Carpmaels & Ransford LLP has a strong reputation in the healthcare sector, frequently assisting clients with EPO oppositions, prosecutions, and litigation on a domestic and pan-European scale. Managing partner Hugh Goodfellow is a notable member of the team with significant expertise in representing both well-established and growing biotechnology companies in prosecution proceedings. Head of the engineering and technology groups John Brunner is highly experienced in EPO oppositions, while James Warner leads the chemistry and pharmaceuticals departments with extensive knowledge in prosecution and defence proceedings in these sectors. The biotechnology team is spearheaded by Mark Chapman, and he specialises in antisense therapeutics, antibody therapeutics, and immunomodulatory therapies. Jake Marshall heads up the intellectual property transactions department.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Biotech, knowledge of the field, excellent understanding of the subject, easy to approach, and fast service. To date, all patent cases have been won when challenged in court.’

  • ‘Very helpful and friendly, often making excellent suggestions.’

  • ‘The attorneys I've worked with at Carpmaels are fantastic! I would recommend this firm to anyone looking for EP patent counsel.'

  • ‘The diverse team of attorneys with whom I have had the pleasure of working are driven, smart, and willing to go the extra mile. They think about the strategy based on the goals of the company. They never just do something because it gets something allowed; they always consider the value.’

  • 'In both prosecution and oppositions, they come prepared to discuss the strategy in view of the company goals, not just the single patent on which we are working. They have already considered many different scenarios and are willing to walk through the pros and cons of each. They have a recommendation, but are willing to alter it depending on the facts.'

  • 'The team works together well so that nothing is lost if someone cannot attend a call etc. The trust they have in each other shines when walking through strategy and how best to leverage what we have in hand. As the associates get more senior the team recognises when more junior people should come on and assist with the portfolio.'

  • 'They are never caught on their back foot. Without question, this is a team I would seek out to work with again and again.'

Key clients

  • Abbott
  • Acorda Therapeutics
  • Afiniti, Ltd.
  • Align Technology Inc
  • Amgen
  • AMO Development LLC
  • Auris Health
  • Verb Surgical
  • Barclays Bank Plc
  • Biogen Inc.
  • Biosense Webster
  • Bozicevic, Field & Francis LLP
  • Bristol Myers Squibb
  • CSL
  • Dupont Teijin Films
  • Ethicon
  • Genus
  • Gilead
  • Guardant Health Inc
  • Hub Organoids
  • Hypertherm
  • Imperial Brands
  • Incyte
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals
  • Ipsen/Servier
  • Janssen Pharmaceuticals
  • Jazz Pharmaceuticals
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Juno
  • LEO Pharma
  • LifeScan, Inc.
  • McNeil AB
  • Merck
  • Novartis
  • Novocure
  • Quantum - Si
  • Raytheon Technologies Corporation
  • Regeneron
  • Roche
  • Rondo Energy
  • Sanofi
  • Takeda
  • Vertex

Work highlights

  • Representing Sanofi & Regeneron in a long-running project involving EPO patent prosecution, EPO oppositions, national litigation support, and, most recently, UPC litigation relating to Praluent® anti-PCSK9 antibody product and Amgen's competing Repatha® product.
  • Represented Novartis AG in Enlarged Board of Appeal cases G1/22 and G2/22, in particular at the in-person hearing in May 2023, having previously persuaded the Technical Board of Appeal to refer questions to the EBA regarding important questions about entitlement to priority.
  • Represented multiple clients as opponents in opposition proceedings against Amgen's patent that broadly claimed BCMAxCD3 bispecific antibodies.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Hugh Goodfellow, John Brunner, James Warner, Mark Chapman, Jake Marshall

Other key lawyers

Harvey Adams, Cameron Marshall, Daniel Wise, Edward Oates, Paul Bettridge, Matthew Georgiou, Stephen Duffield, Anna Leathley, Chris Hoggett, Daiel Goodman, Ian Kirby