Allen & Overy strengthens life sciences expertise with Bristows hire

Life sciences patent specialist Gemma Barrett (41) has joined the IP team of Allen & Overy in London. The move comes just before the firm completes its merger with US outfit Shearman & Sterling, which according to a joint statement will be in May 2024. Barrett is Allen & Overy’s sixth patent partner in the UK capital; her addition now means the firm’s global life sciences patent litigation partnership is 50% female.

David Stone, head of Allen & Overy’s global IP practice, says, “Gemma has considerable litigation experience involving highly technical subject matter and will offer our clients a great depth of knowledge in protecting patent portfolios spanning international markets. I would like to welcome Gemma to the team at this exciting time, as our merger with Shearman & Sterling is being finalised to become A&O Shearman.”

Allen & Overy expands before merger

After studying biochemistry, Barrett began her career at Bristows, joining the IP boutique in 2006, where she remained for 17 years. In 2017, the firm made her a partner. At Bristows, Barrett led a UK team in litigation for Sandoz in revocation actions relating to Eliquis, which covers active ingredient apixaban. She also worked alongside Alcon as it defended a patent relating to Travatan, a top-selling drug used in the treatment of glaucoma.

Laëtitia Bénard, global co-head of life sciences at Allen & Overy, says, “Gemma brings with her a wealth of experience in patent litigation within the life sciences specialism, and we are very pleased to have her join our firm.”

Gemma Barrett says, “Allen & Overy offers the opportunity to grow my practice in an international firm with a global outreach, for example via its links in the US. I am proud to be part of the firm’s push to develop its IP network, and am looking forward to being more deeply involved with projects including the Unified Patent Court.”

Bristows looks internally

Barrett’s departure leaves ten partners in the Bristows full-time patent litigation team, amid a wider team of 40 lawyers and one patent attorney.

Speaking to JUVE Patent, partner Brian Cordery says, “Bristows has six partners who are dedicated full-time to life sciences patent litigation, and we will shortly be strengthened by two promotions. The size of our patent litigation team makes us the largest dedicated to this area in the UK. We wish Gemma all the best in her future endeavours.”

Cordery continues, “We have an abundance of home-grown talent and remain committed to organic growth. In this regard, Bristows is looking forward to an exciting year ahead – not least with the two partner promotions of both Charlie French and Naomi Hazenberg in our patent litigation team. Effective from 1 May, both bring unrivalled expertise in contentious IP matters, advising on some of the biggest patent litigation cases in recent years.

Given the strength in depth of our team, as well as the current busy workload of the patent litigation group and the wider firm, I fully expect that further promotions will take place in the next couple of years.”

Growth in Hamburg

The addition of Gemma Barrett marks the second partner hire for the Allen & Overy team in recent months.

In November 2023, Anna Wolters-Höhne, formerly a partner at Bird & Bird, returned to patent litigation after a two-year break to join the international firm as a partner. Her presence strengthens the German patent practice in Hamburg, which is home to an important UPC local division.

Although, initially, Wolters-Höhne will be the only Allen & Overy patent litigator in Hamburg, the firm intends to build up a team of associates in the office over the next few months. In the meantime, the experienced life sciences expert will work closely with the Düsseldorf-based team led by Stephan Neuhaus. Furthermore, Allen & Overy has also begun to integrate patent attorneys into its patent team for technical support in litigation in Europe.