The Patent 1000 focuses exclusively on patent practice and has firmly established itself as the definitive 'go-to' resource for those seeking world-class legal patent expertise.
Bronze - Individuals: litigation
Alongside their wider patent practice, Pinsent Masons offers up a particularly well-oiled litigation machine on behalf of generic pharmaceutical companies. The firm prides itself on its top-notch work in business-critical, multi-jurisdictional disputes – shaping the law rather than simply applying it. Clare Tunstall is the global head of IP. A world-renowned litigator in the life sciences space, Tunstall, quite simply, has one of the United Kingdom’s very best track records in securing patent revocations for her generic pharmaceutical clients. Other leaders on the life sciences litigation bench include Nicole Jadeja, Gareth Morgan, Christopher Sharp and Charlotte Weekes. “Nicole handles complex and unusual issues with ease, and knows when to bring colleagues in as needed. Her advice was clear, timely and extremely helpful. She is recommended without hesitation.” Armed with a doctorate in gene regulation, Morgan is well equipped to support life science companies. He has been engaged by Sandoz in an effort to revoke patents held by Astellas and J&J and has also been retained in a confidential capacity for some forthcoming litigation by others in the pharmaceutical sphere. Sharp has had a remarkably busy year, culminating in seven trials in seven months, including work for Flynn Pharma, Teva and Bioeq AG. With an Irish qualification, Sharp is a strong candidate for cross-jurisdictional suits and the UPC. Weekes is perhaps best known for her work for Teva before the Supreme Court. Her expertise in life science litigation and SPCs continues to be called upon by some of the biggest names in the field. On the technology side of patent litigation, clientele are in good hands with Mark Marfé. “Mark’s work is incredible and very thorough. His arbitration skills are brilliant. In particular, he always makes himself available to his clients, devotes a high level of attention to detail and the quality of his work is impressive.” The outfit also boasts a strong transactional offering, headed by Allistair Booth. Booth is regularly called upon by companies in the life sciences to navigate complex and business-critical licensing, collaboration and partnering transactions. Alongside fellow transactions specialist Gina Bicknell, Booth advised F2G on an exclusive licence agreement with Shionogi, under which Shionogi will commercialise F2G’s antifungal product, Olorofim. Also a life science specialist, Bicknell has significant experience in licensing deals. Her calm under fire and commercial focus recommend her to patrons for tricky transactions. Joining Booth and Bicknell on the IAM Patent 1000’s list of recommended patent transactions specialists is Mario Subramaniam. Patrons praise “Mario’s strong support for commercial goals throughout the negotiations. He provided rapid turnarounds of drafts and was readily available for meetings during a busy period. He brought the deal to a successful conclusion by deadline.”