JUVE Comment

The patent litigation team of this international firm has been increasingly visible in London. Its work on patent litigation for pharmaceuticals is seeing the firm retain long-standing clients on the generics side, for example in its revocation proceedings work for Accord Healthcare and work for Teva. However, its pharma expertise is diverging, with the Pinsent Masons partners also taking on work for biotechnology companies. The hiring of life sciences partner Nicole Jadeja from Fieldfisher, along with several high-profile clients, reinforces this specialty. But the London team still has room for growth in life sciences to push for parity with the top tier firms. On the technology side, the patent team has also developed strongly. But there is still some way to go before Pinsent Masons can be said to be challenging the other top international law firms such as Hogan Lovells. Nevertheless, the representation of Zyxel against TQ Delta in the UK High Court and the Court of Appeal over DSL technology did propel Pinsent Masons into a higher market segment. The firm is also seeing an increasing divergence between the two practice areas, which bodes well for a future predicted to see increasing numbers of biotechnology cases.

Strengths

Disputes over pharmaceuticals mainly for generics manufacturers. Innovator and specialty medicines.

European strategy

Consolidating the strong team in London remains a priority for Pinsent Masons, evidenced through the seven arrivals, including one partner, in the past two years. Recently the firm has also focused on expanding in important European jurisdictions such as Munich, a key seat for the UPC. Its German practice has recently grown on partner level and works closely with the London team to support the cross-border litigation work, for example for Accord or Teva. While the young Munich team still has to establish itself, Pinsent Masons already has a well-known patent team in Paris. An interesting option could also be opened up in Dublin. Here, further expansion makes it likely the Irish capital will become more central to the firm’s UK strategy should Brexit come to fruition. In European jurisdictions where the firm has no offices, international cases are managed via a partnership with a selected law firm with a patent specialty.

Recommended individuals

Clare Tunstall

Team

11 partners, 20 associates

Partner moves

Nicole Jadeja (from Fieldfisher)

Specialties

Strong focus on patent litigation concerning biotechnology and medical devices, pharmaceuticals on the generics and innovator side. Technology, including an increasing number of mobile communication and FRAND disputes. Licensing projects, FTO analysis and transactions.

Clients

Litigation: Numerous disputes for Accord Healthcare, for example in a revocation case over bimatoprost; numerous disputes for Teva (defendant), for example against Gilead in SPC challenge over HIV product Truvada; Teva and Actavis (appellants) in revocation and infringement proceedings against Eli Lilly concerning tadalafil at the UK Supreme Court (public knowledge); intervention for British Generic Manufacturers Association in tadalafil case; Archos (defendant) against Sisvel and Mitsubishi Electronics in infringement and revocation case over SEP and FRAND; East Anglia One on patent infringement; JUUL against J Well on patent infringement; Zyxel (defendant) against TQ Delta concerning DSL technology including FRAND issues; Juul Labs (claimant) against competitor in infringement proceedings concerning e-cigarettes.