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Leading life sciences IP experts

Technical and legal capabilities accurately matched to your needs

Intellectual property is a critical asset in the life sciences sector. With Marks & Clerk, you work with leading life science experts, whose technical and legal capabilities are accurately matched to your needs. People who understand your world and are experienced in identifying, protecting, enforcing and maximising the value of IP rights for life sciences businesses.

Technical and sector expertise

Marks & Clerk has a large team of leading life science experts. The size of our team means that we have extensive expertise in all life science technical areas, including small molecules, biologics, molecular biology, gene therapy, virology, plant biotechnology, vaccines, wounds, immunology, bioinformatics and diagnostic methods. 

We also have expertise in all other exclusivities particular to the life sciences sector, including:

  • supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) for medicinal and plant protection products
  • patent term extensions
  • regulatory exclusivities
  • plant variety rights.

Specialists

for the result you need

Monique Chu

Partner Chinese and Chartered (UK) Patent Attorney
Monique entered the profession in 2005.

James Baker

Partner Canadian Patent Agent
James Baker is a partner and registered Canadian patent agent in the Ottawa office of Marks & Clerk Canada.

Upasana Patel

Partner Registered (SG) and Chartered (UK) Patent Attorney
Upasana specialises in patents and registered designs, and works with multi-disciplinary clients in the fields of chemical and process engineering, biopharmaceutical engineering, pharmaceutical, nano and clean technology and semiconductors.

Steven Gurney

Partner Chartered (UK), European and Registered (AU, NZ) Patent Attorney
Steven specialises in pharmaceutical patents with experience gained working both in-house and in private practice.

Trevor Crosse

Partner Solicitor (UK)
Trevor is an intellectual property lawyer who advises clients on the commercialisation and enforcement of their IP rights, with a particular focus on patent and licensing disputes in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.

Will Nieuwenhuys

Partner Chartered (UK) and European Patent Attorney
Will has experience in a variety of technical fields, with particular expertise in small molecule organic and pharmaceutical chemistry.

Integrated team

We work collaboratively across different disciplines to achieve the best possible outcome

Our team includes patent attorneys, trade mark attorneys, commercial lawyers and IP litigators. This combined expertise and experience means that we can provide every type of intellectual property service you need from the moment an invention is identified through to enforcement or defence of IP rights in opposition proceedings or litigation. We’re used to working collaboratively across different disciplines to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients.

As well as identifying, enforcing and defending IP rights, we carry out life science due diligence projects and commercial work, including when preparing for investment and IPOs.

Our team acts in high value disputes before the courts and patent offices, often in coordinated, multi-jurisdictional proceedings.

Clients

Our life sciences team acts for world-leading multinationals as well as start-ups, universities, public sector organisations, and established SMEs. Our clients include businesses from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food technology and agritech sectors.

“The group stands out for its particularly busy Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) patent filing practice and its longstanding experience in matters at the intersection of litigation and prosecution, making the team a popular choice for sophisticated matters, especially for pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies.”
The Legal 500, 2020

“Pharmaceutical multinationals flock to the firm with cross-jurisdictional litigation and transactions instructions, alongside routine filing and prosecution tasks”
IAM Patent 1000, 2020

Latest Insights

Insight
- 28 July 2021

Sky v SkyKick: SkyKicked into touch

The Court of Appeal finds that a broad specification is not necessarily grounds for invalidity.

On 26 July 2021, the UK Court of Appeal issued its judgment in the long-running trade mark battle between Sky and SkyKick. This has been one of the most eagerly awaited decisions for brand owners in the last few years. The Court of Appeal has reversed the decision of the High Court that Sky’s trade marks were invalid on the ground of bad faith because the specifications were too broad. This is a decision that is likely to be welcomed by many brand owners but as we discuss below does potentially contribute to the issue of cluttering of the register especially in certain classes.
Read more
Insight
- 21 July 2021

A needed boost for innovation in the UK?

Yesterday (20th July 2021), the UK government opened up its new £375 million scheme designed to drive investment in innovative UK firms.
Read more
Insight
- 20 July 2021

© AI and IoT: Canadian Consultation

The goal of this consultation is to ensure that Canada's copyright framework for AI and IoT reflects the rapid advancements in digital technology.
Read more

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