Mr Sebastian Moore > Herbert Smith Freehills LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP houses a ‘highly talented and dedicated‘ team which handles a broad range of issues including seed financings, patent protection, and merger control work. Alan Montgomery leads the team, often advising clients which occupy the biotech, generics and medtech spaces on commercial agreements and cross-border M&A issues. ‘Very thoughtful and high calibre‘ patent litigator Sebastian Moore is particularly adept at acting in SPC-related matters, having appeared before the CJEU, while IP specialist Sophie Rich regularly acts for pharmaceutical companies in both contentious and non-contentious matters. The ‘superb‘ Emily Bottle regularly appears before the European Patent Office, and is particularly knowledgeable in gene and cell therapies.

The ‘smart’ and ‘knowledgeable’ Herbert Smith Freehills LLP practice is experienced in high-tech patent disputes alongside transactional matters such as licensing, R&D development and various projects. The team is known for its expertise in the telecoms and technology sectors. ‘Superb’ practice head Sebastian Moore, who splits his time between London and Milan, fields a strong practice in pan-European pharmaceuticals litigation. Andrew Moir is well-versed in complex, tech-dependent matters, and ‘strategic’ Jonathan Turnbull is noted for his work in litigation on behalf of R&D-based companies. ‘Impressive’ Andrew Wells’s life sciences expertise means he is sought out by clients in this remit, counting global pharma companies in his roster and consultant Sophie Rich remains a key contact in the team. Emily Bottle, Emma Sherratt and Julie Chiu are also recommended. Peter Dalton departed in February 2023 to join Stephenson Harwood.

Helmed by Sebastian Moore, the team at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP advises clients on a full spectrum of IP issues, from tech litigation and anti-counterfeiting to copyright ownership and misuse of data. One particular area of growth for the team is large-scale software audit disputes. Andrew Moir is noted for his expertise in tech-dependent matters, while Jonathan Turnbull has a wealth of experience advising on the exploitation of their IP rights. Andrew Wells‘s strengths lie in the realm of technology and of counsel Heather Newton strengthens the practice with her considerable expertise in litigation, particularly in relation to trade marks, copyright and technology disputes. Senior associate Victoria Horsey‘s diverse practice encompasses brand protection and licensing issues, to name a few. Senior associate Emma Sherratt handles IP matters involving a multijurisdictional element.