Welcome to Pharma and Biotech Patent Litigation 2025
This is Europe’s premier event for life sciences IP professionals. This January, join over 450 industry experts as we dive deep into the most pressing challenges and innovations in contentious IP law. Across three days of focused discussions and networking, you’ll gain valuable insights into the latest case law, regulatory updates, and strategic litigation approaches, while connecting with key stakeholders who drive the future of life sciences IP.
New for 2025
This year's summit will proudly host the industry's inaugural Women in IP workshop during our UPC Litigation Forum, featuring targeted workshop discussions. Additionally, we are introducing specialized and intimate litigation sessions tailored for the MedTech, large molecule, and small molecule sectors.
Why Should You Attend?
Elevate your patent litigation strategy by gaining insights into pressing legal challenges facing the life sciences sector. At this premier event, you'll dissect the first UPC decision on the merits, delve into the intricacies of SPCs and patentability issues, and explore the latest developments in cross-border case law and competition law.
Join Europe’s leading life science IP litigation professionals at the Beurs Van Berlage this January, where you'll engage in a cross-industry UPC Litigation Forum on January 20th, followed by a comprehensive summit focused on pharma and biotech patent litigation on January 21-22nd. This event offers a unique opportunity to forge essential commercial relationships with top stakeholders in the field, ensuring you're equipped to navigate the evolving landscape of life science IP litigation.
Highlights For 2025
Stay ahead of the curve with insights into the latest life science litigation, including cross-border cases, biosimilars, vaccines, and SPCs.
Gain actionable knowledge on the UPC’s impact on the life sciences sector, featuring industry-focused panels and a pre-event forum for practical, cross-industry discussions.
Engage in targeted, in-depth discussions with tracked sessions on MedTech, Large Molecule, and Small Molecule patent litigation.
Explore key updates and challenges in divisional patenting, PIs, second medical use, G2/21, and the Bolar exemption from top pharma and biotech IP specialists.
Gain unique insights into judicial perspectives through our global judges panel and the pre-event UPC Litigation Forum.
A Snippet Of Our In-House Speaker Faculty
Here Is What Your Peers Envision For The 2025 Edition Of This Event
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LIFE SCIENCES PATENT ADVISORY BOARD
Dr. Leslie Fischer
Principal Patent Attorney
Sandoz
Leslie Fischer is a Principal Patent Attorney at Sandoz, who focuses on global IP strategy for biosimilars. Before joining Sandoz, Leslie was a patent attorney at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, where she worked for over a decade developing global patent portfolios for biologicals. Before joining the Novartis group, Leslie was an associate at Fitzpatrick Cella (NY) (now Venable). Leslie holds a J.D. from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Thomas Jefferson University. Her scientific work appears in JCB, JBC, and Osteoarthritis & Cartilage. She speaks frequently at patent-related events and is an adjunct professor at Seton Hall Law School.
Christof Bull
Associate General Patent Counsel
UCB
Mathilde Rauline
Head of Greater Europe Patent Litigation
Sanofi
Mathilde is a European patent attorney, is qualified as a French patent attorney, and is admitted to the Paris bar.
She is head of Greater Europe patent litigation at Sanofi, after having been a patent litigator in private practice (mostly in the pharmaceutical field), and a patent attorney in the industry (Sanofi, Nestlé).
She has extensive experience in pharmaceutical and life-science patent litigation in France, at the EPO, in Europe, and in Eurasia.
Her expertise also comprises contractual matters, settlements, regulatory aspects, and the SPC regulation.
Lorenz Kallenbach
Senior Corporate Patent Counsel (Director)
Merck
Lorenz Kallenbach is a senior corporate patent counsel in the healthcare division of Merck KGaA. He is responsible for defining and executing the IP strategy for innovator projects. Including the assessment of the IP landscape, coordination of worldwide patent litigation, and portfolio development.
Before joining Merck, Lorenz worked in private practice. He is qualified as a German and European patent attorney.
Lorenz studied biochemistry and received a Ph.D. in the field of epigenetics.
Stephan Kutik
Senior Director, Intellectual Property
Genevant Sciences GmbH
Ewan Nettleton
Principal IP Counsel- Oncology Litigation
Novartis
Tessa M. Malamud-Cohen
Director, Patents, Global Intellectual Property
Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Paki Banky
Senior IP Counsel (IP Lead Cell & Gene)
Novartis
Corinna Sundermann
Senior Vice President Intellectual Property
Fresenius Kabi
Frank Landolt
Chief Counsel IP & Legal
Confo Therapeutics
Frank Landolt is Chief Counsel, Intellectual Property and Legal at Confo Therapeutics, a privately held biopharmaceutical start-up based in Ghent, Belgium specializing in GPCR-targeted therapeutics.
After studying chemistry and law at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, Frank worked for almost ten years on pharmaceutical and biotechological patents and licensing in private practice in the Netherlands, where his clients included major pharmaceutical companies as well as some of the top biotech firms and research institutions in the Netherlands.
Prior to joining Confo in 2018, Frank worked for fifteen years in Ablynx N.V. (now a wholly owned Sanofi company), where he was a member of the management team and headed an integrated IP and legal group of four lawyers and five patent professionals. At Ablynx, Frank was involved in negotiating Ablynx’s strategic partnerships and licensing deals with AbbVie, Boehringer-Ingelheim, MSD, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Wyeth.
From 2000 to 2004, Frank was director of IP and legal counsel at Devgen N.V. (now part of Syngenta), another Ghent-based biotechnology company, where he was involved in negotiating Devgen’s strategic collaborations with Sumitomo, Monsanto and DuPont Pioneer.
Frank is a Dutch and European patent attorney, and also holds a degree in business law from the University of Antwerp. He is a member of the Dutch association of patent attorneys (where he is a tutor for the professional qualification course), EPI and LES Benelux (where he is involved in the LES Licensing Course). He is a regular speaker on a range of topics relating to IP and licensing in the (bio)pharmaceutical sector. Frank was named as one of Managing IP’s ‘Corporate IP stars’ for four years in a row (2015-2018).
Guido Pontremoli
Vice President Global IP
Chiesi
Currently employed as global Head of the IP department-Patent at Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA, managing and coaching a team of experienced patent attorneys, patent searchers and administrators, working on the protection, enforcement, litigation and/or opposition of the Chiesi IP, aligned with business decisions.
Before joining Chiesi, I worked in IP groups of big pharma companies (GSK Vaccine, and Bracco Imaging) as senior patent attorney responsible for all the IP aspects concerning some key R&D projects. I also had experience as patent counsel in private practices, dealing with pharma, chemical and bio entities.
Graduated in chemistry from the Univ of Milan, with a PhD in medicinal chemistry and a post-doc experience in USA, I am qualified EPA and chartered Italian patent attorney.
Kristin Cooklin
Group Head IP Counsel
Recordati
Toni Santamaria
Vice President Intellectual Property
Adalvo
Toni has been leading the Intellectual Property team at Adalvo since 2021. He has more than 20 years of experience in different pharmaceutical companies where he has been involved in developing and implementing complex patent and data exclusivity litigation strategies for several generics and added value products, including leading parallel litigation cases in multiple European countries. He also has experience in patent and trademark prosecution.
Toni qualified as European Patent Attorney in 2010 and holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry.
Shohta Ueno
Assistant General Counsel - Dispute Resolution
Regeneron
Adrian Spillmann
Director of Intellectual Property
Valneva
Julia Pike
Global Head of IP
Sandoz
Since March 2020, Julia has been the Global Head of IP for Sandoz. In her previous roles with Sandoz, she has had a leading role in the first wave of US biosimilars litigation, including the first litigations on critical aspects of the governing legislation (the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act or BPCIA), culminating in the landmark US Supreme Court decision, Sandoz v Amgen.
Since leaving private practice at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Julia has been in-house counsel for many years including at Mayne Pharma and Hospira Inc before joining Sandoz in 2008. While there, she has taken on roles in European public affairs and led Sandoz’s global IP litigation function as Global Head of IP Litigation. Through those roles, she has maintained a keen interest in IP strategy and litigation worldwide, including cases arising under the Hatch-Waxman and BPCIA legislation in the US, PM(NOC) regulations in Canada and litigation arising from patent linkage systems around the world.
Christoph Rehfuess
Head of IP
Sotio
Philip Caramanica
Chief IP Counsel & Deputy General Counsel
Alvotech
Dr. Leslie Fischer
Principal Patent Attorney
Sandoz
Leslie Fischer is a Principal Patent Attorney at Sandoz, who focuses on global IP strategy for biosimilars. Before joining Sandoz, Leslie was a patent attorney at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, where she worked for over a decade developing global patent portfolios for biologicals. Before joining the Novartis group, Leslie was an associate at Fitzpatrick Cella (NY) (now Venable). Leslie holds a J.D. from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Thomas Jefferson University. Her scientific work appears in JCB, JBC, and Osteoarthritis & Cartilage. She speaks frequently at patent-related events and is an adjunct professor at Seton Hall Law School.
Christof Bull
Associate General Patent Counsel
UCB
Mathilde Rauline
Head of Greater Europe Patent Litigation
Sanofi
Mathilde is a European patent attorney, is qualified as a French patent attorney, and is admitted to the Paris bar.
She is head of Greater Europe patent litigation at Sanofi, after having been a patent litigator in private practice (mostly in the pharmaceutical field), and a patent attorney in the industry (Sanofi, Nestlé).
She has extensive experience in pharmaceutical and life-science patent litigation in France, at the EPO, in Europe, and in Eurasia.
Her expertise also comprises contractual matters, settlements, regulatory aspects, and the SPC regulation.
Lorenz Kallenbach
Senior Corporate Patent Counsel (Director)
Merck
Lorenz Kallenbach is a senior corporate patent counsel in the healthcare division of Merck KGaA. He is responsible for defining and executing the IP strategy for innovator projects. Including the assessment of the IP landscape, coordination of worldwide patent litigation, and portfolio development.
Before joining Merck, Lorenz worked in private practice. He is qualified as a German and European patent attorney.
Lorenz studied biochemistry and received a Ph.D. in the field of epigenetics.
Stephan Kutik
Senior Director, Intellectual Property
Genevant Sciences GmbH
Ewan Nettleton
Principal IP Counsel- Oncology Litigation
Novartis
Tessa M. Malamud-Cohen
Director, Patents, Global Intellectual Property
Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Paki Banky
Senior IP Counsel (IP Lead Cell & Gene)
Novartis
Corinna Sundermann
Senior Vice President Intellectual Property
Fresenius Kabi
Frank Landolt
Chief Counsel IP & Legal
Confo Therapeutics
Frank Landolt is Chief Counsel, Intellectual Property and Legal at Confo Therapeutics, a privately held biopharmaceutical start-up based in Ghent, Belgium specializing in GPCR-targeted therapeutics.
After studying chemistry and law at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, Frank worked for almost ten years on pharmaceutical and biotechological patents and licensing in private practice in the Netherlands, where his clients included major pharmaceutical companies as well as some of the top biotech firms and research institutions in the Netherlands.
Prior to joining Confo in 2018, Frank worked for fifteen years in Ablynx N.V. (now a wholly owned Sanofi company), where he was a member of the management team and headed an integrated IP and legal group of four lawyers and five patent professionals. At Ablynx, Frank was involved in negotiating Ablynx’s strategic partnerships and licensing deals with AbbVie, Boehringer-Ingelheim, MSD, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Wyeth.
From 2000 to 2004, Frank was director of IP and legal counsel at Devgen N.V. (now part of Syngenta), another Ghent-based biotechnology company, where he was involved in negotiating Devgen’s strategic collaborations with Sumitomo, Monsanto and DuPont Pioneer.
Frank is a Dutch and European patent attorney, and also holds a degree in business law from the University of Antwerp. He is a member of the Dutch association of patent attorneys (where he is a tutor for the professional qualification course), EPI and LES Benelux (where he is involved in the LES Licensing Course). He is a regular speaker on a range of topics relating to IP and licensing in the (bio)pharmaceutical sector. Frank was named as one of Managing IP’s ‘Corporate IP stars’ for four years in a row (2015-2018).
Guido Pontremoli
Vice President Global IP
Chiesi
Currently employed as global Head of the IP department-Patent at Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA, managing and coaching a team of experienced patent attorneys, patent searchers and administrators, working on the protection, enforcement, litigation and/or opposition of the Chiesi IP, aligned with business decisions.
Before joining Chiesi, I worked in IP groups of big pharma companies (GSK Vaccine, and Bracco Imaging) as senior patent attorney responsible for all the IP aspects concerning some key R&D projects. I also had experience as patent counsel in private practices, dealing with pharma, chemical and bio entities.
Graduated in chemistry from the Univ of Milan, with a PhD in medicinal chemistry and a post-doc experience in USA, I am qualified EPA and chartered Italian patent attorney.
Kristin Cooklin
Group Head IP Counsel
Recordati
Toni Santamaria
Vice President Intellectual Property
Adalvo
Toni has been leading the Intellectual Property team at Adalvo since 2021. He has more than 20 years of experience in different pharmaceutical companies where he has been involved in developing and implementing complex patent and data exclusivity litigation strategies for several generics and added value products, including leading parallel litigation cases in multiple European countries. He also has experience in patent and trademark prosecution.
Toni qualified as European Patent Attorney in 2010 and holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry.
Shohta Ueno
Assistant General Counsel - Dispute Resolution
Regeneron
Adrian Spillmann
Director of Intellectual Property
Valneva
Julia Pike
Global Head of IP
Sandoz
Since March 2020, Julia has been the Global Head of IP for Sandoz. In her previous roles with Sandoz, she has had a leading role in the first wave of US biosimilars litigation, including the first litigations on critical aspects of the governing legislation (the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act or BPCIA), culminating in the landmark US Supreme Court decision, Sandoz v Amgen.
Since leaving private practice at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Julia has been in-house counsel for many years including at Mayne Pharma and Hospira Inc before joining Sandoz in 2008. While there, she has taken on roles in European public affairs and led Sandoz’s global IP litigation function as Global Head of IP Litigation. Through those roles, she has maintained a keen interest in IP strategy and litigation worldwide, including cases arising under the Hatch-Waxman and BPCIA legislation in the US, PM(NOC) regulations in Canada and litigation arising from patent linkage systems around the world.
Christoph Rehfuess
Head of IP
Sotio
Philip Caramanica
Chief IP Counsel & Deputy General Counsel
Alvotech
Register Your Interest for 2025
Register your interest for the Tech & Innovation Patent Litigation Summit 2026 and be the first to see the new agenda.
This conference offers numerous benefits for professionals in the Tech IP sector.
Explore In-House Insights: Discover the valuable perspectives from leading companies.
Engage in Targeted Sessions: Dive into the most pressing Tech patent litigation topics, including the Unified Patent Court (UPC), Divisional Patenting, SEP and FRAND enforcement topics, Trade Secrets and dive into AI.
- Network with Top Firms: Gain insights from a diverse range of international and boutique patent litigation firms, participating as panellists and speakers, to enhance your understanding of the global litigation landscape.
- Hear from Key Decision-Makers: Learn directly from judicial and institutional speakers providing firsthand updates from critical bodies such as the UPC, UK courts, WIPO, EFPIA, the European Commission.
Register Your Interest
A Snippet Of Our Private Practice Speaker Faculty
Paul Inman
PartnerGowling
Eleanor Root
PartnerBird & Bird
Rob Cerwinski
PartnerGemini Law
Luca Pellicciari
PartnerTrevisan & Cuonzo
Daan De Lange
PartnerBrinkhof
Cecile Goy
PartnerAramis Law
Naomi Pearce
CEO and LawyerPearce IP
Agathe Michel-De-Cazotte
PartnerCarpmaels & Ransford
Tjibbe Douma
Partner, IP, AmsterdamBird & Bird
Peter van Schijndel
PartnerHoyng Rokh Monegier
Benjamin May
PartnerAramis
Otto Swens
PartnerVondst
Oya Yalvac
PartnerDERIS
Denis Schertenleib
PartnerSchertenleib Avocats
Our 2024 Speakers
Agathe Michel-De-Cazotte
Partner
Carpmaels & Ransford
Andras Kupecz
Honourable Judge
UPC Munich Central Division
Andrew Hutchinson
Partner
Simmons & Simmons
Beat Weibel
Chief IP Counsel
Siemens
Beatriz Diaz de Escauriaza
Head of IP Legal
Insud Pharma
Carsten Richter
Head of IP
Euroimmun
Cecile Teles
Head of IP
Zentiva
Cecile is Head Patent Attorney at Zentiva. She has over a decade of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
Cecile is uniquely experienced and knowledgeable in the pharma space as she has experience in-house at an elite innovator company (Sanofi), biologics (Merck Serono), and extensive generic experience she gained as Zentiva.
Cecile is an enthusiastic manager of her team and was a key member of the IP team in leading the transformation of Zentiva into an independent and competitive generic company after divestment from Sanofi.
Cecile is a qualified European Patent Attorney. She also holds a certificate from CEIPI in patent litigation and most recently completed her diploma as a Master of Laws in France.
Christoph Rehfuess
Head of IP
Sotio
Christopher Sharp
Partner
Pinsent Masons
Clemens Heusch
Head of Global Disputes and Resolution
Nokia
Conrad Eckhardt
Vice President IP
Biotronik
Conrad practices in the IP field for more than 20 years and gained experience across various industries. Having started with Consumer Products at Procter & Gamble he moved on to Pharmaceuticals at Boehringer Ingelheim and is now active in the medical device field, first as Chief IP Counsel at Leica Biosystems and currently as Chief IP Counsel at Biotronik. Conrad is a European Patent Attorney and a European Patent Litigator and has patent litigation experience in Germany, the USA and China.
Edgar Brinkman
Honourable Judge
UPC Local Division Hague
Mr. Brinkman finished a chemistry degree in 1993, specialising in biochemistry, and law degree in 1995 at Utrecht University in The Netherlands. After joining the bar that same year as a solicitor/barrister in Amsterdam focusing on patents and regulatory affairs, he was appointed judge at the Court of The Hague, IP department in 2002. He became a senior judge in 2007. He has been involved in many patent and other IP cases and speaks regularly on international conferences. He is co-editor of a leading Dutch IP magazine (BIE).
Eleanor Root
Partner
Bird & Bird
Emily Bottle
Leadership Committee
ChIPs
Filip De Corte
Head of IP
Syngenta
Filip De Corte is Head of Intellectual Property at Syngenta Crop Protection, leading patent attorneys based in Switzerland, the UK, the US, The Netherlands and China. Filip joined Syngenta on October 1, 2013. Until then, he held the position of Chief IP Counsel Europe at Cargill (2008 – 2013). Before joining Cargill in 2008, he worked in the Johnson & Johnson patent department, working in Beerse with Janssen Pharmaceutica (1991-2004), New Brunswick (2004-2007), and Brussels (2007-2008). Filip has a Ph.D. in organic chemistry, he is a qualified European Patent Attorney and passed the US patent bar exam. He has the qualification of European Patent Litigation from the University of Strasbourg. He also has an MBA of the Vlerick School of Management. Filip taught patent law in Antwerp under the auspices of CEIPI (Université de Strasbourg) as well as at the University of Leuven in the IPR management course and is a lecturer in the CEIPI patent litigation course.
Filipe Pedro
Director of IP
BIAL
Frank Landolt
Chief Counsel IP & Legal
Confo Therapeutics
Frank Landolt is Chief Counsel, Intellectual Property and Legal at Confo Therapeutics, a privately held biopharmaceutical start-up based in Ghent, Belgium specializing in GPCR-targeted therapeutics.
After studying chemistry and law at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, Frank worked for almost ten years on pharmaceutical and biotechological patents and licensing in private practice in the Netherlands, where his clients included major pharmaceutical companies as well as some of the top biotech firms and research institutions in the Netherlands.
Prior to joining Confo in 2018, Frank worked for fifteen years in Ablynx N.V. (now a wholly owned Sanofi company), where he was a member of the management team and headed an integrated IP and legal group of four lawyers and five patent professionals. At Ablynx, Frank was involved in negotiating Ablynx’s strategic partnerships and licensing deals with AbbVie, Boehringer-Ingelheim, MSD, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Wyeth.
From 2000 to 2004, Frank was director of IP and legal counsel at Devgen N.V. (now part of Syngenta), another Ghent-based biotechnology company, where he was involved in negotiating Devgen’s strategic collaborations with Sumitomo, Monsanto and DuPont Pioneer.
Frank is a Dutch and European patent attorney, and also holds a degree in business law from the University of Antwerp. He is a member of the Dutch association of patent attorneys (where he is a tutor for the professional qualification course), EPI and LES Benelux (where he is involved in the LES Licensing Course). He is a regular speaker on a range of topics relating to IP and licensing in the (bio)pharmaceutical sector. Frank was named as one of Managing IP’s ‘Corporate IP stars’ for four years in a row (2015-2018).
Gabriele Mohsler
VP Patent Development
Ericsson
Gianluca Vassallo
Case Handler, DG Competition
European Commission
Guido Pontremoli
Vice President Global IP
Chiesi
Currently employed as global Head of the IP department-Patent at Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA, managing and coaching a team of experienced patent attorneys, patent searchers and administrators, working on the protection, enforcement, litigation and/or opposition of the Chiesi IP, aligned with business decisions.
Before joining Chiesi, I worked in IP groups of big pharma companies (GSK Vaccine, and Bracco Imaging) as senior patent attorney responsible for all the IP aspects concerning some key R&D projects. I also had experience as patent counsel in private practices, dealing with pharma, chemical and bio entities.
Graduated in chemistry from the Univ of Milan, with a PhD in medicinal chemistry and a post-doc experience in USA, I am qualified EPA and chartered Italian patent attorney.
Heike Wollgast
WIPO
Ina Bürck
Senior Counsel
Amgen
James Horgan
Assistant General Counsel
MSD
Jiri Slavik
Director of IP
Adalvo
Juliane Buchinski
Lead IP Litigation Counsel
ZTE
Karin Pramberger
Head of IP
Polpharma Group
Karin has been Intellectual Property Director at the Polpharma Group since April 2018. She is responsible for all patent and trade mark related activities. Prior to joining the Polpharma Group, Karin was Head of IP of Medichem, Spain, and worked in various positions within the patent department of Teva, Barr and Pliva. She spent 7 years in a law firm in Vienna, Austria, where she became European and Austrian patent and trade mark attorney. She studied Biotechnology in Vienna, Austria, and at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chemie de Paris, France. In 2017 she graduated with an LLB from the University of London. Since 2005 she has been a tutor at CEIPI, University of Strasbourg, for the pre-exam and the C-part of the European Qualifying Exam.
Katie Coltart
Partner
Linklaters
Kristin Cooklin
Group Head IP Counsel
Recordati
Laila Beynon
AD- Dispute Resolution
Regeneron
Laila Beynon is Director, Dispute Resolution at Regeneron, responsible for the strategic co-ordination of ex-US patent litigation. She has a PhD in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, 10 years’ private practice experience in life sciences patent litigation at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, and prior to her role at Regeneron headed up the Patent Litigation team at BAT.
Margot Kokke
Honourable Judge, Local Division Hague
UPC
Mathias Zigann, Honourable Judge, UPC- Munich
Honourable Judge
UPC- Munich
Matthew O’Neill
Director of European IP
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals
Michael Swita
Director of Intellectual Property Policy
EFPIA
Mirna Atallah
Senior Director IP
Astellas Europe
Natalia Wright
Assistant General Patent Counsel
UCB
Philippe Bessiere
Global Head of Patents
Pierre Fabre Group
Raquel Frisardi
Senior Corporate Counsel
Novo Nordisk
Rob Rodrigues
Partner
RNA law
Ronny Thomas
Honourable Judge
UPC Local Division, Dusseldorf
Sara Burghart
Senior Counsel- Patent Litigation
BAT
Sean Alexander
Head of IP Strategy
Umicore
Sean Alexander is a qualified European Patent Attorney as well as a Canadian and U.S. Patent Agent. He has worked in the IP field for many years and is currently the Head of IP Strategy (H&N) for Chr. Hansen in Denmark. Prior to joining Chr. Hansen, Sean headed the IP team at Elanco Inc. based in the Netherlands and was a Partner with Gowling WLG in Canada. Sean has been recognized as one of the world's leading IP strategists by IAM Magazine and is regularly praised for his pragmatic and commercially aware approach to IP.
Sergio Napolitano
General Counsel
Medicines for Europe
Shohta Ueno
Assistant General Counsel - Dispute Resolution
Regeneron
Stefan Luginbuehl
Head of Department European Legal Affairs
European Patent Office (EPO)
Stefan Luginbuehl, PhD, lawyer, is Head of the Department European Legal Affairs (Dep 5222) at the European Patent Office where he is dealing with a wide range of patent law and patent litigation related subjects, with emphasis on the implementation of the EU unitary patent package into the existing European patent system.
He participated in several Diplomatic and Intergovernmental Conferences on the reform of the European patent system and the international litigation system. He is a lecturer in different universities and is the author and editor of several books and articles on patent procedure and patent litigation in Europe and China.
Stefanie Kies
Senior Director Intellectual Property
Polpharma Biologics
Sufiyah Sulaiman
Senior Patent Manager Patent Litigation
STADA
Sufiyah Sulaiman is an attorney-at-law with a master’s degree in science. As an in-house patent litigation counsel of generic pharma giants, she has been managing their patent litigation and product launch-at-risk globally. At the moment, she is a senior manager (patent litigation) at STADA (Arzneimittel) AG, before that she was the Global IP litigation counsel for Sandoz (International GmbH) and, IP and regulatory litigation counsel for Mylan (now Viatris).
Tess Waldron
Leadership Committeee
ChIPs
Tjibbe Douma
Partner, IP, Amsterdam
Bird & Bird
Toni Santamaria
Vice President Intellectual Property
Adalvo
Toni has been leading the Intellectual Property team at Adalvo since 2021. He has more than 20 years of experience in different pharmaceutical companies where he has been involved in developing and implementing complex patent and data exclusivity litigation strategies for several generics and added value products, including leading parallel litigation cases in multiple European countries. He also has experience in patent and trademark prosecution.
Toni qualified as European Patent Attorney in 2010 and holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry.
Andre Andrade
Vice President, Client Relations EMEA and Law Firms,
RWS
Arvid van Oorschot
Partner
Vondst
Arvid is an IP-lawyer with over 20 years’ experience and partner of Vondst advocaten.
His main area of expertise is patent litigation. He works in various technical fields including MedTech, pharma and mechanical engineering. He works for instance on cases on antibodies and medical devices. He has a special interest in AI and legal tech.
He publishes and lectures regularly on the (international-) enforcement of IP rights and related issues.
Arvid is listed in various authoritative editorials including Chambers Europe and Global, Juve and IAM Patent 1000.
He is an active member of various professional associations including EPLAW and AIPPI.
Arvid studied at the Free University of Amsterdam and Northwestern Law School in Chicago. He was admitted to the bar in 2004.
Aude Veinante
European Patent Attorney
Lavoix
Aude assists her clients in defining their patent strategy. Aude drafts new patent applications and monitors grant procedures in France and abroad. Her work also includes conducting patentability, validity and freedom to operate studies as well as forming consultations relative to supplementary protection certificates (SPCs).
Aude performs audits in the pharmaceutical and life science fields and advises her clients in case of patent disputes.
Aude is a member of the AIPPI (International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property) and the GRAPI (Groupe Rhône-Alpes pour la protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle [Rhône-Alpes Group for the Protection of Intellectual Property]). She is also a lecturer at the Bordeaux National School of Biomolecule Technology.
Bolko Ehlgen
Partner
Linklaters
Camille Pecnard
Partner
Lavoix
Catherine Drew
Partner
Pinsent Masons
Corinna Sundermann
Senior Vice President Intellectual Property
Fresenius Kabi
Daan De Lange
Partner
Brinkhof
Denis Schertenleib
Partner
Schertenleib Avocats
Douglas E. McCann, Principal, Fish & Richardson
Principal
Fish & Richardson
Enzo Marasa
Partner
Portolano Cavallo
Ewan Nettleton
Principal IP Counsel- Oncology Litigation
Novartis
Gaëlle Bourout
Counsel
Linklaters
Gemma Barrett
Partner
A & O Shearman
Gemma is an experienced and trusted advisor for some of the world’s leading life sciences and chemical companies. Her background in biochemistry means she specialises in complex technical disputes in the life sciences sector. She has more than fifteen years’ experience advising clients in patent litigation matters before the English Courts including securing preliminary injunctions. She is also experienced in advising on global cross-border litigation, and coordinating worldwide litigation, working closely with multi-disciplinary teams in the defence and enforcement of patent portfolios. She has developed innovative and successful strategies, often combining patent and regulatory law, to assist pharmaceutical companies in the enforcement of their rights.
Georgia Roussou
Senior Legal Counsel
Win Media
Heike Röder-Hitschke
Counsel
Maiwald
Jason Raeburn
Partner
Paul Hastings
Jenny Davies
Partner
Gowling
Jenny Davies is a life sciences and patent specialist with a Masters in Biochemistry from Oxford. She provides strategic advice to help clients protect and exploit their R&D investment in the life sciences sector, medical device sector and the chemical industry. Her work regularly entails negotiating agreements to support her clients' research, development, manufacture and commercialisation, and protect their markets through the enforcement of patents.
Jenny delivers business-focused solutions across her unique practice area spanning patents and dispute resolution, transactions ranging from strategic licensing to highly complex collaborations and regulatory matters. She advises clients in all aspects of patent enforcement, from technical analysis and global strategy to leading UK litigation and EPO oppositions.
Given the commercial and practical value of the assets Jenny protects, her approach combines precision and detail with a commercial mindset and sector-led solutions. Clients praise her "endless determination", "formidable intellect" and are "deeply impressed" with her "unusual capacity to think creatively".
Her work highlights include leading ground-breaking patent litigation up to the UK Court of Appeal to achieve a novel form of "Arrow declaration" for Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin and advising AstraZeneca across a range of high value and complex transactions: its collaboration with the University of Oxford (COVID-19 vaccine); two $6 billion oncology collaborations with Daiichi Sankyo; an $8.5 billion oncology deal with Merck; and a $300 million oncology deal with Genzyme (Caprelsa).
Jenny is a member of the BioIndustry Association's IP Advisory Committee, and SPC and exclusivities committee, and a regular speaker on patent litigation and strategy.
John Cox
Partner
Barnes & Thornburg
With deep knowledge of issues facing the life sciences industry, John Cox counsels clients regarding their worldwide intellectual property rights and represents their patent interests when litigation arises, particularly regarding pharmaceutical, chemical, and biotechnology matters. John takes his role in protecting these important assets of life science innovators very seriously while approaching each matter with enthusiasm.
Through his ability to communicate effectively and succinctly, John advises on, develops, and carries out global IP strategies for the benefit of innovative companies, his clients, who are focused on developing core assets that save and improve the lives of patients. John enjoys leveraging his unique ability to put together targeted and enduring teams for each matter – paying close attention to each person’s strengths and skillsets and how they fit with one another, alongside his highly specialized experience and thoughtful and responsive nature.
John is intimately familiar with the pharmaceutical industry, having dealt with patent and IP subject matter ranging from brain chemistry, the gastrointestinal system, drug delivery systems and treatments of rare diseases and cancer to medical diagnostic methods, the generation of biofuel using bacteria, and processes for manufacturing chemicals and pharmaceutical products. He also has almost two decades of experience in Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) cases, including pre-litigation investigations.
John offers guidance from the first step of a matter through to resolution, including all aspects of litigation. He has extensive experience related to discovery and motion practice, as well as in developing offensive and defensive strategies. He is well versed in dealing with complex subject matter and technical witnesses, such as inventors and experts.
John adeptly helps clients navigate the crossroads of foreign business practices and the complexities of U.S. patent practice, having worked with foreign pharmaceutical, chemical, and biotechnology companies throughout his career.
Kassie Helm
Partner
Dechert
Lauren Baker
Associate
Barnes & Thornburg
Manuel Neetz
Head of IP- Diagnostic Imaging
Siemens Healthineers
Marc Lauzeral
Counsel
Schertenleib Avocats
Marco Stief
Partner
Maiwald
Marie Hovel Hansen
Head of Legal Strategy & Operations, Trademarks and Global Litigations
Novonesis
Martina Tyreus Hufnal
Principal
Fish & Richardson
Mike Cottler
Partner
Gemini
Özge Atılgan Karakulak
Partner
Gün + Partners
Paul Ainsworth
Director
Sterne Kessler
Pierre-Emmanuel Meynard
Partner
Lavoix
Rainer Friedrich
Director of Global IP and Biotech Technical Judge
CSL Behring and the UPC
Robert Cerwinski
Managing Partner
Gemini Law
Rob Cerwinski, managing partner, is a seasoned patent litigator and IP strategist with 20+ years of experience at premier U.S. law firms helping international clients launch biopharma products into the highly-competitive U.S. market. Mr. Cerwinski specializes in helping companies devise cost-effective strategies to navigate the complex and intertwined legal, regulatory and financial hurdles that can delay or prevent product launch. His successes in pre-litigation strategy and in the courtroom have driven the launch of 20+ biopharma products in the U.S. and Europe. Mr. Cerwinski holds a Master of Science Degree in molecular biology and has a deep understanding of the science, business and regulation of biopharma product development, manufacture and marketing. Mr. Cerwinski co-founded the industry-leading biosimilars practice at Goodwin Procter LLP and is a recognized global authority on biosimilars. He is Senior Editor of the leading legal treatise in the field, Guide to Biosimilars Litigation and Regulation in the U.S. (published by Thomson-Reuters) and founded Goodwin’s award-winning biosimilars blog, Big Molecule Watch and its companion blog, Big Molecule Watch China. Mr. Cerwinski was named an IAM Global Leader in Intellectual Property Law in 2021 and is ranked in the Gold Tier of the IAM Patent 1000.
Robin Ellis
Partner
Reddie&Grose
Siddharth Kusumakar
Partner
Powell Gilbert
Testimonials From 2024 Attendees
The Pharma/Biotech Patent Litigation Europe Conference was very informative and offered many opportunities for networking with relevant contacts.
Victoria Flowers, Executive Director Forensics, Mazars
Brilliantly organised event, great mix of practice and industry attendees, a highly relevant and useful series of panel talks, and a good balance of networking and content.
Michael Lee, Senior Director of Patents, Norgine
Two inspiring days! Once again attending this conference proved to be to be a unique opportunity not only to see colleagues and friends from all over the world and for new connections, but also to catch up and discuss with them the latest developments in current topics in pharma and biotech patent litigation.
Maria Balestriero, IP Lawyer, Portolano Cavallo
Interesting presentations and many good discussions that are both informative and thought provoking
Adrian Spillman, Director IP, Valneva Group
Great and actual topics, presentations from all kinds of different angles, open discussions, new insights. All in all very well organised!
Dominique van De Kamp, Vice President of Intellectual Property Litigation and European Patent Attorney, Synthon
Great event delivering valuable insight from all aspects of the pharma sector! Definitely the go to IP litigation conference this year!
Delicia Clarke, Legal Consultant, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Very stimulating event, relevant topics, good panels, lively discussions.
Beatrix Otte, Head of IP, Tillotts Pharmaceuticals
The event this year was well attended and thought provoking.
Jennifer Sunderland, Senior Patent Litigation Counsel, Mylan
Our 2025 Partners
Interested in how you can get involved with Pharma & Biotech Patent Litigation 2025?
Based on your objectives, we can create bespoke packages for you. From presenting your expertise on stage to partnering with us to deliver networking activities. Partner with us in 2025 to showcase your brand and make valuable new connections. Opportunities include thought leadership, branding, and networking.
Discuss your objectives with Duncan Henderson, Commercial Partnerships Director, [email protected]
Tech & Innovation Patent Advisory Board
Milan Patel
IP Director- Patent Portfolio Management & Strategy - Patent Litigation
Volvo
Le Chen
Senior Director- IP Policy & Dispute Resolution
Xiaomi Technology
Gabriele Mohsler
VP Patent Development
Ericsson
Julia Dias
Senior IP Policy Counsel
Huawei
Clemens Heusch
Head of Global Disputes and Resolution
Nokia
Georg Muller
Head of IP
Tom Tom
Milan Patel
IP Director- Patent Portfolio Management & Strategy - Patent Litigation
Volvo
Le Chen
Senior Director- IP Policy & Dispute Resolution
Xiaomi Technology
Gabriele Mohsler
VP Patent Development
Ericsson
Julia Dias
Senior IP Policy Counsel
Huawei
Clemens Heusch
Head of Global Disputes and Resolution
Nokia
Georg Muller
Head of IP
Tom Tom
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Diamond Partner
Platinum Partners
Schertenleib
Website: https://schertenleib-avocats.com/en/equipe/denis-schertenleib/
Please visit our website for more information.Fish & Richardson
Website: https://www.fr.com/industries/life-sciences/
Fish & Richardson has represented pioneering life science innovators from our earliest days. We work closely with life sciences companies to help them achieve their strategic IP goals through acquisition, partnering, licensing, financing, and enforcement. We do this by bringing a unique holistic approach to our clients’ IP matters, fostered by the collaboration between our patent prosecution, litigation, and regulatory practices. We have helped our clients build valuable patent portfolios worth billions of dollars, score big victories at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), and win bet-the-company cases in court. When life sciences clients come to Fish to build an IP strategy, they know that we will leave no stone unturned when crafting creative and comprehensive solutions to maximize the value of their IP.
Hoyng Rokh Monegier
Website: https://www.hoyngrokhmonegier.com/
Please visit our website for more information.Linklaters
Website: https://www.linklaters.com/
Linklaters cross-border Intellectual Property team successfully advises market-leading companies on high-profile IP litigation and complex IP-driven transactions.
We advise clients in a broad range of sectors, with a focus on IP-heavy industries such as healthcare and life sciences.
Our history of advising clients in the healthcare and life sciences sector is long and we have developed strong working relationships and a deep understanding of our client’s business environment. Many of our lawyers have technical backgrounds and therefore have in-depth understanding of complex technologies.
We support our clients with outstanding legal skills, expert sector knowledge and a pragmatic mindset in cross-border IP disputes. More specifically our litigation practice covers the full scope of dispute resolution, including court proceedings, arbitration, mediation and settlement discussions. Where possible, we aim to resolve disputes before court proceedings become necessary. However, where litigation is unavoidable, we take care to pick the right cases to pursue through the courts and continue to look for pragmatic solutions.
We tackle the entire spectrum of IP rights, including patents, supplementary protection certificates, copyrights, designs and trademarks. Our practice also covers issues of confidentiality, as well as trade secrets protection and misappropriation.
Herbert Smith Freehills
Website: https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/
Please visit our website for more information.Potter Clarkson
Website: https://www.potterclarkson.com/
Leading European intellectual property law firm, Potter Clarkson helps companies, organisations, and individuals across all sectors of business to understand, create, protect, and defend the commercial value of their innovations anywhere in the world. Its 200-strong specialist team of patent attorneys, trade mark attorneys, litigators, and licensing specialists, operate from dedicated offices in the UK, Sweden, and Denmark.
Recognised as one of Europe’s leading intellectual property law firms, Potter Clarkson is particularly well-known for its deep expertise in resolving life science disputes, its contentious practice routinely conducting high-profile litigation in key jurisdictions around the world as well as before the EPO, and now the UPC, with multiple actions currently on foot before this important new court.
Gold Partners
Solutions Partner
RWS
Website: https://www.rws.com/intellectual-property-services/
RWS is the world’s leading provider of technology-enabled language, content management, and intellectual property services. With over 60 years of experience, RWS's expertise in patent translations, foreign filing, patent maintenance and IP research is unrivalled.
RWS delivers high-quality translations in a format ready for filing, in compliance with national filing formalities and maintaining the same protective scope as the original text.
RWS also helps clients streamline their internal processes by providing flexible, cost-effective foreign filing services that reduce the administrative burden associated with EP validations, PCT national phase entries and direct filings.
When it comes to IP research, RWS offers the most robust services and tools available. AOP Connect, RWS’s market-leading research platform, enables clients organize study results more effectively. With services ranging from analyst studies to crowd-based searches, RWS provides tailored solutions to meet clients’ diverse needs.
RWS also provides a reliable renewals service that reduces the risk and workload associated with patent maintenance.
RWS clients include 18 of the top 20 WIPO applicants and 16 of the top 20 applicants at the European Patent Office.
Founded in 1958, RWS is headquartered in the UK and publicly listed on AIM, the London Stock Exchange regulated market (RWS.L).
TPR
Website: https://www.tprinternational.com/
TPR is a world-class leader in patent and literature research for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, trusted for over 30 years. Our team of specialised Search Analysts, known for their global reputation for excellence, provides actionable insights to support IP protection, innovation, and strategic decision-making.
Chemistry & Biotech Expertise – Advanced searches in both large and small molecules leveraging cutting-edge indexing and algorithms, including chemical structures, Markush structures, sequences, formulations and biosimilars.
Comprehensive Subject Knowledge – Our team includes experts in molecular biology, immunology, genomics, gene therapy, and medical devices, with many Search Analysts formerly serving on the patent information teams at leading companies such as GSK, Merck, Pfizer, Novartis, Abbott, Eli Lilly, Amgen and Genentech.
Tailored Patent Search Solutions – From freedom-to-operate to validity/invalidity, litigation, EPO opposition, IPR, due diligence, landscape and white-space analyses, we address the critical challenges in pharma and biotech.
TPR’s highly experienced U.S. and European Search Analysts, global reach, and passion for excellence make us the most trusted choice for pharma and biotech corporations and law firms.
About Kisaco Research
Kisaco Research produces, designs and hosts B2B industry conferences, exhibitions and communities – focused on a specialized selection of topic areas.
Meet industry peers that will help build a career-changing network for life.
Learn from the mistakes of your peers as much as their successes—ambitious industry stalwarts who are happy to share not just what has made them successful so far but also their plans for future proofing their companies.
Note down the inspired insight that will form the foundation for future strategies and roadmaps, both at our events and through our online communities.
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Contact us at +44 (0)20 3696 2920 and email [email protected], or let us know what subject area you're interested in below.