Partner - Head of Intellectual Property, London & Head of Life Sciences & Healthcare sector
Alexandra is a leading IP specialist, known for delivering clear, pragmatic advice to clients navigating both complex transactions and high-stakes disputes.
Language - English
Key Jurisdiction - England & Wales
Alexandra advises clients for whom intellectual property rights are of paramount importance. With degrees in both law and chemistry, Alexandra is regularly instructed by clients in the life sciences sector, advising companies at the cutting edge of research, development and commercialisation. However, her client base also spans other industry sectors, drawn by her ability to combine strategic insight with commercial clarity and technical knowledge.
She advises on collaboration and licence agreements, and guides clients through the IP aspects of M&A, investments, and commercial contracts. Her work ensures clients can move quickly and confidently, knowing their most important intangible assets are protected and driving value.
When disputes arise, Alexandra helps clients defend, enforce, and unlock the value of their IP. She has extensive experience in IP licensing, ownership, infringement and validity disputes, before both the courts and arbitral tribunals.
She is a highly regarded IP expert, recommended for patent, copyright and trade mark transactions, enforcement, and litigation by directories such as IAM Patent 1000, WTR 1000, Legal 500 and Chambers. Alexandra was awarded the Lexology Client Choice Award for healthcare and life sciences UK 2018, named in The Lawyer “Hot 100” Dealmakers 2019 and in Managing Intellectual Property’s Top 250 Women in IP 2025.
Radiopharmaceutical collaboration
Advised Bicycle Therapeutics on its collaboration with Bayer. Bayer will develop, manufacture and commercialise Bicycle® radio-conjugates (BRCs) for oncology targets. Bicycle will use its proprietary platform to discover "Bicycles" to be developed into BRCs. Bicycle received $45 million upfront and is eligible to receive milestone payments totalling up to $1.7 billion, as well as royalties.
Successful settlement of royalty dispute
Secured a successful settlement shortly before trial for a multinational biopharmaceutical company in relation to the defence of a claim for approximately £60 million in allegedly unpaid royalties under a patent and know-how licence relating to antibody technology.
Plant variety rights
Advised a well-known global FMCG company in relation to its defence, at both EU and UK level, of an application for a compulsory licence of one of its most valuable plant variety rights.
AI drug discovery collaboration
Advised BenevolentAI on its collaboration with Merck. The collaboration will use BenevolentAI’s end-to-end AI platform capabilities to deliver novel drug candidates and to identify and develop innovative compounds through Hit Identification to pre-clinical stage. BenevolentAI will be eligible for payments of up to $594 million, consisting of an upfront payment on signing and then potentially discovery, development and commercial milestones as well as royalties.
Copyright and rights to data
Advised the genealogy company, Ancestry.com, in relation to a variety of IP and data matters, including acquisition of, and rights to use, genealogically relevant content from a variety of private and public sector sources.
Acquisition of UK biotech
Acted for Dr. Falk Pharma, a German multi-national pharmaceutical company, on the IP/licensing aspects of its successful acquisition of Kynos Therapeutics, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company spun out from the University of Edinburgh focusing on the development of novel treatments for patients suffering from acute and chronic inflammatory diseases.
Development of performance running shoes
Advised Swiss-based On in relation to collaboration, R&D and related agreements and matters with respect to the development of On's world famous performance running shoes.
Licence agreements for Ferracru
Advised Shield Therapeutics plc in relation to its strategically important series of exclusive out-licence agreements for the rights to commercialise Shield's "Ferracru" product, including agreements with Norgine B.V in respect of Europe and Vital-Net in respect of Japan.
Successful mediation in royalty dispute
Advised an international specialist healthcare company in relation to a multi-million pound claim for unpaid royalties under a patent and know-how licence. Following the initiation of legal proceedings, the dispute was settled successfully at mediation resulting in a significant payment to our client.
Exclusive out-licence for ilofotase alfa
Advised AM-Pharma on its €245 million exclusive licence agreement deal with Kyowa Kirin, for the development and commercialisation of ilofotase alfa in Japan.
