Welcome to the second annual cross-industry UPC Litigation Forum
This forum is taking place on January 20th at the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam. As Europe’s premier patent litigation forum, this cross-industry event brings together top in-house counsels, private practice attorneys, regulators, and judges to discuss the latest procedural updates and case law from the UPC. Highlights include engaging plenary panel sessions, an interactive mock trial, a diversity and inclusion workshop, and a networking drinks reception to connect with key stakeholders.
New for 2025
This year's summit will proudly host the industry's inaugural Diversity & Inclusion at the UPC workshop during our UPC Litigation Forum, featuring targeted workshop discussions.
Highlights For 2025
Join cross-industry panels to explore recent UPC rulings and anticipate key developments in patent litigation.
Experience a hands-on mock trial on claim interpretation, giving insight into how future cases may be handled at the UPC.
Gain perspectives from leading European experts on patent quality and the evolving relationship between the EPO and UPC.
Discover the perspectives from Europe’s leading UPC judges during our interactive panel session and discover the perspective of the people deciding on your UPC case.
Leading In-House Speakers & Judges:
Filip De Corte
Head of IPSyngenta
Ronny Thomas
Honourable JudgeUPC Local Division, Dusseldorf
Stefanie Kies
Senior Director Intellectual PropertyPolpharma Biologics
Beat Weibel
Chief IP CounselSiemens
Mathias Zigann, Honourable Judge, UPC- Munich
Honourable JudgeUPC- Munich
Sara Burghart
Senior Counsel- Patent LitigationBAT
Edgar Brinkman
Honourable JudgeUPC Local Division Hague
Margot Kokke
Honourable Judge, Local Division HagueUPC
Listen To Why Your Peers Think It Is So Important To Have Cross-Industry Views in Litigation
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LIFE SCIENCES PATENT ADVISORY BOARD
Dr. Leslie Fischer
Principal Patent Attorney
Sandoz
Leslie Fischer is a Principal Patent Attorney at Sandoz, who focuses on global IP strategy for biosimilars. Before joining Sandoz, Leslie was a patent attorney at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, where she worked for over a decade developing global patent portfolios for biologicals. Before joining the Novartis group, Leslie was an associate at Fitzpatrick Cella (NY) (now Venable). Leslie holds a J.D. from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Thomas Jefferson University. Her scientific work appears in JCB, JBC, and Osteoarthritis & Cartilage. She speaks frequently at patent-related events and is an adjunct professor at Seton Hall Law School.
Christof Bull
Associate General Patent Counsel
UCB
Mathilde Rauline
Head of Greater Europe Patent Litigation
Sanofi
Mathilde is a European patent attorney, is qualified as a French patent attorney, and is admitted to the Paris bar.
She is head of Greater Europe patent litigation at Sanofi, after having been a patent litigator in private practice (mostly in the pharmaceutical field), and a patent attorney in the industry (Sanofi, Nestlé).
She has extensive experience in pharmaceutical and life-science patent litigation in France, at the EPO, in Europe, and in Eurasia.
Her expertise also comprises contractual matters, settlements, regulatory aspects, and the SPC regulation.
Lorenz Kallenbach
Senior Corporate Patent Counsel (Director)
Merck
Lorenz Kallenbach is a senior corporate patent counsel in the healthcare division of Merck KGaA. He is responsible for defining and executing the IP strategy for innovator projects. Including the assessment of the IP landscape, coordination of worldwide patent litigation, and portfolio development.
Before joining Merck, Lorenz worked in private practice. He is qualified as a German and European patent attorney.
Lorenz studied biochemistry and received a Ph.D. in the field of epigenetics.
Stephan Kutik
Senior Director, Intellectual Property
Genevant Sciences GmbH
Ewan Nettleton
Principal IP Counse
Novartis
Tessa M. Malamud-Cohen
Director, Patents, Global Intellectual Property
Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Paki Banky
Senior IP Counsel (IP Lead Cell & Gene)
Novartis
Corinna Sundermann
Senior Vice President Intellectual Property
Fresenius Kabi
Frank Landolt
Chief Counsel IP & Legal
Confo Therapeutics
Frank Landolt is Chief Counsel, Intellectual Property and Legal at Confo Therapeutics, a privately held biopharmaceutical start-up based in Ghent, Belgium specializing in GPCR-targeted therapeutics.
After studying chemistry and law at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, Frank worked for almost ten years on pharmaceutical and biotechological patents and licensing in private practice in the Netherlands, where his clients included major pharmaceutical companies as well as some of the top biotech firms and research institutions in the Netherlands.
Prior to joining Confo in 2018, Frank worked for fifteen years in Ablynx N.V. (now a wholly owned Sanofi company), where he was a member of the management team and headed an integrated IP and legal group of four lawyers and five patent professionals. At Ablynx, Frank was involved in negotiating Ablynx’s strategic partnerships and licensing deals with AbbVie, Boehringer-Ingelheim, MSD, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Wyeth.
From 2000 to 2004, Frank was director of IP and legal counsel at Devgen N.V. (now part of Syngenta), another Ghent-based biotechnology company, where he was involved in negotiating Devgen’s strategic collaborations with Sumitomo, Monsanto and DuPont Pioneer.
Frank is a Dutch and European patent attorney, and also holds a degree in business law from the University of Antwerp. He is a member of the Dutch association of patent attorneys (where he is a tutor for the professional qualification course), EPI and LES Benelux (where he is involved in the LES Licensing Course). He is a regular speaker on a range of topics relating to IP and licensing in the (bio)pharmaceutical sector. Frank was named as one of Managing IP’s ‘Corporate IP stars’ for four years in a row (2015-2018).
Guido Pontremoli
Vice President Global IP
Chiesi
Currently employed as global Head of the IP department-Patent at Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA, managing and coaching a team of experienced patent attorneys, patent searchers and administrators, working on the protection, enforcement, litigation and/or opposition of the Chiesi IP, aligned with business decisions.
Before joining Chiesi, I worked in IP groups of big pharma companies (GSK Vaccine, and Bracco Imaging) as senior patent attorney responsible for all the IP aspects concerning some key R&D projects. I also had experience as patent counsel in private practices, dealing with pharma, chemical and bio entities.
Graduated in chemistry from the Univ of Milan, with a PhD in medicinal chemistry and a post-doc experience in USA, I am qualified EPA and chartered Italian patent attorney.
Kristin Cooklin
Group Head IP Counsel
Recordati
Toni Santamaria
Vice President Intellectual Property
Adalvo
Toni has been leading the Intellectual Property team at Adalvo since 2021. He has more than 20 years of experience in different pharmaceutical companies where he has been involved in developing and implementing complex patent and data exclusivity litigation strategies for several generics and added value products, including leading parallel litigation cases in multiple European countries. He also has experience in patent and trademark prosecution.
Toni qualified as European Patent Attorney in 2010 and holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry.
Shohta Ueno
Assistant General Counsel - Dispute Resolution
Regeneron
Adrian Spillmann
Director of Intellectual Property
Valneva
Julia Pike
Global Head of IP
Sandoz
Since March 2020, Julia has been the Global Head of IP for Sandoz. In her previous roles with Sandoz, she has had a leading role in the first wave of US biosimilars litigation, including the first litigations on critical aspects of the governing legislation (the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act or BPCIA), culminating in the landmark US Supreme Court decision, Sandoz v Amgen.
Since leaving private practice at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Julia has been in-house counsel for many years including at Mayne Pharma and Hospira Inc before joining Sandoz in 2008. While there, she has taken on roles in European public affairs and led Sandoz’s global IP litigation function as Global Head of IP Litigation. Through those roles, she has maintained a keen interest in IP strategy and litigation worldwide, including cases arising under the Hatch-Waxman and BPCIA legislation in the US, PM(NOC) regulations in Canada and litigation arising from patent linkage systems around the world.
Christoph Rehfuess
Head of IP
Sotio
Philip Caramanica
Chief IP Counsel & Deputy General Counsel
Alvotech
Dr. Leslie Fischer
Principal Patent Attorney
Sandoz
Leslie Fischer is a Principal Patent Attorney at Sandoz, who focuses on global IP strategy for biosimilars. Before joining Sandoz, Leslie was a patent attorney at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, where she worked for over a decade developing global patent portfolios for biologicals. Before joining the Novartis group, Leslie was an associate at Fitzpatrick Cella (NY) (now Venable). Leslie holds a J.D. from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Thomas Jefferson University. Her scientific work appears in JCB, JBC, and Osteoarthritis & Cartilage. She speaks frequently at patent-related events and is an adjunct professor at Seton Hall Law School.
Christof Bull
Associate General Patent Counsel
UCB
Mathilde Rauline
Head of Greater Europe Patent Litigation
Sanofi
Mathilde is a European patent attorney, is qualified as a French patent attorney, and is admitted to the Paris bar.
She is head of Greater Europe patent litigation at Sanofi, after having been a patent litigator in private practice (mostly in the pharmaceutical field), and a patent attorney in the industry (Sanofi, Nestlé).
She has extensive experience in pharmaceutical and life-science patent litigation in France, at the EPO, in Europe, and in Eurasia.
Her expertise also comprises contractual matters, settlements, regulatory aspects, and the SPC regulation.
Lorenz Kallenbach
Senior Corporate Patent Counsel (Director)
Merck
Lorenz Kallenbach is a senior corporate patent counsel in the healthcare division of Merck KGaA. He is responsible for defining and executing the IP strategy for innovator projects. Including the assessment of the IP landscape, coordination of worldwide patent litigation, and portfolio development.
Before joining Merck, Lorenz worked in private practice. He is qualified as a German and European patent attorney.
Lorenz studied biochemistry and received a Ph.D. in the field of epigenetics.
Stephan Kutik
Senior Director, Intellectual Property
Genevant Sciences GmbH
Ewan Nettleton
Principal IP Counse
Novartis
Tessa M. Malamud-Cohen
Director, Patents, Global Intellectual Property
Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Paki Banky
Senior IP Counsel (IP Lead Cell & Gene)
Novartis
Corinna Sundermann
Senior Vice President Intellectual Property
Fresenius Kabi
Frank Landolt
Chief Counsel IP & Legal
Confo Therapeutics
Frank Landolt is Chief Counsel, Intellectual Property and Legal at Confo Therapeutics, a privately held biopharmaceutical start-up based in Ghent, Belgium specializing in GPCR-targeted therapeutics.
After studying chemistry and law at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, Frank worked for almost ten years on pharmaceutical and biotechological patents and licensing in private practice in the Netherlands, where his clients included major pharmaceutical companies as well as some of the top biotech firms and research institutions in the Netherlands.
Prior to joining Confo in 2018, Frank worked for fifteen years in Ablynx N.V. (now a wholly owned Sanofi company), where he was a member of the management team and headed an integrated IP and legal group of four lawyers and five patent professionals. At Ablynx, Frank was involved in negotiating Ablynx’s strategic partnerships and licensing deals with AbbVie, Boehringer-Ingelheim, MSD, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Wyeth.
From 2000 to 2004, Frank was director of IP and legal counsel at Devgen N.V. (now part of Syngenta), another Ghent-based biotechnology company, where he was involved in negotiating Devgen’s strategic collaborations with Sumitomo, Monsanto and DuPont Pioneer.
Frank is a Dutch and European patent attorney, and also holds a degree in business law from the University of Antwerp. He is a member of the Dutch association of patent attorneys (where he is a tutor for the professional qualification course), EPI and LES Benelux (where he is involved in the LES Licensing Course). He is a regular speaker on a range of topics relating to IP and licensing in the (bio)pharmaceutical sector. Frank was named as one of Managing IP’s ‘Corporate IP stars’ for four years in a row (2015-2018).
Guido Pontremoli
Vice President Global IP
Chiesi
Currently employed as global Head of the IP department-Patent at Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA, managing and coaching a team of experienced patent attorneys, patent searchers and administrators, working on the protection, enforcement, litigation and/or opposition of the Chiesi IP, aligned with business decisions.
Before joining Chiesi, I worked in IP groups of big pharma companies (GSK Vaccine, and Bracco Imaging) as senior patent attorney responsible for all the IP aspects concerning some key R&D projects. I also had experience as patent counsel in private practices, dealing with pharma, chemical and bio entities.
Graduated in chemistry from the Univ of Milan, with a PhD in medicinal chemistry and a post-doc experience in USA, I am qualified EPA and chartered Italian patent attorney.
Kristin Cooklin
Group Head IP Counsel
Recordati
Toni Santamaria
Vice President Intellectual Property
Adalvo
Toni has been leading the Intellectual Property team at Adalvo since 2021. He has more than 20 years of experience in different pharmaceutical companies where he has been involved in developing and implementing complex patent and data exclusivity litigation strategies for several generics and added value products, including leading parallel litigation cases in multiple European countries. He also has experience in patent and trademark prosecution.
Toni qualified as European Patent Attorney in 2010 and holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry.
Shohta Ueno
Assistant General Counsel - Dispute Resolution
Regeneron
Adrian Spillmann
Director of Intellectual Property
Valneva
Julia Pike
Global Head of IP
Sandoz
Since March 2020, Julia has been the Global Head of IP for Sandoz. In her previous roles with Sandoz, she has had a leading role in the first wave of US biosimilars litigation, including the first litigations on critical aspects of the governing legislation (the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act or BPCIA), culminating in the landmark US Supreme Court decision, Sandoz v Amgen.
Since leaving private practice at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Julia has been in-house counsel for many years including at Mayne Pharma and Hospira Inc before joining Sandoz in 2008. While there, she has taken on roles in European public affairs and led Sandoz’s global IP litigation function as Global Head of IP Litigation. Through those roles, she has maintained a keen interest in IP strategy and litigation worldwide, including cases arising under the Hatch-Waxman and BPCIA legislation in the US, PM(NOC) regulations in Canada and litigation arising from patent linkage systems around the world.
Christoph Rehfuess
Head of IP
Sotio
Philip Caramanica
Chief IP Counsel & Deputy General Counsel
Alvotech
A Snippet Of Our In-House Speaker Faculty
Diane Adair
Senior IP CounselNovartis
Mike Cottler
PartnerGemini- Mathilde Rauline
Head of Greater Europe Patent LitigationSanofi - Stefanie Kies
Senior Director Intellectual PropertyPolpharma Biologics - Kristin Cooklin
Group Head IP CounselRecordati - Toni Santamaria
Vice President Intellectual PropertyAdalvo - Filip De Corte
Head of IPSyngenta - Corinna Sundermann
Senior Vice President Intellectual PropertyFresenius Kabi - Shohta Ueno
Assistant General Counsel - Dispute ResolutionRegeneron 
Georgia Roussou
Senior Legal CounselWin Media
Naoise Gaffney
Vice President - Intellectual PropertyGH Research
- Guido Pontremoli
Vice President Global IPChiesi - Frank Landolt
Chief Counsel IP & LegalConfo Therapeutics
Register Your Interest for 2025
5 Reasons To Download The Agenda:
Explore In-House Insights: Discover the valuable perspectives from leading cross industry companies such as: Siemens, Ericsson, BAT, Polpharma Biologics, Adalvo, Regeneron, Nokia and Syngenta
Engage in Targeted Sessions: Dive into the most pressing UPC challenges such as: the decision on the merits, claim interpretation, case law still to come, procedural challenges and patent quality.
- Network with Top Firms: Gain insights from a diverse range of international and boutique patent litigation firms, participating as panellists and speakers, to enhance your understanding of the European patent litigation landscape.
- Hear from the judges: Learn directly from judicial speakers making the decisions on your patent litigation cases.
- Hear from Key Decision-Makers: Learn directly from judicial and institutional speakers providing firsthand updates from critical bodies such as the UPC, UK courts, WIPO, EFPIA, the European Commission, and Medicines for Europe.
Download Full Agenda
A Snippet Of Our Private Practice Speaker Faculty
Paul Inman
PartnerGowling
Eleanor Root
PartnerBird & Bird
Rob Cerwinski
PartnerGemini Law
Luca Pellicciari
PartnerTrevisan & Cuonzo
Daan De Lange
PartnerBrinkhof
Cecile Goy
PartnerAramis Law
Naomi Pearce
CEO and LawyerPearce IP
Agathe Michel-De-Cazotte
PartnerCarpmaels & Ransford
Tjibbe Douma
Partner, IP, AmsterdamBird & Bird
Peter van Schijndel
PartnerHoyng Rokh Monegier
Benjamin May
PartnerAramis
Otto Swens
PartnerVondst
Oya Yalvac
PartnerDERIS
Denis Schertenleib
PartnerSchertenleib Avocats
Our 2024 Speakers
Agathe Michel-De-Cazotte
Partner
Carpmaels & Ransford
Andreas Robinson
Senior Counsel Intellectual Property & Litigation
Amgen
Andrew Hutchinson
Partner
Simmons & Simmons
Antje Brambrink
Counsel
Finnegan
Dr. Antje Brambrink is qualified and admitted as an attorney at law in Germany. She advises and represents clients in complex patent disputes on all IP-related matters, often at the interface of antitrust and regulatory laws. Her expertise covers various fields of technology with a focus on pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, med-tech, as well as renewable energies and high-tech. Our clients appreciate Antje’s deep understanding of the life sciences sector based on her dual qualification as a licensed dentist.
As a patent litigator, Antje represents clients in infringement, preliminary injunction and inspection proceedings before German district and appeal courts as well as in nullity and compulsory license proceedings at the German Federal Patent Court and the Federal Supreme Court.
In addition to her work as a litigator, Antje advises clients strategically on all issues relating to intellectual property rights (patents, utility models, supplementary protection certificates), such as contracts for the licensing and transfer of rights also in connection with international transactions or the newly established Unified Patent Court (UPC). She has extensive experience in the European coordination of multinational patent disputes.
Prior to joining Finnegan, Antje practiced patent litigation for several years in the patent litigation teams of two international law firms seated in Germany. Antje’s medical and scientific background is of great benefit in advising clients from the life sciences sector. Renowned pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical devices companies regularly seek her advice. She also advises in the field of renewable energies and in the enforcement of standard-essential patents.
Aoife Murphy
Partner
DLA Piper
Arjan Reijns
Legal Director Amsterdam
Pinsent Masons
Arvid van Oorschot
Partner
Vondst
Benjamin May
Partner
Aramis
Benjamin May was admitted to practice law in 2000 and further admitted to the panel of “Intellectual Property specialists” with the Bar Association. Practice head of IP at Aramis, Benjamin specializes in cross-border patent litigation with a focus on pharmaceuticals, medical devices and biotechs. The 7 attorneys of the IP team are all internationally trained and address a wide range of patent law matters (e.g. invalidity strategies, infringement, launching at risk, preliminary injunctions, licensing, R&D and consortium agreements). In 2023 the team was ranked amongst the leading patent litigation practices in France, and Benjamin as “leading individual” (Legal 500).
Brian Goldberg
Counsel
Dechert
Brian M. Goldberg is a Counsel in Dechert LLP’s intellectual property practice with a focus on life sciences patent litigation. Mr. Goldberg has successfully litigated patent cases through bench and jury trials, as well as parallel PTAB proceedings, with vast experience litigating Hatch-Waxman Act ANDA infringement actions. Mr. Goldberg has extensive first-hand experience applying the doctrine of equivalents in patent litigations involving small molecule and biologic pharmaceutical products. Mr. Goldberg’s neuroscience background and deep understanding of the statutory and regulatory framework of the Hatch-Waxman Act provides him invaluable insight in litigating cases to achieve successful outcomes for his clients.
Brian O'Moore
Honourable Judge
Irish High Court
Cecile Goy
Partner
Aramis Law
Cécile Goy is a member of the Paris Bar focusing on international patent litigation, in particular in the life sciences sector. Before joining Aramis, Cécile worked with an international IP boutique and in-house in the legal department of a car manufacturer. Cécile has also completed an internship at the IP section of the Paris Court of Appeal. Cécile is the author of several articles, including on medical devices and digital therapeutics.
Charles Collins-Chase
Partner
Finnegan
Charles Collins-Chase focuses on district court patent litigation and appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, where he served as a clerk. He uses his chemical engineering background to help clients protect innovations in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, energy and renewables, and chemical products. He has assisted numerous clients in Hatch-Waxman (ANDA) litigation. Charles has handled district court litigations at every stage, from pre-litigation through discovery, dispositive motions, and trial. He particularly enjoys writing briefs and motions.
Charles has extensive experience at the Federal Circuit, where he has argued cases and assisted clients in over two dozen appeals from district courts and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). He has particular experience in appeals involving patent eligibility under 35 U.S.C. § 101. Charles lectures on and has published in several legal and industry media outlets on strategic IP considerations for protecting AI innovations in the pharmaceutical industry.
Before law school, Charles completed an M.Phil. in engineering for sustainable development at the University of Cambridge, where he researched the feasibility of community-scale biodiesel production using a novel reactor system. His undergraduate thesis research involved synthesizing and characterizing thermosetting polymers made from soybean oil and other renewable resources.
Charles also devotes substantial time to pro bono matters and leads the firm’s pro bono committee. He argues before the Federal Circuit on behalf of veterans seeking service-connected disability benefits. He successfully represented a client seeking Social Security disability benefits, writing the briefs and arguing at a hearing before an administrative law judge.
He holds a J.D. (cum laude) from University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Chris Buntel
Co-Founder & CIPO
Tangibly
Chris Buntel is a US intellectual property attorney with over 20 years experience connecting innovation and intellectual property law. He is a co-founder and the CIPO of Tangibly. Chris is passionate about trade secrets – the “next big thing” in intellectual property evolution. While other forms of intellectual property have been well supported for years, people are just now realizing the huge need for trade secret management tools and education. He has a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Stanford University, and J.D. in Law from University of Houston.
Christine Kanz
Partner
Hoyng Rokh Monegier
Christopher Freeth
Principal Associate
Gowling WLG
Clemens Heusch
Head of Global Disputes and Resolution
Nokia
Conrad Eckhardt
Vice President IP
Biotronik
Conrad practices in the IP field for more than 20 years and gained experience across various industries. Having started with Consumer Products at Procter & Gamble he moved on to Pharmaceuticals at Boehringer Ingelheim and is now active in the medical device field, first as Chief IP Counsel at Leica Biosystems and currently as Chief IP Counsel at Biotronik. Conrad is a European Patent Attorney and a European Patent Litigator and has patent litigation experience in Germany, the USA and China.
Our 2025 Partners
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Based on your objectives, we can create bespoke packages for you. From presenting your expertise on stage to partnering with us to deliver networking activities. Partner with us in 2025 to showcase your brand and make valuable new connections. Opportunities include thought leadership, branding, and networking.
Discuss your objectives with Duncan Henderson, Commercial Partnerships Director, [email protected]
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Life Sciences Patent Advisory Board
Dr. Leslie Fischer
Principal Patent Attorney
Sandoz
Leslie Fischer is a Principal Patent Attorney at Sandoz, who focuses on global IP strategy for biosimilars. Before joining Sandoz, Leslie was a patent attorney at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, where she worked for over a decade developing global patent portfolios for biologicals. Before joining the Novartis group, Leslie was an associate at Fitzpatrick Cella (NY) (now Venable). Leslie holds a J.D. from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Thomas Jefferson University. Her scientific work appears in JCB, JBC, and Osteoarthritis & Cartilage. She speaks frequently at patent-related events and is an adjunct professor at Seton Hall Law School.
Christof Bull
Assistant General Patent Counsel
UCB
Mathilde Rauline
Head of Greater Europe Patent Litigation
Sanofi
Mathilde is a European patent attorney, is qualified as a French patent attorney, and is admitted to the Paris bar.
She is head of Greater Europe patent litigation at Sanofi, after having been a patent litigator in private practice (mostly in the pharmaceutical field), and a patent attorney in the industry (Sanofi, Nestlé).
She has extensive experience in pharmaceutical and life-science patent litigation in France, at the EPO, in Europe, and in Eurasia.
Her expertise also comprises contractual matters, settlements, regulatory aspects, and the SPC regulation.
Lorenz Kallenbach
Senior Corporate Patent Counsel (Director)
Merck
Lorenz Kallenbach is a senior corporate patent counsel in the healthcare division of Merck KGaA. He is responsible for defining and executing the IP strategy for innovator projects. Including the assessment of the IP landscape, coordination of worldwide patent litigation, and portfolio development.
Before joining Merck, Lorenz worked in private practice. He is qualified as a German and European patent attorney.
Lorenz studied biochemistry and received a Ph.D. in the field of epigenetics.
Stephan Kutik
Senior Director, Intellectual Property
Genevant Sciences GmbH
Ewan Nettleton
Principal IP Counse
Novartis
Tessa M. Malamud-Cohen
Director, Patents, Global Intellectual Property
Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Paki Banky
Senior IP Counsel (IP Lead Cell & Gene)
Novartis
Corinna Sundermann
Senior Vice President Intellectual Property
Fresenius Kabi
Frank Landolt
Chief Counsel IP & Legal
Confo Therapeutics
Frank Landolt is Chief Counsel, Intellectual Property and Legal at Confo Therapeutics, a privately held biopharmaceutical start-up based in Ghent, Belgium specializing in GPCR-targeted therapeutics.
After studying chemistry and law at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, Frank worked for almost ten years on pharmaceutical and biotechological patents and licensing in private practice in the Netherlands, where his clients included major pharmaceutical companies as well as some of the top biotech firms and research institutions in the Netherlands.
Prior to joining Confo in 2018, Frank worked for fifteen years in Ablynx N.V. (now a wholly owned Sanofi company), where he was a member of the management team and headed an integrated IP and legal group of four lawyers and five patent professionals. At Ablynx, Frank was involved in negotiating Ablynx’s strategic partnerships and licensing deals with AbbVie, Boehringer-Ingelheim, MSD, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Wyeth.
From 2000 to 2004, Frank was director of IP and legal counsel at Devgen N.V. (now part of Syngenta), another Ghent-based biotechnology company, where he was involved in negotiating Devgen’s strategic collaborations with Sumitomo, Monsanto and DuPont Pioneer.
Frank is a Dutch and European patent attorney, and also holds a degree in business law from the University of Antwerp. He is a member of the Dutch association of patent attorneys (where he is a tutor for the professional qualification course), EPI and LES Benelux (where he is involved in the LES Licensing Course). He is a regular speaker on a range of topics relating to IP and licensing in the (bio)pharmaceutical sector. Frank was named as one of Managing IP’s ‘Corporate IP stars’ for four years in a row (2015-2018).
Guido Pontremoli
Vice President Global IP
Chiesi
Currently employed as global Head of the IP department-Patent at Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA, managing and coaching a team of experienced patent attorneys, patent searchers and administrators, working on the protection, enforcement, litigation and/or opposition of the Chiesi IP, aligned with business decisions.
Before joining Chiesi, I worked in IP groups of big pharma companies (GSK Vaccine, and Bracco Imaging) as senior patent attorney responsible for all the IP aspects concerning some key R&D projects. I also had experience as patent counsel in private practices, dealing with pharma, chemical and bio entities.
Graduated in chemistry from the Univ of Milan, with a PhD in medicinal chemistry and a post-doc experience in USA, I am qualified EPA and chartered Italian patent attorney.
Kristin Cooklin
Group Head IP Counsel
Recordati
Toni Santamaria
Vice President Intellectual Property
Adalvo
Toni has been leading the Intellectual Property team at Adalvo since 2021. He has more than 20 years of experience in different pharmaceutical companies where he has been involved in developing and implementing complex patent and data exclusivity litigation strategies for several generics and added value products, including leading parallel litigation cases in multiple European countries. He also has experience in patent and trademark prosecution.
Toni qualified as European Patent Attorney in 2010 and holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry.
Shohta Ueno
Assistant General Counsel - Dispute Resolution
Regeneron
Adrian Spillmann
Director of Intellectual Property
Valneva
Julia Pike
Global Head of IP
Sandoz
Since March 2020, Julia has been the Global Head of IP for Sandoz. In her previous roles with Sandoz, she has had a leading role in the first wave of US biosimilars litigation, including the first litigations on critical aspects of the governing legislation (the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act or BPCIA), culminating in the landmark US Supreme Court decision, Sandoz v Amgen.
Since leaving private practice at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Julia has been in-house counsel for many years including at Mayne Pharma and Hospira Inc before joining Sandoz in 2008. While there, she has taken on roles in European public affairs and led Sandoz’s global IP litigation function as Global Head of IP Litigation. Through those roles, she has maintained a keen interest in IP strategy and litigation worldwide, including cases arising under the Hatch-Waxman and BPCIA legislation in the US, PM(NOC) regulations in Canada and litigation arising from patent linkage systems around the world.
Christoph Rehfuess
Head of IP
Sotio
Dr. Leslie Fischer
Principal Patent Attorney
Sandoz
Leslie Fischer is a Principal Patent Attorney at Sandoz, who focuses on global IP strategy for biosimilars. Before joining Sandoz, Leslie was a patent attorney at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, where she worked for over a decade developing global patent portfolios for biologicals. Before joining the Novartis group, Leslie was an associate at Fitzpatrick Cella (NY) (now Venable). Leslie holds a J.D. from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Thomas Jefferson University. Her scientific work appears in JCB, JBC, and Osteoarthritis & Cartilage. She speaks frequently at patent-related events and is an adjunct professor at Seton Hall Law School.
Christof Bull
Assistant General Patent Counsel
UCB
Mathilde Rauline
Head of Greater Europe Patent Litigation
Sanofi
Mathilde is a European patent attorney, is qualified as a French patent attorney, and is admitted to the Paris bar.
She is head of Greater Europe patent litigation at Sanofi, after having been a patent litigator in private practice (mostly in the pharmaceutical field), and a patent attorney in the industry (Sanofi, Nestlé).
She has extensive experience in pharmaceutical and life-science patent litigation in France, at the EPO, in Europe, and in Eurasia.
Her expertise also comprises contractual matters, settlements, regulatory aspects, and the SPC regulation.
Lorenz Kallenbach
Senior Corporate Patent Counsel (Director)
Merck
Lorenz Kallenbach is a senior corporate patent counsel in the healthcare division of Merck KGaA. He is responsible for defining and executing the IP strategy for innovator projects. Including the assessment of the IP landscape, coordination of worldwide patent litigation, and portfolio development.
Before joining Merck, Lorenz worked in private practice. He is qualified as a German and European patent attorney.
Lorenz studied biochemistry and received a Ph.D. in the field of epigenetics.
Stephan Kutik
Senior Director, Intellectual Property
Genevant Sciences GmbH
Ewan Nettleton
Principal IP Counse
Novartis
Tessa M. Malamud-Cohen
Director, Patents, Global Intellectual Property
Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Paki Banky
Senior IP Counsel (IP Lead Cell & Gene)
Novartis
Corinna Sundermann
Senior Vice President Intellectual Property
Fresenius Kabi
Frank Landolt
Chief Counsel IP & Legal
Confo Therapeutics
Frank Landolt is Chief Counsel, Intellectual Property and Legal at Confo Therapeutics, a privately held biopharmaceutical start-up based in Ghent, Belgium specializing in GPCR-targeted therapeutics.
After studying chemistry and law at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, Frank worked for almost ten years on pharmaceutical and biotechological patents and licensing in private practice in the Netherlands, where his clients included major pharmaceutical companies as well as some of the top biotech firms and research institutions in the Netherlands.
Prior to joining Confo in 2018, Frank worked for fifteen years in Ablynx N.V. (now a wholly owned Sanofi company), where he was a member of the management team and headed an integrated IP and legal group of four lawyers and five patent professionals. At Ablynx, Frank was involved in negotiating Ablynx’s strategic partnerships and licensing deals with AbbVie, Boehringer-Ingelheim, MSD, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Wyeth.
From 2000 to 2004, Frank was director of IP and legal counsel at Devgen N.V. (now part of Syngenta), another Ghent-based biotechnology company, where he was involved in negotiating Devgen’s strategic collaborations with Sumitomo, Monsanto and DuPont Pioneer.
Frank is a Dutch and European patent attorney, and also holds a degree in business law from the University of Antwerp. He is a member of the Dutch association of patent attorneys (where he is a tutor for the professional qualification course), EPI and LES Benelux (where he is involved in the LES Licensing Course). He is a regular speaker on a range of topics relating to IP and licensing in the (bio)pharmaceutical sector. Frank was named as one of Managing IP’s ‘Corporate IP stars’ for four years in a row (2015-2018).
Guido Pontremoli
Vice President Global IP
Chiesi
Currently employed as global Head of the IP department-Patent at Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA, managing and coaching a team of experienced patent attorneys, patent searchers and administrators, working on the protection, enforcement, litigation and/or opposition of the Chiesi IP, aligned with business decisions.
Before joining Chiesi, I worked in IP groups of big pharma companies (GSK Vaccine, and Bracco Imaging) as senior patent attorney responsible for all the IP aspects concerning some key R&D projects. I also had experience as patent counsel in private practices, dealing with pharma, chemical and bio entities.
Graduated in chemistry from the Univ of Milan, with a PhD in medicinal chemistry and a post-doc experience in USA, I am qualified EPA and chartered Italian patent attorney.
Kristin Cooklin
Group Head IP Counsel
Recordati
Toni Santamaria
Vice President Intellectual Property
Adalvo
Toni has been leading the Intellectual Property team at Adalvo since 2021. He has more than 20 years of experience in different pharmaceutical companies where he has been involved in developing and implementing complex patent and data exclusivity litigation strategies for several generics and added value products, including leading parallel litigation cases in multiple European countries. He also has experience in patent and trademark prosecution.
Toni qualified as European Patent Attorney in 2010 and holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry.
Shohta Ueno
Assistant General Counsel - Dispute Resolution
Regeneron
Adrian Spillmann
Director of Intellectual Property
Valneva
Julia Pike
Global Head of IP
Sandoz
Since March 2020, Julia has been the Global Head of IP for Sandoz. In her previous roles with Sandoz, she has had a leading role in the first wave of US biosimilars litigation, including the first litigations on critical aspects of the governing legislation (the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act or BPCIA), culminating in the landmark US Supreme Court decision, Sandoz v Amgen.
Since leaving private practice at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Julia has been in-house counsel for many years including at Mayne Pharma and Hospira Inc before joining Sandoz in 2008. While there, she has taken on roles in European public affairs and led Sandoz’s global IP litigation function as Global Head of IP Litigation. Through those roles, she has maintained a keen interest in IP strategy and litigation worldwide, including cases arising under the Hatch-Waxman and BPCIA legislation in the US, PM(NOC) regulations in Canada and litigation arising from patent linkage systems around the world.
Christoph Rehfuess
Head of IP
Sotio
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Platinum Partners
Linklaters
Website: https://www.linklaters.com/
Linklaters cross-border Intellectual Property team successfully advises market-leading companies on high-profile IP litigation and complex IP-driven transactions.
We advise clients in a broad range of sectors, with a focus on IP-heavy industries such as healthcare and life sciences.
Our history of advising clients in the healthcare and life sciences sector is long and we have developed strong working relationships and a deep understanding of our client’s business environment. Many of our lawyers have technical backgrounds and therefore have in-depth understanding of complex technologies.
We support our clients with outstanding legal skills, expert sector knowledge and a pragmatic mindset in cross-border IP disputes. More specifically our litigation practice covers the full scope of dispute resolution, including court proceedings, arbitration, mediation and settlement discussions. Where possible, we aim to resolve disputes before court proceedings become necessary. However, where litigation is unavoidable, we take care to pick the right cases to pursue through the courts and continue to look for pragmatic solutions.
We tackle the entire spectrum of IP rights, including patents, supplementary protection certificates, copyrights, designs and trademarks. Our practice also covers issues of confidentiality, as well as trade secrets protection and misappropriation.
Gold Partners
Carpmaels & Ransford
Website: https://www.carpmaels.com/
Carpmaels & Ransford LLP is a leader in the European IP market, having driven innovation in the industry for over 200 years. The firm advises clients on all aspects of intellectual property, including drafting, filing and prosecuting patent and trademark applications; drafting and negotiating licence agreements and other commercial IP agreements; advising on the transfer of property rights; assisting clients with patent restoration matters; and conducting enforcement and revocation litigation.
The firm has one of Europe’s largest IP teams serving blue-chip clients across the globe, including Johnson & Johnson, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Mars, Gilead, Raytheon, Regeneron, Takeda, Allergan and Xeros. The firm’s attorneys have considerable technical knowledge, bringing together experience from industry-leading companies, academic research at leading universities and extensive patent expertise in the areas of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, engineering, tech, chemistry, materials, supplementary protection certificates and information and communication technologies and standards.
Through its fully integrated dispute resolution and transactions teams, the firm is able to provide a holistic service to clients which supports their IP needs from inception to commercialisation. The dispute resolution team, made up of experienced solicitors, barristers and patent attorney litigators, represents clients at all levels of the European Patent Office. The team is also adept at conducting enforcement litigation and revocation actions before the UK Intellectual Property Office and patent, copyright, trademark and other IP litigation in the English courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union, often advising in cases where parallel or related litigation is ongoing in courts across Europe or in the United States.
As a European IP firm with litigators and patent attorneys under one roof, Carpmaels & Ransford is looking forward to offering clients the chance to both obtain UPs using the existing EPO procedure and enforce their patents across Europe in the UPC.
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