Industry focus
Bristows LLP has a strong track record in the patent litigation arena, housing a team of seasoned patent experts jointly led by Andrew Bowler, who is experienced in coordinating multijurisdictional parallel litigation for clients operating across an array of innovation-based sectors; Robert Burrows, whose remit spans plant varieties, and patent and SPC cases for life sciences clients; and transaction-focused Richard Dickinson, who is well-versed in the development, exploitation, and protection of IP rights in various industries. Litigator Liz Cohen acts for clients across the UK and European courts and registries, and James Boon’s expertise applies to the intersection of IP and competition law. Dominic Adair is a key name for cross-border life sciences patent disputes, taking on litigation and ADR. Veteran of hi-tech patent litigation Myles Jelf is also in the team, alongside pharmaceuticals-focused Brian Cordery, and Matthew Warren and Claire Smith, who orchestrate complex IP transactions. Charlie French, Gregory Bacon, Naomi Hazenberg, Richard Pinckney and Rachel Mumby are further names to note.
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Profile
Work Department
Patent Litigation
Position
Brian specialises in intellectual property dispute resolution with a focus on patent litigation in the life sciences sector. Brian has more than 20 years’ experience of litigating patents for successful pharmaceutical products – predominantly for originators. He has also handled patent cases for other sectors including electronics and consumer goods.
Brian is presently engaged in several projects relating to the global defence of the intellectual property for some of the world's best–selling pharmaceutical products. This involves the co–ordination of legal teams across the world to ensure that the optimal strategy is pursued at both global and local levels. He is also involved in several intellectual property cases in the English Courts across a broad range of industry sectors. Brian’s practice includes resolving disputes relating to biological medicines as well as small molecule drugs in disease areas including oncology, respiratory, and immunology.
Brian is the co–author of an annual review of UK patent cases which is published annually in the CIPA Journal. He also teaches patent law on the Oxford University Diploma on Intellectual Property Law and Practice. He is the co-editor of the Kluwer Patent Blog.
In 2018 and 2019, Brian was chosen by Who’s Who Legal as the Life Sciences Patent Litigation lawyer of the year and the Patents lawyer of the year.
Career
Trained at Bristows; qualified in 1996; partner since 2004
Memberships
Pharmaceutical Trade Marks Group; associate member of CIPA
Education
Royal Grammar School, Newcastle; Pembroke College, Oxford (MA Law); College of Law, Guildford
Content supplied by Bristows LLP
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Charlie French is incredibly impressive, intelligent, and wonderful to deal with. A real asset to the Bristows partnership.'
‘Amongst the best in the UK and with a good network of partner firms to coordinate UPC cases. Young, dynamic partners with enthusiastic and able associates.’
Key clients
- Novartis Pharma AG
- Sandoz
Work highlights
Advised Touchlight Genetics in the defence against one of its founders in English patent litigation over entitlement to patents.