Pinsent Masons

Pinsent Masons has an active patent disputes and transactional practice, particularly in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. “First class service and leagues ahead of comparable firms,” says a client. The firm has offices in England and Scotland. Clare Tunstall leads the firm's IP practice. Tunstall is among the practitioners featured in Managing IP’s Top 250 Women in IP (2018). A client describes Tunstall as a “strategically brilliant” lawyer who “gives very clear and relevant advice”. Another client says Tunstall’s “knowledge of IP and the pharma industry is second to none”.

In patent disputes, she is supported by partners Charlotte Weekes, Catherine Drew, who joined the firm in 2017, and Deborah Bould. Drew is “incredibly sharp and innovative” while the “super-efficient” Weekes has “a deep knowledge” of the life sciences sector. Weekes is also commended by another client: “She is a creative litigator and an innovative strategist who keeps an eye on the details.” The partners that lead its IP transactions practice are Cerys Wyn Davies, Allistair Booth and Samantha Livesey. Associates Mark Marfé and Mario Subramaniam joined the firm in 2018 to strengthen its life sciences patent practice. In Scotland, the notable IP lawyers for patent disputes are Jim Cormack and Chris Martin.

The partners are supported by a team of associates. Samantha Carter and Tamsin Cornwell are rising stars to watch. Carter is “a true star in the making”, notes a client who adds: “Samantha leaves no stone unturned and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of each case.” Christopher Sharp, who was recognised as a rising star in IP STARS (2017), was promoted to partner in 2018. Patent attorney Adrian Murray has left the firm. The firm is well known for advising Teva on patent-related issues; for example it is representing the company in an important dispute with Gilead over the SPC for the drug Truvada. It also acted for Zyxel Communications in a case in which the English High Court provided guidance on when an ‘external eyes only’ confidentiality regime may be appropriate in patent disputes.

Pinsent Masons has an active patent disputes and transactional practice, particularly in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. “First class service and leagues ahead of comparable firms,” says a client. The firm has offices in England and Scotland. Clare Tunstall leads the firm's IP practice. Tunstall is among the practitioners featured in Managing IP’s Top 250 Women in IP (2018). A client describes Tunstall as a “strategically brilliant” lawyer who “gives very clear and relevant advice”. Another client says Tunstall’s “knowledge of IP and the pharma industry is second to none”.

In patent disputes, she is supported by partners Charlotte Weekes, Catherine Drew, who joined the firm in 2017, and Deborah Bould. Drew is “incredibly sharp and innovative” while the “super-efficient” Weekes has “a deep knowledge” of the life sciences sector. Weekes is also commended by another client: “She is a creative litigator and an innovative strategist who keeps an eye on the details.” The partners that lead its IP transactions practice are Cerys Wyn Davies, Allistair Booth and Samantha Livesey. Associates Mark Marfé and Mario Subramaniam joined the firm in 2018 to strengthen its life sciences patent practice. In Scotland, the notable IP lawyers for patent disputes are Jim Cormack and Chris Martin.

The partners are supported by a team of associates. Samantha Carter and Tamsin Cornwell are rising stars to watch. Carter is “a true star in the making”, notes a client who adds: “Samantha leaves no stone unturned and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of each case.” Christopher Sharp, who was recognised as a rising star in IP STARS (2017), was promoted to partner in 2018. Patent attorney Adrian Murray has left the firm. The firm is well known for advising Teva on patent-related issues; for example it is representing the company in an important dispute with Gilead over the SPC for the drug Truvada. It also acted for Zyxel Communications in a case in which the English High Court provided guidance on when an ‘external eyes only’ confidentiality regime may be appropriate in patent disputes.

Pinsent Masons has experienced soft IP practitioners in its UK IP department. The department is headed by Clare Tunstall, who specialises in patent matters. Iain Connor leads on soft IP matters, while Allistair Booth and Cerys Wyn Davies are the key lawyers for IP-related transactions. The firm’s IP team was strengthened in 2018 with the arrival of trade mark partner Florian Traub, who is based in London. Emily Swithenbank is a rising star to watch. All six practitioners are based in England. Commercial litigator Jim Cormack and soft IP specialist David Woods lead on IP instructions in the firm’s Scottish offices. Case studies show the team advising on IP transactions and trade mark matters. The team represented Flynn Pharma in a parallel import dispute in the Court of Appeal. “The IP team is head and shoulders above its competitors in terms of the quality of advice it gives and the service it provides,” says a client.

Pinsent Masons has experienced soft IP practitioners in its UK IP department. The department is headed by Clare Tunstall, who specialises in patent matters. Iain Connor leads on soft IP matters, while Allistair Booth and Cerys Wyn Davies are the key lawyers for IP-related transactions. The firm’s IP team was strengthened in 2018 with the arrival of trade mark partner Florian Traub, who is based in London. Emily Swithenbank is a rising star to watch. All six practitioners are based in England. Commercial litigator Jim Cormack and soft IP specialist David Woods lead on IP instructions in the firm’s Scottish offices. Case studies show the team advising on IP transactions and trade mark matters. The team represented Flynn Pharma in a parallel import dispute in the Court of Appeal. “The IP team is head and shoulders above its competitors in terms of the quality of advice it gives and the service it provides,” says a client.