Our speaking faculty consist of the “Who’s Who” of pharma and biotech patent litigation to Assist You with Practical Knowledge to Advance Your Patent Strategy.
If you wish to get involved, contact [email protected] for further information
Atabak Royaee
Senior Director Assistant General CounselRegeneron PharmaceuticalsBart Newland
General CounselAtalanta TherapeuticsBeth Krewson
General Counsel, Chief Compliance OfficerFormation BioChris Sharp
PartnerPinsent MasonsCatherine Drew
PartnerPinsent MasonsChad Shear
PartnerCooleyChad is a principal in the firm’s San Diego office and is the go-to patent litigator for numerous multinational life sciences companies — including Gilead, GSK, iCeutica, Iroko, Coherus Biosciences and Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma — whose marquee products deliver billions of dollars in annual revenues. He draws on his litigation experience, extensive network of scientific and business experts, and detailed knowledge of his clients’ companies to provide strategic legal counsel on a wide range of business matters. With extensive global experience, including serving as lead attorney in complex patent proceedings, trials and appeals across Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia, Chad has proven to be a results-focused, hands-on leader known for assembling and managing effective, collaborative teams across multiple time zones, firms, and languages.
Dan McGrath
Managing AssociateMarks & ClerkDavid Shofi
General CounselUnivercells TechnologiesEric Choi
IP LitigationMSNFiona Legere, Partner, Blakes
PartnerBlakesGwilym J.O. Attwell
PrincipalFish & RichardsonGeoffrey Biegler
PartnerCooleyHon. Mitchell S. Goldberg
JudgeUnited States District Court, Eastern District of PaHon. Paul R. Michel (Ret.)
Former Chief JudgeUnited States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC)Jim Burns, Senior Director
Business DevelopmentRWS IP ServicesJohn Cox
PartnerBarnes & ThornburgWith deep knowledge of issues facing the life sciences industry, John Cox counsels clients regarding their worldwide intellectual property rights and represents their patent interests when litigation arises, particularly regarding pharmaceutical, chemical, and biotechnology matters. John takes his role in protecting these important assets of life science innovators very seriously while approaching each matter with enthusiasm.
Through his ability to communicate effectively and succinctly, John advises on, develops, and carries out global IP strategies for the benefit of innovative companies, his clients, who are focused on developing core assets that save and improve the lives of patients. John enjoys leveraging his unique ability to put together targeted and enduring teams for each matter – paying close attention to each person’s strengths and skillsets and how they fit with one another, alongside his highly specialized experience and thoughtful and responsive nature.
John is intimately familiar with the pharmaceutical industry, having dealt with patent and IP subject matter ranging from brain chemistry, the gastrointestinal system, drug delivery systems and treatments of rare diseases and cancer to medical diagnostic methods, the generation of biofuel using bacteria, and processes for manufacturing chemicals and pharmaceutical products. He also has almost two decades of experience in Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) cases, including pre-litigation investigations.John offers guidance from the first step of a matter through to resolution, including all aspects of litigation. He has extensive experience related to discovery and motion practice, as well as in developing offensive and defensive strategies. He is well versed in dealing with complex subject matter and technical witnesses, such as inventors and experts.
John adeptly helps clients navigate the crossroads of foreign business practices and the complexities of U.S. patent practice, having worked with foreign pharmaceutical, chemical, and biotechnology companies throughout his career.Joshua Kresh
Interim Executive Director of the Center for Intellectual Propertyx Innovation PolicyJohn Norman
PartnerGowlingKamleh Nicola
PartnerMarks & ClerkKamleh Nicola is a partner at Marks & Clerk and Co-Head of the firm’s Litigation practice in Canada. Her intellectual property litigation practice centers around patent, trademark, and copyright disputes. Though her client base is broad in scope, she specializes in Health and Life Sciences, working with domestic and multinational pharmaceutical, biopharma, and MedTech organizations. Kamleh is particularly knowledgeable on matters involving Canada’s patent linkage regimes, health regulatory and related compliance, and trade secrets.
Kevin Yurkerwich
Senior IP CounselNovartisKristin Cooklin
Group Head IP CounselRecordatiDr. Leslie Fischer
Principal Patent AttorneySandozLeslie 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.
Matt Murphy
PartnerAxinn Veltrop & Harkrider LLPMartina Tyreus Hufnal
PrincipalF&RPaul Inman
PartnerGowlingWith more than 25 years' experience of litigating intellectual property (IP) disputes both within the UK and internationally, Paul Inman works with companies ranging from small start-ups to major multi-national corporations. He specialises in the life sciences sector, which includes acting on high-profile pharmaceutical patent infringement cases in the UK Patents Court.
Paul provides life science businesses with commercial advice from an international outlook. His specialist experience ideally places him to provide this expertise and client care, with the ultimate aim of delivering well-rounded advice and guidance to ensure the best possible outcome.
As well as litigating in the English courts, he has co-ordinated and advised on IP and regulatory litigation matters across the globe; from all over Europe and the US, to as far afield as Asia, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Successfully guiding clients through the maze of litigation is where Paul's strength lies, having now been involved over 25 years of litigation in cases leading to more than 40 reported judgments. These range from the tribunals of the UK Patent Office up to the House of Lords, European Patent Office and European Court of Justice.
Paul also has a degree in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and during his professional career has established an outstanding reputation in the market. He is distinguished in the 2023 edition of IAM Patent 1000: The World's Leading Patent Professionals, ranked individually for both IP law and life sciences law in the peer review publication 'Best Lawyers® in the UK' and recognised in several categories within Chambers & Partners UK 2023.
Petra Scamborova
Senior Director, Assistant General Counsel, Dispute ResolutionRegeneronRaymond Parker III
Senior Patent CounselBioNtechRobert Oakes
PrincipalFish & RichardsonRobin Ellis
PartnerReddie&GroseSesha Kumar
Vice President & Head-Intellectual Property, InnovationDr. Reddy’s LaboratoriesSophie Wang
PartnerChoateStephanie Monaco
General Counsel and Head of Regulatory AffairsKindeva Drug DeliveryVictoria Reines
Principal CounselSanofiStan Fisher
PartnerWilliams & ConnollyStan Fisher is a first-chair trial lawyer and counselor who focuses his practice primarily on issues that affect technology companies. Stan has tried numerous cases involving patent, FDA, and antitrust issues, as well as matters involving contracts, licensing, and business torts.
Stan has been consistently ranked as an “IP Star” by Managing Intellectual Property (2021-2024); and LMG Life Sciences Guide recognized him as a “Leading Life Science Star” since 2021. In 2022, LMG Life Sciences identified Stan among the finalists for the “General Patent Litigator of the Year (DC Metro)” award, and in 2023, he was a recognized as a finalist for “Hatch-Waxman Litigator of the Year (Branded)." IAM Patent 1000 has highlighted Stan as a “Leading Patent Litigation Attorney” in its guide since 2020. The 2020 publication noted Stan has “broad horizons as a trial lawyer and litigates with confidence and poise in diverse technical fields, across all areas of intellectual property and in regulatory, antitrust and contract disputes” and the 2022 edition emphasizes Stan’s standing as a “leading trial lawyer.” Both in September 2022 and May 2021, The American Lawyer recognized Stan as a “Litigator of the Week Runner Up” for successfully representing Merck in a major trial victory and IPR proceedings, respectively, concerning patents covering the blockbuster sitagliptin products: Januvia, Janumet, and Janumet XR.
In addition to Stan’s patent practice, he serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Food and Drug Administration practice group. In this space, he focuses specifically on the intersection of FDA law, patent law, and antitrust law, advises on issues with the Orange Book, regulatory exclusivities, and other issues that are adjunct to pharmaceutical and biotech patent litigation. Stan’s experience litigating matters involving the FDA has been highlighted by IAM Patent 1000 with the publication describing Stan as a “top” FDA lawyer. The 2021 edition highlighted Stan's "vast biopharmaceutical experience” and explained that he “makes full use of his finely honed advocacy skills and intuitive understanding of Food and Drug Administration regulatory requirements and antitrust law." He also has an active practice litigating trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights.
Stan serves as Professorial Lecturer in Law at The George Washington University Law School, where he teaches Chemical & Biotech Patent Law, a course Stan recently re-designed to focus on patent, regulatory, and antitrust issues arising in Hatch-Waxman, BPCIA, and other pharmaceutical and biotechnology patent matters.
Stan received his B.S. in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry from Yale College in 1997 and his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School in 2004, where he graduated with Highest Honors and served as Editor-in-Chief of The George Washington Law Review. He joined Williams & Connolly in March 2006 after clerking for Judge Richard Linn at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Stan is a current member of the firm's Budget Committee and former member of the Hiring Committee. Stan is a Past President of the Giles S. Rich American Inn of Court, the Intellectual Property Inn of Court in Washington, D.C. generally affiliated with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.