Stella Wong > Hogan Lovells International LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

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

Work Department

Intellectual Property, Media and Technology

Position

Counsel

Career

Stella Wong is dual qualified as a medical doctor and a solicitor. She is a Counsel in the Hogan Lovells London office and works predominantly on multi-jurisdictional patent litigation. Her knowledge in the field of medicine provides particular insights in life sciences cases and she therefore focuses on patent litigation relating to medical device, pharmaceutical and biotechnology patents. 

Her recent work highlights include:

  • Advising a Fortune 500 medical device company on its global patent litigation strategy in relation to patents for medical imaging.
  • Acting for a biopharmaceutical innovator company in its patent litigation involving six patents relating to anaemia.
  • Acting for Rhodia (part of the Solvay Group) in its win in a UK patent litigation concerning catalyst/co-catalyst materials for automotive emission control. The case also involved success in: getting the defendant to drop its three experiments/prior art ahead of trial; compelling the production of samples of allegedly infringing material; obtaining an Order that disclosed documents could be used in parallel German proceedings; and obtaining concurrent UK Border Force seizures of infringing material. The appeal was heard earlier this year and the decision is pending. 
  • Acting in an ICC arbitration for a mobile phone company and advising in related U.S. proceedings.

In the past she has worked on patent litigation for clients such as Eli Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme and AGA Medical Corporation (now part of Abbott Laboratories).

Stella has developed a keen interest in the area of 3D printing in the life sciences industry and presented and published on this subject on numerous occasions. She uses her dual qualifications for pro bono work, including most recently for the London Bridge terrorist attack inquest. Stella has qualified as a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners and still practises as a general practitioner every Saturday.

Lawyer Rankings

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

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.