The team at Bird & Bird LLP handles issues surrounding the classification of medical devices, clinical trials, and advertising with ‘outstanding’ expertise. Regularly acting for biotech and pharmaceutical companies, the team is noted for advising both generic and innovator clients. Mark Hilton co-heads the practice with Sally Shorthose. Praised for his ‘practicality and thoroughness’, Hilton has vast experience in patent revocation and infringement proceedings, while Shorthose has broad commercial knowledge, particularly in relation to series investments. The ‘excellent’ James Baillieu is noted for his experience in assisting corporate venture capital groups with regulatory and technology related matters. Trevor Cook joined the group from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP in October 2022, contributing his knowledge of pharmaceutical and biotech infringement issues.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Excellent depth of expertise, good geographical coverage, highly responsive.’
‘Excellent technical abilities, commercial, highly responsive, good client care.'
'James Baillieu is excellent, very commercial, and pro-active, bringing an assured confidence and calmness to the table.’
‘Their level of IP expertise is outstanding. Their speed attending client's queries and focus on business needs is really impressive.’
‘Mark Hilton's approach to IP issues stands for its practicality and thoroughness. He understands the business needs and focus on them when addressing any IP issues.’
‘Good legal and industry knowledge and give practical advice’
‘Eleanor Root provides very good, practical, commercial advice.’

Key clients

Dexcom Group
Gilead Sciences
Teva Pharmaceuticals
The Broad Institute
Merck KGaA
Danaher Group
Catalyst Clinical Research LL
Serum Institute of India
Eye-Chitecture, Inc
Precision Medicine

Work highlights

Acted for Gilead in patent revocation and infringement proceedings against NuCana PLC over patents concerning the drug sofosbuvir. The patents were owned by NuCana and were asserted to cover the Gilead products.
Advised Envision Pharma Group on its acquisition of OKRA.ai, an award-winning technology company active in the provision of artificial intelligence solutions for the healthcare industry.
Advising Teva in regulatory litigation in relation to defending the grant of a Belgian medicinal product marketing authorisation, which is being challenged in the Belgian courts.