MICHELE TAGLIAFERRI is a member of the firm’s Global Life Sciences practice and leads the EU Life Sciences Compliance and Investigations team.
A lawyer licensed to practice law in Italy, New York, Washington, D.C., and Belgium, Michele is a highly experienced EU regulatory and compliance lawyer, advising biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device clients on strategic regulatory, compliance, and enforcement matters.
Regulatory and Compliance Investigations, and Compliance Program Design. Drawing on his significant industry knowledge, he regularly assists pharmaceutical and medical device companies with conducting privileged investigations into sensitive matters related to GMP/data integrity issues, clinical trials, off-label promotion, bribery and corruption (e.g., FCPA, UK Bribery Act, Italian Law 231), industry code compliance (e.g., EFPIA, MedTech Europe), as well as GDPR issues.
He has also helped dozens of clients establish effective compliance programs in line with enforcement authorities’ expectations, including with respect to the requirements and governance implications of the EU Whistleblowing Directive and the upcoming EU Anti-Corruption Directive. His clients find him experienced, pragmatic, and solution-oriented.
Life Sciences Regulatory and Compliance Counseling. Over the years, Michele has managed dozens of projects relating to regulatory and compliance issues for pharmaceutical and medical device products, where he has effectively partnered with in-house counsel, business teams, and local counsel on a wide variety of regulatory and compliance issues, including compassionate use and name patient programs; clinical trials and continued access; GMP compliance and enforcement; promotional materials; patient assistance programs; interactions with HCPs; and relationships with distributors.
EU ESG/Sustainability. Michele leads the firm’s Life Sciences ESG/Sustainability work, assisting pharmaceutical and medical device clients companies with complying with the full spectrum of the EU ESG/Sustainability legislation, including the EU Omnibus Package, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the Green Claims Directive. He co-leads Sidley’s Life Sciences ESG Roundtable, a discussion forum for in-house counsel focusing on EU’s evolving sustainability/ESG legislative framework.
M&A and PE Regulatory and Compliance Due Diligence. Drawing on his broad life sciences regulatory, compliance, and enforcement experience, Michele routinely conducts legal due diligence in private equity and M&A transactions, providing strategic advice on areas of potential risk.
Michele is widely recognized as a leader in the investigations and compliance sphere, and has been Recommended by Legal 500 EMEA (Belgium) 2025 for EU Regulatory; Pharma, Medical Devices and Biotech.
Michele co-founded Sidley’s aclegal Legal Network, a global forum of small and large life sciences companies that meets twice a year (in the EU and U.S.) to discuss compliance and enforcement developments relevant to the life sciences industry.