Protecting and commercialising innovation is becoming increasingly complex in today’s global marketplace.
Clients navigating the patent landscape or seeking to protect or extract the value in confidential information need more than just legal advisors — they need a trusted partner who understands their technology and the commercial realities of their market in context.
Our clients trust us for our deep sector knowledge, and our ability to grasp the intricacies of the most complex technologies to deliver practical solutions to business-critical issues.
Our team can support you at every stage of the innovation life cycle – from concept and freedom to operate, to enforcement, exploitation and commercialisation. We also assist in assessing patent and trade secret assets, to ensure they deliver value to your business.
On non-contentious matters, our team is well versed in negotiating and drafting patent licences, R&D agreements, collaboration agreements and technology transfer agreements. We also provide support with due diligence in relation to transactions involving patents and trade secrets.
Our lawyers have acted in several of the most notable patent disputes across a range of sectors, and at all levels of proceedings before the national courts, in mediation and in arbitration. When disputes arise, our team draws upon its considerable experience in devising and implementing patent enforcement and revocation strategies or defending and enforcing trade secrets, to guide you to a successful outcome in line with your business goals.
Our patent and trade secrets team sits within a broader IP, Technology & Data group and regularly draws upon the deep industry knowledge of the wider group to deliver comprehensive assistance across legal disciplines. The team is also supported by a formidable competition law practice, well versed in the issues arising at the intersection between innovation and competition law.
Leading Firm: Patents’
The Legal 500 UK 2025
Through a combination of our international offices and strong relationships with local firms where we do not have a physical presence, we are able to coordinate and navigate the complexities of multi-jurisdictional litigation, including guiding clients through Unified Patent Court proceedings.
我们的服务
Recent experience includes:
- Advised in parallel on two strategic collaboration agreements, one with Bayer and one with Novartis, to discover and develop radioconjugates for multiple oncology targets.
- Advised GroundTruth in relation to its patent and know-how licensing agreements with third parties.
- Advised Kymab in relation to a number of research and licensing collaborations with respect to its "Kymouse" human antibody model.
- Acted for Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH (a German family-owned, multi-national, pharmaceutical company business) on its successful acquisition of Kynos Therapeutics Ltd (a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development of novel treatments for patients suffering from acute and chronic inflammatory diseases).
Please contact Helen Conlan and Alexandra Pygall for more information on how we can support you.
Rapid innovation and shifting regulations make it essential for businesses to secure freedom to operate in competitive markets.
Our team has extensive experience helping clients assess, manage, and mitigate intellectual property risks, enabling confident business growth.
Recent experience includes:
- Advising Union Maritime on its investment into BAR Technologies, including providing extensive freedom to operate advice in respect of patents concerning novel forms of sails for industrial shipping.
- Advising an international sportwear company known for its innovative footwear technology, on several joint development projects with pioneering textile companies, ensuring the protection of our client's IP and freedom to operate with respect to any project results.
- Advising a leading provider operating in the field of metals recycling and e-scrap on a freedom to operate assessment in respect patents in a number of strategic jurisdictions.
Please contact Helen Conlan and Alexandra Pygall for more information on how we can support you.
Increasing competition and technological advancement are driving complex patent disputes across industries worldwide.
Our patent litigation team has a wealth of experience supporting clients to enforce and defend their inventions in multi-jurisdictional patent litigation.
Recent experience includes:
- We advised a biotechnology company working in the field of RNA technologies on an infringement dispute with a third party in the UK and in the EU. The patent in issue related to a chemical compound and the method for its synthesis and use as a diagnostic agent.
- Advising a leading agribio company on a potential multi-jurisdictional patent dispute with a major business in the field of vaccines, including delivering a coordinated global approach to encompass the Unified Patent Court.
- Advising the developer of novel technologies in the field of silicone batteries and renewable energy on a patent entitlement dispute.
- Advising a leading provider of AI-generated translation services on questions of patentability of AI technologies, in view of ongoing proceedings before the English Court.
- Acting for a CDMO in a multi-jurisdictional dispute regarding a patent concerning advanced cell and gene therapies.
Please contact Helen Conlan and Alexandra Pygall for more information on how we can support you.
Confidential information and trade secrets are an increasingly valuable business asset in today's global economy. If protected, maintained and enforced effectively, they can drive value and provide a competitive edge in the market.
Our team has a wealth of experience in assisting clients to identify, protect, commercialise and enforce their confidential information and trade secrets.
Recent experience includes:
- Advised GroundTruth on protecting its trade secrets in the context of commercial discussions with suppliers outside of the UK.
- Advised the provider of pharmacy-based clinical services in a breach of confidence dispute with former employees.
- Advised the developer of technologies in the field of silicone batteries and renewable energy on issues relating to trade secrets and confidential information.
- Advising a leading biotechnology company in relation to confidential information and trade secrets issues arising in the context of a potential patent infringement dispute.
Please contact Helen Conlan and Alexandra Pygall for more information on how we can support you.
