Powell Gilbert LLP

Number of partners: 9
Number of lawyers: 27
Languages: English, Finnish, French, German, Cantonese, Mandarin

Firm Overview:
Powell Gilbert LLP is one of the largest, most innovative and highly regarded intellectual property (IP) teams in the United Kingdom and specialises in IP-related litigation and advisory work. With extensive litigation experience, and lawyers who have strong scientific and technical backgrounds, Powell Gilbert is uniquely positioned to address the complex and commercially critical IP matters faced by its clients. The firm advises a wide variety of household brands on major UK and international IP-related issues across a broad range of sectors including pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, electronics, telecommunications, medical devices, energy technologies and consumer goods.

Since its founding in 2007, Powell Gilbert has been involved in many of the leading and highest profile cases in the UK patents courts, including in the High Court, Court of Appeal and the House of Lords/Supreme Court. These cases have included Warner Lambert v Actavis (second medical use claims), Eli Lilly v HGS (industrial application of gene sequence patents – Supreme Court), Unwired Planet v Huawei (telecoms/FRAND licensing) and HTC v Apple (smartphones), to name just a few. Powell Gilbert also has a wealth of experience in co-ordinating European litigation strategies and has also been involved in appeals in relation to the SPC regulations before the CJEU and EFTA Court.

Unusually, almost all of the firm’s lawyers have technical backgrounds, many with PhDs in such disciplines as computer sciences and molecular biology, a qualified medical doctor and numerous others with master’s degrees in scientific subjects.

Main Areas of Practice:
Powell Gilbert’s lawyers have experience across the full spectrum of IP litigation, gained from representing clients in cases across a broad array of technologies and industries. This ranges from acting in the earliest biotechnology patent cases in the UK courts to advising on some of the largest telecoms disputes and enforcing trade mark rights against counterfeit goods in the luxury goods sector.

The firm has acted in cases involving products as diverse as mobile phones, DNA microarrays, computer software, pharmaceutical blockbusters, petrochemicals, semiconductors, monoclonal antibodies, transgenic animals and medical devices. Powell Gilbert is also experienced in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration proceedings particularly in relation to disputed technology licences. A number of the partners and associates are solicitor advocates so the firm can offer solicitor advocacy services, as appropriate to the case. The firm also offers counselling and advice on IP issues generally, including freedom-to-operate and IP due diligence, lifecycle management, pharmaceutical regulatory law, anti-counterfeiting and parallel import strategies.

International Work:
Powell Gilbert’s lawyers represent clients in the UK Courts and have assisted in cases before many overseas courts, including in continental Europe, Scandinavia, USA, Australia and Japan. They also act for clients in the CJEU and have appeared in cases before the EFTA Court. They are often involved in EPO opposition or other registry proceedings and are renowned for their experience in co-ordinating multinational patent litigation (one current case involves co-ordinating teams across 20 European countries).

In addition, a number of the firm’s lawyers have been involved in consulting on progress of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) Agreement and Rules of Procedure. As a result, the firm is well placed to advise clients on their options for European patent litigation and to devise appropriate strategies.

As a leading patent litigation firm, with proven legal and scientific expertise, Powell Gilbert will be well placed to advise, and represent, clients in proceedings before the local and central division of the future UPC.

Firm Contacts:

Intellectual Property (General):
■ Contact: Simon Ayrton
   Tel: +44 20 3040 8010
   Email: [email protected]
■ Contact: Alex Wilson
   Tel: +44 20 3040 8040
   Email: [email protected]

Intellectual Property (Patents):
■ Contact: Tim Powell
   Tel: +44 20 3040 8030
   Email: [email protected]

Life Sciences:
■ Contact: Penny Gilbert 
   Tel: +44 20 3040 8020
   Email: [email protected]

IT/Electronics:
■ Contact: Ari Laakkonen
   Tel: +44 20 3040 8050
   Email: [email protected]
■ Contact: Zoe Butler
   Tel: +44 20 3040 8070
   Email: [email protected]

Healthcare Regulatory:
■ Contact: Tim Powell
   Tel: +44 20 3040 8030
   Email: [email protected]

ADR:
■ Contact: Alex Wilson
   Tel: +44 20 3040 8040
   Email: [email protected]
■ Contact: Penny Gilbert
   Tel: +44 20 3040 8020
   Email: [email protected]