Speakers
Heli Pihlajamaa, Director Patent Law, European Patent Office, Munich, Germany
Heli Pihlajamaa, Director Patent Law, EPO Munich, studied Law at Helsinki University and at Max Planck Institute in Munich. Heli acts as legal member in opposition cases and advises EPO higher management on policy issues and legal amendments. She is responsible for supporting the EPO policy by developing, strengthening and promoting the EPC, including proposals for legal changes, compliance of operations with patent law-related norms and case law. Before joining the EPO she worked in both the private and public sectors.
She has written books and articles on patent law in Finnish and is fluent in English, German, Swedish, Finnish and French.
She has written books and articles on patent law in Finnish and is fluent in English, German, Swedish, Finnish and French.
Thomas Kolzau, CEO, Enin Pharma
Thomas Kolzau is the CEO of Enin Pharma. From 2012 and until he joined Enin Pharma Thomas was the Head of Patents Affairs at Helm AG. Until 2012 he was the CEO of Stellacure GmbH (pharma/stem cell business) and the founder of the TKIM consulting network (innovation management and IP). in 2008/2009 he was head of sales and business development at IPG AG Hamburg and in in 2006/2007 he was the CEO of HGConsult GmbH. From 1999 to 2007 he worked for the Eppendorf AG, in his last position as executive director.
Thomas achieved his diploma and PhD in biology in the field of cancer research at UKE Hamburg, Germany and he spent his postdoctoral fellowship at Beiersdorf AG, Hamburg; Boehringer Mannheim, Penzberg; and the Otago Medical School, New Zealand.
Ray Cresswell, Former Vice President, Legal Counsel at GlaxoSmithKline (UK)
For the last 19 years Ray Cresswell has been GSK’s principal EU lawyer for pharmaceuticals regulatory issues as part of GSK’s R&D Legal Operations Team. He has provided legal support for work on prescription, non-prescription and vaccine products. Recently he has been supporting work on GSK’s latest gene therapy products but over the years has advised across GSK’s entire spectrum of drugs.
Cresswell has knowledge of EU law on drugs regulatory exclusivities such as data exclusivity, orphan drug exclusivity, paediatric exclusivity and the interactions with patent SPCs. He also advises on EU drugs law and general contracting work for R&D including clinical study agreements, research collaborations and consultancies.
Prior to his legal career he worked as a research scientist for a UK biotechnology company. His early interests in science, and later at post-doctoral level, were in microbiology and microbial genetics.
Cresswell has knowledge of EU law on drugs regulatory exclusivities such as data exclusivity, orphan drug exclusivity, paediatric exclusivity and the interactions with patent SPCs. He also advises on EU drugs law and general contracting work for R&D including clinical study agreements, research collaborations and consultancies.
Prior to his legal career he worked as a research scientist for a UK biotechnology company. His early interests in science, and later at post-doctoral level, were in microbiology and microbial genetics.
Emma Bassinder, European Patent Counsel, Eli Lilly and Company
Emma Bassinder is European patent counsel at Eli Lilly and Company, where she primarily works on the Elanco patent portfolio (Elanco is the animal health division of Eli Lilly). Her responsibilities include drafting, prosecution, enforcement and defence of global patent rights; provision of legal counsel and management of licensing relationships. She was involved in the transfer and management of the patent portfolios acquired as part of Lilly’s acquisition of Janssen Animal Health in 2011 and of Novartis Animal Health in 2014.
Bassinder studied chemistry with patent law at Manchester University before entering the patents profession in 2004.
Emma Bassinder is European patent counsel at Eli Lilly and Company, where she primarily works on the Elanco patent portfolio (Elanco is the animal health division of Eli Lilly). Her responsibilities include drafting, prosecution, enforcement and defence of global patent rights; provision of legal counsel and management of licensing relationships. She was involved in the transfer and management of the patent portfolios acquired as part of Lilly’s acquisition of Janssen Animal Health in 2011 and of Novartis Animal Health in 2014.
Bassinder studied chemistry with patent law at Manchester University before entering the patents profession in 2004.
Bo Kalum, European Patent Attorney/Senior Patent Specialist–Global Patents, H. Lundbeck
Bo Kalum is a European patent attorney and a senior patent specialist at Lundbeck, a global pharmaceutical company specialising in psychiatric and neurological disorders. Among other activities, Kalum is engaged in a working group preparing Lundbeck’s patent strategy in view of the expected coming into force of the unitary patent and the Unified Patent Court.
Kalum is also a Danish Institute for IP Education board member.
Fiona Bor, Head of Intellectual Property, Mereo BioPharma
Fiona Bor is the head of intellectual property at Mereo Biopharma, a UK-based specialty biopharmaceutical company founded in March 2015. She graduated in natural sciences from Cambridge University before going on to do a PhD at the Medical Research Council, UK and then a post-doc at Harvard Medical School, US.
She started her career as a patent attorney at SmithKline Beecham (now GSK) qualifying and working as a UK and European patent attorney. She spent two years in private practice before joining Teva and then Mylan as vice president and global head of regional IP.
Fiona is also qualified as a UK patent attorney litigator and has substantial experience of UK High Court litigation and litigation in other jurisdictions. She is a regular speaker at conferences.
She started her career as a patent attorney at SmithKline Beecham (now GSK) qualifying and working as a UK and European patent attorney. She spent two years in private practice before joining Teva and then Mylan as vice president and global head of regional IP.
Fiona is also qualified as a UK patent attorney litigator and has substantial experience of UK High Court litigation and litigation in other jurisdictions. She is a regular speaker at conferences.
Bernd Hutter, Senior Director, Head of IP MorphoSys AG
Bernd Hutter is head of the intellectual property department of MorphoSys AG, a German biopharmaceutical company listed on the TecDAX. In his current role Bernd is responsible for all IP matters of MorphoSys AG. He manages the IP portfolio covering MorphoSys’ fully human antibody platform and related antibody technologies. These technologies are used by MorphoSys for partnered and its own therapeutic antibody development.
Bernd is involved in many acquisitions, in- and out-licensing and numerous other transactions. He is a qualified European patent attorney with experience in the biologics and the small molecule area. Prior to joining MorphoSys AG he worked at another biotech company in various positions in R&D and IP. He has a diploma in biology and a PhD in microbiology and has worked in various laboratories in Europe and Asia.
Bernd is involved in many acquisitions, in- and out-licensing and numerous other transactions. He is a qualified European patent attorney with experience in the biologics and the small molecule area. Prior to joining MorphoSys AG he worked at another biotech company in various positions in R&D and IP. He has a diploma in biology and a PhD in microbiology and has worked in various laboratories in Europe and Asia.
Susanne Ahlberg, General Counsel, Genovis AB
Susanne Ahlberg, LL.M is General Counsel for the Genovis Group at its corporate headquarters in Lund, Sweden, and for its U.S. subsidiary Genovis Inc. She oversees all legal aspects of the Genovis Group, including intellectual property and trade secrets. With over 20 years of experience in the industry as both an employee and through her own company, Ms. Ahlberg has worked extensively with both startups and established companies, mainly in the field of medical supplies and diagnostic tests for the veterinary market, with a focus on business development and international marketing.
Marion Rees, IP Director, Circassia
Marion Rees is a qualified UK and European patent attorney, working in the life sciences area. She began her training at JA Kemp before moving in-house to GSK. She subsequently managed the intellectual property and licensing issues at Virax, a virtual vaccine company in Melbourne, PowderMed, a spin out from PowderJect focused on DNA vaccines, and Oxford Nanopore Technologies, a spin out from Oxford University, developing DNA sequencing devices.
Marion is currently IP director at Circassia, which is focused on respiratory and allergy therapeutic areas.
Marion Rees is a qualified UK and European patent attorney, working in the life sciences area. She began her training at JA Kemp before moving in-house to GSK. She subsequently managed the intellectual property and licensing issues at Virax, a virtual vaccine company in Melbourne, PowderMed, a spin out from PowderJect focused on DNA vaccines, and Oxford Nanopore Technologies, a spin out from Oxford University, developing DNA sequencing devices.
Marion is currently IP director at Circassia, which is focused on respiratory and allergy therapeutic areas.
Maria Nichol, Galapagos NV
Since 2006, Maria Nichol has been responsible for the IP strategy at Galapagos NV, a clinical-stage biotechnology company which specialises in the discovery and development of small molecule medicines with novel modes of action.
Since entering the patent profession she has worked primarily in-house for biotech companies, initially at Oxford GlycoSciences, followed by Biotica Technology, and lately for Galapagos.
In addition she has lectured on the Queen Mary IP certificate and MSc courses, is an examiner for the PEB Qualifying Examinations and is a member of the life sciences committee of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys.
Maria Nichol read natural sciences (pharmacology) at the University of Cambridge, followed by a DPhil in Alzheimer’s disease research at the University of Oxford.
Since entering the patent profession she has worked primarily in-house for biotech companies, initially at Oxford GlycoSciences, followed by Biotica Technology, and lately for Galapagos.
In addition she has lectured on the Queen Mary IP certificate and MSc courses, is an examiner for the PEB Qualifying Examinations and is a member of the life sciences committee of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys.
Maria Nichol read natural sciences (pharmacology) at the University of Cambridge, followed by a DPhil in Alzheimer’s disease research at the University of Oxford.
Sven Bostyn, Chair, Expert Group on Patent Law, Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, European Commission
Sven Bostyn is the chair of the expert committee at the EC on the development and implications of patent law in the field of biotechnology and genetic engineering and has advised the Belgian and Dutch governments on policy regarding patentability of biotechnological inventions. He is often consulted as an expert in patent law and licensing by government institutions and practitioners.
Bostyn is a senior lecturer in IP law at the University of Liverpool; lecturer in IP law at the Institute for Information Law of the University of Amsterdam; visiting professor at the Université de Liège; guest lecturer at CEIPI in Strasbourg and consultant in IP. He specialises in patent law relating to pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical devices, software and SPCs, with 12+ years in private practice, and is the single author of more than 60 scientific publications.
Sven Bostyn is the chair of the expert committee at the EC on the development and implications of patent law in the field of biotechnology and genetic engineering and has advised the Belgian and Dutch governments on policy regarding patentability of biotechnological inventions. He is often consulted as an expert in patent law and licensing by government institutions and practitioners.
Bostyn is a senior lecturer in IP law at the University of Liverpool; lecturer in IP law at the Institute for Information Law of the University of Amsterdam; visiting professor at the Université de Liège; guest lecturer at CEIPI in Strasbourg and consultant in IP. He specialises in patent law relating to pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical devices, software and SPCs, with 12+ years in private practice, and is the single author of more than 60 scientific publications.
Nicola Dagg, Partner, Allen & Overy
Nicola leads the IP Litigation practice in London. Whilst a significant proportion of her work involves the enforcement and licensing of patents, she has also acted on numerous disputes involving trademarks, copyright, designs and breach of confidence. She has particular experience dealing with matters with a high scientific and technological content. Nicola previously served as the Deputy Reporter General of AIPPI International. She is ranked as a leading IP partner in WIPR Leaders; Chambers; Legal 500 and IAM Patent 1000. She was selected as one of the 10 “Most Highly Regarded Individuals” in Europe by Who's Who Legal: Patents 2016. Nicola has an MA in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge and was admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in 1996.
Marjan Noor, Partner, Allen & Overy
Marjan Noor is a partner in the IP litigation practice in London. She has a particular focus on patent and regulatory law in the life science sector. She has represented clients in proceedings before the UK courts and the CJEU.
Noor took a degree in pharmacology before going on to study law. She writes and speaks extensively on a range of patent and regulatory topics and is a co-author of Introduction to European Regulatory Rights in Intellectual Property in the Life Sciences.
She was recommended as one of the UK’s leading patent litigators and regulatory specialists in Chambers 2015/2016: “Noor is commended for her leadership of make-or-break patent disputes, and also for her advice on regulatory issues.” One key client said: “She is excellent—highly motivated, creative, extremely thorough and very responsive.” Commentators say she is “very substantively engaged, very clever and thoroughly decent”.
Marjan Noor is a partner in the IP litigation practice in London. She has a particular focus on patent and regulatory law in the life science sector. She has represented clients in proceedings before the UK courts and the CJEU.
Noor took a degree in pharmacology before going on to study law. She writes and speaks extensively on a range of patent and regulatory topics and is a co-author of Introduction to European Regulatory Rights in Intellectual Property in the Life Sciences.
She was recommended as one of the UK’s leading patent litigators and regulatory specialists in Chambers 2015/2016: “Noor is commended for her leadership of make-or-break patent disputes, and also for her advice on regulatory issues.” One key client said: “She is excellent—highly motivated, creative, extremely thorough and very responsive.” Commentators say she is “very substantively engaged, very clever and thoroughly decent”.
Marc Döring, Partner, Allen & Overy LLP
Marc Döring specialises in intellectual property disputes. The majority of his work involves market-leading, high-value patent litigation in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, high-tech and chemical industries. He is highly experienced in providing strategic litigation advice and coordinating pan-European patent litigation, including working alongside legal teams in the US. He has obtained both preliminary and urgent ex parte injunctions on behalf of clients, and is regularly instructed to provide patent validity and infringement opinions.
Döring is recommended as a leading individual for IP/patent litigation by the leading directories. He is a member of the Intellectual Property Advisory Committee of the UK Bioindustry Association and the European Patent Lawyers Association. He writes and speaks on IP issues and is a co-author of Patents on Biotechnological Inventions: The EC Directive, published by Sweet & Maxwell. He is also a member of the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship.
Döring is recommended as a leading individual for IP/patent litigation by the leading directories. He is a member of the Intellectual Property Advisory Committee of the UK Bioindustry Association and the European Patent Lawyers Association. He writes and speaks on IP issues and is a co-author of Patents on Biotechnological Inventions: The EC Directive, published by Sweet & Maxwell. He is also a member of the Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship.
Sarah Turner, Partner, Hogan Lovells
Sarah Turner has been practising IP law in the London office for nearly 20 years. Her focus is on the protection of confidential information and patent law but she has experience of most areas of IP law.
Her clients range from large pharmaceutical and medical device companies to manufacturing businesses and start-ups. Turner is experienced in litigation and negotiating commercial IP agreements. Her practice is diverse but the common thread of her work is anything technical. Before studying law, she took a degree in physics.
Turner is well known as a trade secrets litigator and advisor and her work in this area has been used by the European Commission in its production of the draft Trade Secrets Directive. The majority of her work is cross-border and she regularly works with colleagues in the US, Europe and Asia on patent and trade secret matters.
Sarah Turner has been practising IP law in the London office for nearly 20 years. Her focus is on the protection of confidential information and patent law but she has experience of most areas of IP law.
Her clients range from large pharmaceutical and medical device companies to manufacturing businesses and start-ups. Turner is experienced in litigation and negotiating commercial IP agreements. Her practice is diverse but the common thread of her work is anything technical. Before studying law, she took a degree in physics.
Turner is well known as a trade secrets litigator and advisor and her work in this area has been used by the European Commission in its production of the draft Trade Secrets Directive. The majority of her work is cross-border and she regularly works with colleagues in the US, Europe and Asia on patent and trade secret matters.
Stella Wong, Senior Associate, Hogan Lovells
Stella Wong is dual-qualified as a medical physician and a solicitor. She is a senior associate in the intellectual property team of the firm’s London office. She works predominantly on multi-jurisdictional patent litigation. She specialises in litigation relating to medical device, pharmaceutical and biotechnology patents but has also worked on patents in the mobile phone and LED fields.
Wong graduated from University College London with a degree in medicine and a Bachelor’s degree in physiology. She has worked as a doctor at University College London Hospital and has practised medicine for more than 10 years. Wong qualified as a Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners and still works as a general practitioner on Saturdays.
Wong graduated from University College London with a degree in medicine and a Bachelor’s degree in physiology. She has worked as a doctor at University College London Hospital and has practised medicine for more than 10 years. Wong qualified as a Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners and still works as a general practitioner on Saturdays.
Dr. Claire Irvine, Partner, HGF
Dr Claire Irvine is a partner at HGF. She is a patent attorney with expertise in all aspects of biotechnology patenting, including gene-related and immunology-related inventions. Her experience includes handling high-profile patent applications and portfolios in the fields of genetic diagnostics and synthetic biology, which have been the subject of considerable interest and comment beyond patent professionals.
Rachel Fetches, Partner, HGF
Rachel Fetches is an intellectual property litigation partner at HGF, with a life sciences background. She has worked with clients across a broad range of sectors with a particular focus on pharmaceutical and life sciences.
Fetches has extensive experience of litigating before the Patents Court, as well as in patent and trademark oppositions before the UKIPO, EPO and OHIM. She also regularly advises in relation to pan-European IP strategy for both patent and trademark proceedings.
Fetches has extensive experience of litigating before the Patents Court, as well as in patent and trademark oppositions before the UKIPO, EPO and OHIM. She also regularly advises in relation to pan-European IP strategy for both patent and trademark proceedings.
Takanori Abe, Managing Partner, Abe & Partners
Mr. Abe, managing partner of Abe & Partners, is currently a guest professor of Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine and formerly a lecturer of the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine. He is an arbitrator in Japan and holds various positions in Japanese medical/pharmaceutical societies.
Ednaldo Silva, Founder & Director, RoyaltyStat
Ednaldo Silva, PhD, is the founder of RoyaltyStat. He is an economist specialising in transfer pricing and the valuation of intangibles. While serving at the Internal Revenue Service Office of Chief Counsel, Silva served as a drafting member for the Section 482 (Transfer Pricing) Regulations and as the first economist in the APA Program.
He was responsible for introducing the Comparable Profits Method (TNMM under the OECD Guidelines), the Best Method Rule, and the Arm’s Length Range under the Section 482 Regulations.
Ednaldo Silva, PhD, is the founder of RoyaltyStat. He is an economist specialising in transfer pricing and the valuation of intangibles. While serving at the Internal Revenue Service Office of Chief Counsel, Silva served as a drafting member for the Section 482 (Transfer Pricing) Regulations and as the first economist in the APA Program.
He was responsible for introducing the Comparable Profits Method (TNMM under the OECD Guidelines), the Best Method Rule, and the Arm’s Length Range under the Section 482 Regulations.
Sanya Sukduang, Partner, Finnegan
Sanya Sukduang concentrates on patent litigation before federal district courts and the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and post-grant proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the US Patent and Trademark Office, primarily in the areas of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, biologics, diagnostics, and medical devices. He has conducted all aspects of pre-trial, trial, post-trial, and inter partes review proceedings before the PTAB. Mr. Sukduang has extensive experience in cases arising from the filing of Abbreviated New Drug Applications and also advises clients on an array of issues concerning biologics and biosimilars, including due diligence investigations and strategic patent portfolio planning. He lectures in the US and abroad on biologics and biosimilars arising under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA) and has written numerous articles on this topic. Mr. Sukduang was short-listed by LMG Life Sciences as General Patent Litigator of the Year (DC) in 2016.
Ian Mirandah, 2nd Generation, mirandah asia
Ian has headed pharmaceutical patent litigation teams in Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. He has been involved in technical IP office actions in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. He is happy to have a 100% success rate in all contentious matters that have crossed his desk. He is also involved in recruiting new staff to join the mirandah asia family.
After serving 2.5 years in the Singapore army, Ian read Biochemistry at Imperial College London. He then qualified as a Patent Agent in Malaysia. He then read Law at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. With his dual background in science and law, and his roots in Malaysia, Singapore and India – Ian is well placed to offer advice on patent strategies across South Asia.
Ian has headed pharmaceutical patent litigation teams in Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. He has been involved in technical IP office actions in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. He is happy to have a 100% success rate in all contentious matters that have crossed his desk. He is also involved in recruiting new staff to join the mirandah asia family.
After serving 2.5 years in the Singapore army, Ian read Biochemistry at Imperial College London. He then qualified as a Patent Agent in Malaysia. He then read Law at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. With his dual background in science and law, and his roots in Malaysia, Singapore and India – Ian is well placed to offer advice on patent strategies across South Asia.
Ashley Roughton, Barrister, Venner Shipley
Ashley Roughton is a barrister of over 25 years call, currently employed at the patent attorney firm Venner Shipley. During that time he has worked in patents, trade marks, data protection, pharma and regulatory. He is a principal author and the general editor of “The Modern Law of Patents” (Lexis Nexis, 3rd ed). Ashley has a number of science and engineering degrees and is technically qualified in a number of areas including biochemistry and molecular biology. He is also a regular speaker at patent, regulatory pharma and data protection & privacy conferences in the UK, the USA and the Republic of Ireland.
