The session covered key scientific advances, key features of genetics data and technologies, opportunities in the industry for business generally and for the provision of legal services.

Professor Yulia Kovas and Dr Fatos Selita delivered a session to the DLA Piper Life Sciences Departments on preparing the law firm for the provision of genomics legal services.

Building on traditional issues in genetics of healthcare, insurance and privacy, Dr Selita highlighted the critical mediating role of law firms in the genomics industry, expanding on existing uses of genetic data by businesses towards viable future markets, including personalised lifestyle and travel genetic products. Dr Selita underscored the serious need for genomics legal services, emphasising the precision features of genetic information; the unique features of genetic data, such as the permanent and familial features, pleiotropy; the scale of the data processing, and what can go wrong; and the risks of litigation and of unpredictable outcome. Discussing the ethical and legal implications for stakeholders – from consumers and regulators to commercial and industrial partners – Dr Selita drew attention to the need for law firms to purposefully engage in the rapidly expanding private and public genetic spheres.