Monika Rai > EIP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Monika Rai

02074409510 mrai@eip.com

Work Department

EIP Life

Position

Partner, UK and European Patent Attorney, Solicitor

Career

Monika is a life sciences specialist with a track record of achieving successful outcomes for clients in challenging cases. She has particular expertise in contentious proceedings at the European Patent Office, often involving multiple parties, and in advising on strategically significant patent portfolios. She regularly provides freedom to operate and validity opinions and has also coordinated and advised on major IP due diligence projects. Her dual qualification as a Patent Attorney and Solicitor has led to involvement in multi-forum and multi-jurisdictional patent litigation in the life sciences sector and she is well placed to represent clients in this sector before the new Unified Patent Court (UPC).

With a background that is legal as well as scientific, and by combining a strategic approach with attention to detail, Monika has built a reputation for her advocacy in EPO examination and opposition proceedings. She has represented some of the world’s most innovative organisations in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector in technical areas including cancer immunotherapy, microbiome therapeutics, gene therapy, therapeutic nucleotides and peptides, personalised medicine using AI and machine learning, antibody discovery and diagnostics. She also advises clients harnessing the power of biotechnology and microbiology in the agriculture, food and cosmetics sector.

Monika joined EIP from a position as partner at another UK IP firm. Her professional experience spans over fifteen years and includes private practice firms in the UK and India as well as in-house experience supporting the biologicals and biopharma teams at a global healthcare company. Monika is well placed to advise clients on the new Unified Patent Court (UPC) – see further details at EIP Amar, EIP’s alliance created to support clients in any litigation before the UPC.

• 2020 — present
  Partner, EIP
• 2016 — 2020
  Partner, Mathys & Squire
• 2014 — 2016
  Associate, Mathys & Squire
• 2012 — 2013
  Consultant, GlaxoSmithKline
• 2008 — 2012
  European Patent Attorney, Olswang
• 2007 — 2008
  Technical Assistant, Kilburn & Strode
• 2004 — 2006
  Advocate, Groser & Groser

Languages

English, Hindi

Memberships

Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys; member of the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (EPI), Solicitor (England and Wales), Indian Patent Attorney and Advocate

Education

• UK Chartered Patent Attorney
• European Patent Attorney
• Solicitor (England and Wales)
• 2002 — 2003
  LLM (Intellectual Property), London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London
• 1999 — 2002
  LLB, Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi
• 1996 — 1999
  BSc (Hons) Botany, Zoology and Chemistry, University of Delhi