Covering a wide range of intellectual property mandates, McCann FitzGerald LLP‘s IP practice regularly advises on trade mark protection, patents, trade secrets and the exploitation of IP rights. The group has expertise assisting domestic and international clients across the life sciences sector, as well as in the creative industries, consumer goods and retail spaces. With expert multi-jurisdictional patent/SPC litigation capabilities, Fiona O’Beirne leads the contentious team. Adam Finlay is at the helm of the non-contentious IP offering, specialising in trade marks. Another key contact is Shane O’Brien, particularly for patent disputes in the pharmaceutical sector.
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Work Department
International Disputes, Intellectual Property, Alternative Dispute Resolution
Position
Partner
Career
Fiona O'Beirne graduated from from University College Dublin (BCL) in 1991 and qualified in 1992. She was appointed Partner within McCann FitzGerald LLP in 2012. Fiona is a partner with more than 25 years’ experience in commercial litigation and dispute resolution and heads the firm’s contentious IP group. Fiona handles Commercial Court litigation in major multi-jurisdictional patent disputes in the medical device, pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors as well as trademarks, designs, passing off and breach of confidence.
A significant part of Fiona’s work involves is in the pre-litigation phase, i.e. advising international pharmaceutical companies (all separately) in relation to various anticipated contentious patent matters in Ireland. Fiona advises these clients on Irish patent and procedural law as well as working in conjunction with multi-jurisdictional teams to ensure that coherent European and global strategies are carefully mapped out and implemented. Fiona also has wide-ranging experience of leading complex and large scale commercial litigation, particularly in the areas of regulatory, contractual and international disputes.
Memberships
The Law Society of Ireland, 1992
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Good technical knowledge of EU design rights.’
‘Shane O'Brien was excellent, in terms of service and the support that I needed in the EU.’
Key clients
- BMS
- Biogen
Work highlights
Acting for Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company in the defence of a Commercial Court patent/SPC revocation action brought by Norton (Waterford) Limited t/a Teva Pharmaceuticals Ireland (Teva) and related infringement proceedings.