JUVE Comment

The London team of this international law firm has successfully transformed from its life sciences litigation roots through an ambitious growth strategy over the past three years. The strongly positioned litigation team now commands equal prominence in high-profile pharmaceutical and mobile communications cases, while also conducting litigation in medical devices, electronics, and mechanical engineering.

The arrival of James Marshall in autumn 2023 proved particularly significant, substantially raising the firm’s profile in mobile communications throughout 2024. His recruitment brought litigation work for Oppo against Panasonic. Furthermore, a Pinsent Masons team (alongside Marshall’s former firm Taylor Wessing) now represents Ericsson against Lenovo in the UK’s most prominent SEP case concerning interim licences. Both instructions are a boon for the firm and mark a departure from its traditionally life-sciences-focused reputation. Additionally, Mark Marfé is currently representing Safran in damages proceedings against Lufthansa at the UK patent courts.

The pharmaceutical sector remains the practice’s cornerstone, where partners Christopher Sharp, Charlotte Weekes, and patent attorney Kristina Cornish form one of the UK’s most prominent teams for clients including Accord, Formycon, Sandoz, Stada and Teva. While primarily representing generics and biosimilar manufacturers, the team occasionally advises originator companies.

The firm strategically established a mixed team of lawyers and patent attorneys in this core sector to handle significant EPO proceedings. The team’s broad partner base enabled it to weather the departure of the well-regarded Clare Tunstall.

European set-up

The UK team regularly coordinates pan-European battles for generic manufacturers such as Accord, Sandoz and Teva concerning important drugs. This work has been economically crucial to the patent team and has driven its recent European expansion. The Amsterdam and Paris practices also maintain strong profiles in life sciences disputes.

Fittingly, the firm’s first UPC cases to date stem from this segment, as it represents Accord against Sanofi concerning prostate cancer drug cabazitaxel/Jevtana and Advanced Cell Diagnostics against Molecular Instruments concerning RNA-sequencing technology. These matters see close collaboration between the London, Paris, and Amsterdam teams. While Pinsent Masons maintains a pharmaceuticals team in Germany, it does not operate at the same level.

James Marshall’s work has established the UK team in international SEP disputes. He provided background support for Oppo against Panasonic in parallel UPC cases, though his core clients Oppo and Ericsson still instruct other firms on the continent. The continental Pinsent Masons teams have yet to match the London team’s top-flight SEP work.

Strengths

Disputes over pharmaceuticals, mainly for generics manufacturers, also SEP and FRAND disputes.

Recommended individuals

Carissa Kendall-Windless (“excellent work for Ericsson”, competitor), Mark Marfé, James Marshall, Christopher Sharp (“excellent knowledge around market launches for new drugs, excellent commercial thinking”, client), Charlotte Weekes; patent attorney: Kristina Cornish(pharma and biotech)

Team

28 lawyers, 4 patent attorneys

Partner moves

Clare Tunstall (to own firm in 2024)

Clients

Litigation: Sandoz and Teva against Astellas over prostate-cancer treatment Xtandi; Accord, Stada and Sandoz against Bayer over anticoagulant Xarelto; Formycon and Klinge Biopharma against Novartis over ophthalmic biosimilar; Teva against AstraZeneca over diabetes medication Forxiga; Flynn against Viatris over insomnia drug Circadin (settled in 2025); Advansix Resins & Chemicals against Stockmeier Chemie over painting additives; Safran against Lufthansa over compensation for infringement of patent relating to aeroplane seats; Advanced Cell Diagnostics against Molecular Instruments over RNA-sequencing technology; Ericsson (co-counsel with Tayor Wessing) against Lenovo/Motorola over 4G and 5G portfolio licence; Oppo against Panasonic over 4G and 5G portfolio licence (settled in 2024).