Stephen Bennett > Hogan Lovells International LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Hogan Lovells International LLP
ATLANTIC HOUSE
HOLBORN VIADUCT
LONDON
EC1A 2FG
England

Work Department

Intellectual Property

Position

Partner

Career

Stephen Bennett is a patent litigator recognised for his ability to steer the right course in the toughest cases. Being trusted with the trickiest pharmaceutical cases for innovator clients means he has been able to push the boundaries around preliminary injunctions to stop infringing generic launch, changing the answer to the question: how far can a generic go before the court can stop it.

In the tech sector, Stephen is known for litigating in some of the biggest patent disputes that Europe has seen. Those cases raise additional complications on issues such as FRAND, scope of injunctions, managing supplier information, coordinating litigation across multiple jurisdictions. Having litigated these issues several times over for different clients gives Stephen a particularly seasoned view that helps to anticipate the ways the case can develop and to deal with it.

Clients appreciate his knowledge, pragmatism and efficiency while opponents recognize that against him they have a ‘hard but sensible fight’.

Lawyer Rankings

London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: patents (contentious and non-contentious)

(Hall of Fame)

Stephen BennettHogan Lovells International LLP

The ‘amazing’ Hogan Lovells International LLP maintains a strong practice in pan-European patent litigation strategy alongside a strong transactional practice. The team is helmed ‘force of nature’ Paul Brown, who is sought out by clients for his expertise in patent-related disputes in the electronics and medical devices sector. ‘Superb’ Stephen Bennett is also in high demand with pharma companies for his considerable experience in handling disputes. Another notable name is Joel Smith, who has strengths in both contentious and non-contentious matters, with a niche expertise in plant variety protection and regulation. Patent litigator Daniel Brook routinely undertakes cross-border pharma litigation, notably representing Eli Lilly in a dispute regarding its cancer drug pemetrexed. Katie McConnell is noted for her expertise in the telecoms and pharma fields, while Stella Wong focuses on medical device, pharmaceutical and biotechnology patents, balancing her legal practice with her work as a doctor. Counsels Emma Fulton and Dominic Hoar are also recommended.

London > Industry focus > Life sciences and healthcare

The ‘very strong‘ team at Hogan Lovells International LLP assists a varied client base consisting of healthcare, medical device, and pharmaceutical companies with bet-the-company cases and large licensing transactions. Practice co-head Jane Summerfield has vast regulatory expertise spanning clinical trials to reimbursement issues, with particular emphasis on gene therapies and digital health software. Described as ‘Mr. Realistic‘ by clients, patent litigator and co-head Stephen Bennett regularly assists clients with the defence of patents and supplementary certificate rights, while co-head Matthew Felwick is ‘very technical‘ and has deep knowledge surrounding product liability, often acting in group actions and coroner’s inquests. Rated by clients as ‘one of the best life science lawyers in the industry‘, Penny Powell has extensive expertise in M&A and partnering transactions, and counsel Elise Martin is noted for her experience in assisting clients with international regulation and commercial disputes. Having been promoted to partner in January 2023, Stella Wong utilises her medical background to act in disputes concerning biotec, pharmaceutical, and medical device patents.