US/EPO Patent Case Law Update 2021

Dominic Adair, Bristows LLP

Dominic’s technical background (MA Natural Sciences, PhD Zoology) leads him to specialise primarily in patent litigation with a focus on life sciences. He has experience before the Patent Office, High Court and Court of Appeal as well as experience of Opposition proceedings before the EPO. Dominic has extensive experience of cross-border litigation in and beyond Europe. In the pharmaceutical sector, Dominic has worked on all aspects of the drug life cycle, from freedom to operate analyses and early-stage risk assessment of generic competition to end-stage litigation, SPCs and anti-trust issues. Dominic writes regularly on reported patent cases in the UK and at the EPO and is a member of EPLAW and sits on the UK council of AIPPI. He is a regular conference speaker and presenter.

Yelena Morozova, Finnegan LLP

Yelena is an experienced patent attorney with technical expertise across different fields of engineering, most particularly in information technology and software, telecommunications, and AI. Being qualified in the US and in Europe, Yelena practices in both jurisdictions, focusing on patent procurement and portfolio development for a diverse range of global clients. Using her knowledge of the different legal approaches employed on both sides of the Atlantic, Yelena provides a pragmatic advice and develops creative solutions enabling businesses to meet their commercial objectives.

Yelena currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) and is the Board liaison to the AIPLA international committees. She also is an active member of the Women in IP Group of the IP Inclusive Task Force.

Gemma Barrett, Bristows LLP

Gemma is a contentious intellectual property specialist with a focus on patent litigation in the life sciences sector (pharmaceuticals, biotech and chemical processes). Her background in biochemistry provides her with a sound understanding of the technical aspects of such disputes. Gemma has experience of litigating patents for successful pharmaceutical products before the English Courts, including experience of obtaining preliminary injunctions. She has worked in teams to develop successful strategies, often combining patent and regulatory law, to assist pharmaceutical companies in the enforcement of their rights.  She has also handled patent cases for other sectors, including consumer goods, and acted in disputes relating to other intellectual property rights, such as trademarks. Gemma also has extensive experience of cross-border litigation within Europe and elsewhere in the world, including India. Gemma has presented on a number of topics and is a regular contributor to the monthly EPO reports which Bristows produce for the CIPA Journal.

Anthony Tridico, Finnegan LLP

Anthony Tridico, Ph.D., managing partner of Finnegan’s London office, has worked in Europe for most of his career, gaining significant knowledge of the European Patent Convention (EPC) and the diversity of laws and practice among the European national systems. His knowledge of the various legal systems and how they differ from the U.S. allows Anthony to effectively counsel clients across life sciences industries with global interests in intellectual property. Anthony has over 20 years of experience representing clients with a focus on patent office trials and appeals (PTAB and EPO), patent prosecution management, IP due diligence and litigation. His practice includes experience in a variety of technical areas including biologics, immunology and biotechnology, chemical and pharmaceutical sciences, polymers and adhesives, food sciences, medical devices, and diagnostics and instrumentation.