Leading life sciences IP experts
Technical and legal capabilities accurately matched to your needs
Intellectual property is a critical asset in the life sciences sector. With Marks & Clerk, you work with leading life science experts, whose technical and legal capabilities are accurately matched to your needs. People who understand your world and are experienced in identifying, protecting, enforcing and maximising the value of IP rights for life sciences businesses.
Technical and sector expertise
Marks & Clerk has a large team of leading life science experts. The size of our team means that we have extensive expertise in all life science technical areas, including small molecules, biologics, molecular biology, gene therapy, virology, plant biotechnology, vaccines, wounds, immunology, bioinformatics and diagnostic methods.
We also have expertise in all other exclusivities particular to the life sciences sector, including:
supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) for medicinal and plant protection products
patent term extensions
regulatory exclusivities
plant variety rights.
for the result you need
Monique Chu
Partner Chinese and Chartered (UK) Patent Attorney
Monique has notable experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, cosmetic related and mechanical inventions.
Partner Canadian Patent Agent
James Baker is a partner and registered Canadian patent agent in the Ottawa office of Marks & Clerk Canada.
Upasana Patel
Partner Registered (SG) and Chartered (UK) Patent Attorney
Upasana qualified as a Singapore Registered Patent Attorney in 2007 and as a Chartered (UK) Patent Attorney in 2012.
Will Nieuwenhuys
Partner Chartered (UK) and European Patent Attorney
Will has experience in a variety of technical fields, with particular expertise in small molecule organic and pharmaceutical chemistry.
Integrated team
We work collaboratively across different disciplines to achieve the best possible outcome
Our team includes patent attorneys, trade mark attorneys, commercial lawyers and IP litigators. This combined expertise and experience means that we can provide every type of intellectual property service you need from the moment an invention is identified through to enforcement or defence of IP rights in opposition proceedings or litigation. We're used to working collaboratively across different disciplines to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients.
As well as identifying, enforcing and defending IP rights, we carry out life science due diligence projects and commercial work, including when preparing for investment and IPOs.
Our team acts in high value disputes before the courts and patent offices, often in coordinated, multi-jurisdictional proceedings.
Our life sciences team acts for world-leading multinationals as well as start-ups, universities, public sector organisations, and established SMEs. Our clients include businesses from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food technology and agritech sectors.
"The group stands out for its particularly busy Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) patent filing practice and its longstanding experience in matters at the intersection of litigation and prosecution, making the team a popular choice for sophisticated matters, especially for pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies."
The Legal 500, 2020
"Pharmaceutical multinationals flock to the firm with cross-jurisdictional litigation and transactions instructions, alongside routine filing and prosecution tasks"
IAM Patent 1000, 2020
M&C Reacts: EPO stays examination and oppositions where "plausibility" is in issue
The question of whether evidence filed after the priority date of a patent application (so-called "post-published evidence") can be taken into account in the determination of inventive step has been a hot topic in Europe for several years.
M&C Reacts: Neurim v Mylan: A Most Unusual Case - Take Two Part Two
In a further preliminary skirmish in the Neurim v Mylan battle, the Patents Court has granted Neurim's wish to have its day in court. Mylan (now Viatris) failed in its bid to stay the UK proceedings pending determination of the EPO opposition proceedings.