Describing Baker’s appointment as a “new and unique benchmark”, the firm said its aim is to provide in-house scientific and regulatory expertise.

Baker’s experience in pharmaceutical medical and regulatory affairs is extensive in Australia and New Zealand, both as a senior manager and consultant. She is also a part-time member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

“The pharmaceutical and medical devices industry is becoming more and more regulated, and legislation is becoming increasingly important in everyday decision-making in the industry,” Baker said.

“Speaking from my industry experience, one of the biggest problems I found was being able to get a legal services provider to understand the scientific and regulatory issues the business was facing, and the language of the industry in which we were operating.”

Departmental managing partner Stuart Clark welcomed Baker’s appointment

“The combination of [Baker’s] industry background and experience, and legal and scientific qualifications, puts us in a unique position of not only being able to understand the legal and scientific issues facing clients in this sector, but being able to understand their business,” Clark said.

“This will assist us in ensuring that we apply the most appropriate resources to meeting our clients’ needs.”