Life Sciences: IP/Patent Litigation
UK Guide 2025 : UK-wide
Band 2
Contact number
+44 20 7374 8000About
Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills
Combining deep scientific and technical knowledge, we apply our commercial nous and experience to anticipate and deliver innovative, value-enhancing solutions.
We partner with our clients at every level of their businesses to help them achieve their goals: from strategic advice on "bet-the-company" transactions and disputes to merger control, regulatory investigations, commercial contracts and licensing.
Our intellectual property lawyers, the majority of whom have scientific or engineering backgrounds, understand that innovation is at the heart of the pharmaceutical industry. We help the world's leading pharmaceutical companies to use intellectual property to achieve commercial outcomes and competitive advantage, and have acted on some of the most complex transactions and disputes in the market.
Our integrated pharmaceuticals team spans our network of offices, and together with our preferred, trusted local law firms, work as one to provide commercial solutions—wherever you operate.
Chambers Review
Herbert Smith Freehills provides an excellent patent litigation offering for biotech and pharmaceuticals companies, and is best known for defending against generic challenges. It is very strong on the interaction of IP law with competition and EU law. The team also advises on IP licensing and freedom-to-operate exercises, and demonstrates expertise in UK and EU pharmaceuticals regulations.
Work Highlights
- Herbert Smith Freehills continue to act for Biogen in a multibillion-dollar global patent dispute in relation to Tecfidera, a treatment for multiple sclerosis.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Herbert Smith Freehills has an extremely proactive and very commercially savvy team."
"Herbert Smith are very experienced in all aspects of pharmaceutical patent matters. The team offers perfect advice that is very client-oriented."
"At HSF, their level of organisation is really stellar and their senior associates are very strong."
"Herbert Smith Freehills has an extremely proactive and very commercially savvy team."
"Herbert Smith are very experienced in all aspects of pharmaceutical patent matters. The team offers perfect advice that is very client-oriented."
"At HSF, their level of organisation is really stellar and their senior associates are very strong."
Notable Practitioners
Sebastian Moore advises world-leading biotech and pharma companies on cross-border patent litigation campaigns.He oversees disputes before the courts and the EPO.
"Seb has really good judgement and understands the heart of the matter. He is able to articulate, problem-solve and manage the greater strategy."
"Sebastian has a very strong reputation in life sciences patent litigation."
Alan Montgomery is known for his work on life sciences transactions. He advises on commercial contracts, mergers, acquisitions and collaborations involving notable life sciences and pharmaceuticals companies.
"Alan is really well known and respected. He knows the market and shows willingness to understand clients' needs and businesses."
"Alan is an extremely commercially savvy lawyer."
Ranked Lawyers at
Herbert Smith Freehills
UK-wide
Members
Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills
Alan Montgomery
Head of Department
Andrew Moir
Chris Parker
James Allsop
Jonathan Turnbull
Kate Meakin
Kyriakos Fountoukakos
Marc Perkins
Rebekah Gay
Robert Moore
Rod Fletcher