted as Legal Advisor of the Year at the Women in Finance Awards 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Representative Matters
- Morgan Stanley & Co, Inc. and other banks in their role as placement agents to Silence Therapeutics plc (AIM: SLN and Nasdaq: SLN), a UK-incorporated Life Sciences public company listed on Nasdaq, on a proposed $120 million private placement of American Depositary Shares to institutional investors. Silence Therapeutics is a biotech company developing gene therapeutic technology based on RNA interference.
- Acorai on its oversubscribed series seed financing round led by Solardis Health Ventures. Acorai is developing a non-invasive intracardiac pressure monitoring device to improve heart failure management for more than 64 million patients worldwide.
- COMPASS Pathways plc on a senior secured term loan facility of up to $50 million with Hercules Capital, Inc, as well as a up to $285 million private placement financing led by healthcare specialist investors, TCGX and Aisling Capital. COMPASS is a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health
- Gimv, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Panakes Partners, Seroba Life Sciences and Hadean Ventures on their investment into Complement Therapeutics as part of its €72 million Series A financing. Complement Therapeutics is a biotechnology platform aimed at developing a portfolio of treatments for Complement-related diseases including age-related macular degeneration.
- Gilde Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente Ventures and Morningside Ventures on their investment in Big Health as part of a $75 million Series C financing. Big Health are a digital healthcare provider focused on mental health
- Morningside Ventures on its lead investment into a seed funding round for PsycApps. PsycApps is a London, UK-based developer of an evidence-based mental health game for teens and young adults called eQuoo
- Novo Holdings on its lead investment into Roslin Tech, as part of a financing round of £11 million. Roslin Tech is an agriculture biotechnology company, which is developing and commercializing novel biotechnologies for alternative protein sectors and animal health
- Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund GmbH, Novo Holdings A/S and Evotec SE on co-leading the Series A investment in Centauri Therapeutics Limited. Centauri Therapeutics are an immunotherapy company focusing on antimicrobial resistance research and development
- Jeito Capital, on their co-led $156 million oversubscribed Series B financing round in Quell Therapeutics, the world leader in the development of engineered T-regulatory cell therapies for serious medical conditions driven by the immune system. Jeito co-led the financing with Ridgeback Capital Investments, SV Health Investors and Fidelity Management & Research Company, with participation from founding investor Syncona
- Morningside Ventures on its lead investment of a $50 million Series B funding round into Ieso Digital Health Limited, who deliver high-quality, online cognitive behavioral therapy to NHS patients
- Advanced Medical Solutions Group plc, an AIM listed life sciences company, on its acquisition of Sealantis Limited, a developer of an alginate-based tissue adhesive technology platform
- Kinnevik on their Series C $100 million investment into Spring Health, the developer of a digital platform designed to provide personalized mental healthcare for employee wellbeing
- COMPASS Pathways plc on its completed upsized $146.6 million NASDAQ initial public offering and its public follow-on offering on NASDAQ of American Depositary Shares for gross proceeds of approximately $144 million. COMPASS is a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health
- Omega Funds on co-leading Artios Pharma Limited’s $153 million Series C financing. Artios Pharma is the developer of novel cancer treatments designed to target DNA Damage Response
- Achilles Therapeutics plc on its Initial Public Offering on NASDAQ with total proceeds of $175.5 million. Achilles is a biopharmaceutical company developing personalised cancer immunotherapies
- Kinnevik on their Series B $64 million funding round in Pelago (formerly Quit Genius), the world’s first digital clinic for treating nicotine, alcohol and opioid addictions
- Jeito Capital on leading an oversubscribed $92 million Series C financing round in Pulmocide, the developer of inhaled therapies designed for the treatment of acute and chronic respiratory diseases
- Quanta Dialysis Technologies on multiple private funding rounds including its most recent $245 million oversubscribed Series D funding round, the largest private funding round for a dialysis device company in history
- Lauxera Capital Partners on their investment in LUMICKS, a supplier of Dynamic Single-Molecule and Cell Avidity analysis instruments, as part of a $93 million Series D Financing
- Kinnevik on its lead $41 million investment into a $110 million funding round in Mews. In addition to Kinnevik, Revaia, Goldman Sachs Alternatives, Notion Capital and new investor LGVP also participated in the round. Mews is the leading vertical software and payments solution for hotels. Sophie and the Goodwin team also acted for Kinnevik on its investment into Mews $185 million Series C financing round in December 2022.
- CBMM on its participation in a €108 million funding round for Skeleton Technologies. Siemens Financial Services and Marubeni Corporation also participated in the round. Skeleton Technologies is the manufacturer of ultracapacitor-based energy storage systems intended to deliver high-power energy storage services across industries.
- Grasp on its seed financing round raising approximately $4 million. Founded by early Revolut employees Ed Matthews and Jacob Sidorov last year, Grasp is an educational platform which aims to increase the rate at which humans learn.
- Material Evolution on its £15 million in Series A Funding led by KOMPAS. Other investors participated in the financing, including our client Playfair who was also represented by Goodwin. Founded by Dr. Elizabeth Gilligan and Sam Clark, Material Evolution uses proprietary technology to produce decarbonized cement
- Kinnevik on its investment in the $35 million Series B financing of SafetyWing. SafetyWing is a startup that’s providing health insurance coverage to remote companies, workers and nomads worldwide
- Wintermute, a leading global crypto market maker, on their $20 million Series B funding round
- Kinnevik on their lead $100 million investment into Sure, Inc, the developer of a SaaS infrastructure and distribution platform intended for the world's most innovative insurance programs
- Sprout.ai Limited, an insurtech company providing AI to support claims and fraud teams, on its Series A funding round led by Octopus Ventures
- DST Global and General Catalyst on a $150 million Series C Financing of Zego, a London, UK-based motor insurtech company, giving it a $1.1 billion valuation and unicorn status
Areas of Practice
Professional Activities
Sophie is a member of the British Venture Capital Association.
Sophie is an Expert in Residence for Women of Wearables.
Credentials
Education
Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test2003
College of Law London
Graduate Diploma in Law1999
College of Law, Sydney
Bachelors in Commerce and Laws1998
University of Sydney
Admissions
Bars
- Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
- New South Wales, Australia
Recognition & Awards
- Sophie was the recipient of the Collaborative Leadership Award at the 2024 Women, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) UK Awards.
- Sophie was recognized as a Leading Individual by Legal 500 UK 2024, 2023 and 2022 for Venture Capital, in which she is described as “one of the best VC lawyers in the market. She has unbeatable knowledge and experience, especially in the life sciences and technology industries.”
- Sophie was recognized by Chambers UK 2024, 2023 and 2022 for her work in Private Equity: Venture Capital Investment. Client testimonials described her as “a superb corporate lawyer. She is always direct, very supportive and helpful" and note she is a “fantastic partner to work with” .
- Sophie has been shortlisted for Legal Adviser of the Year by the Women in Finance Summit & Awards Series 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Publications
Sophie’s recent speaking engagements include:
- Author, “FemTech – A market on the rise”, Maddyness 17 May 2022
- Author, “How is new innovation giving a much-needed boost to women’s health and wellness?”, Maddyness 6 April 2022
- Quoted, “Investors' Diversity Quest May Push Women's Health Out of the Doldrums,” S&P Global Market Intelligence, 29 March 2022
- Speaker, “Legal Funding 101: Garnering Support for Women's Health,” Women of Wearables Knowledge Hub, 7 July 2021