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European law firm Fieldfisher has boosted its IP Group, and its Life Sciences practice, with the hire of Rouse's three partner Life Sciences patent litigation team.
The team is led by internationally renowned patent litigator Diana Sternfeld, who established Rouse's patent practice in 2001. With over twenty years' experience in a broad range of patent disputes, Diana is particularly well known as a long-standing advisor to several major pharmaceutical companies for whom she has acted in all UK courts as well as internationally, often in ground-breaking cases. Diana is a member of the Board and Executive Committee of the UK BioIndustry Association and represented the organisation on the Department of Health's Emerging Science and Biotechnology Advisory Committee.
Diana will be joined by Nicole Jadeja, who joined Rouse from Nabarro in January 2008, and Rebecca Baines, who joined from Slaughter and May in September 2005. Both were made partners in May 2014. The pair have extensive experience advising on all types of IP disputes, focusing primarily on multi-jurisdictional patent disputes in the Life Sciences sector. They have both led parallel patent proceedings for clients across Europe, litigating in the English courts, as well as managing opposition proceedings before the European Patent Office.
Nick Rose, partner and head of Fieldfisher's IP and Technology Litigation Group, said: "patent litigation in Europe is on the brink of exciting change with the impending introduction of the unitary patent and the Unified Patent Court. With London set to be one of three key locations for the new pan-European court, and the only branch specialising in Life Sciences disputes, it is vital to have a strong patent litigation team in London and across Europe.
"Diana, Nicole and Rebecca are all immersed in the life sciences industry with significant experience in the UK and across the continent. Coupled with our European network – as well as Diana's status as one of the best known UK patent litigators and Nicole and Rebecca's own burgeoning patent practices – their arrival puts us in an excellent position to better serve our clients' needs in the new unitary patent era."
The Central Division of the Unified Patent Court will be split between London, Paris and Munich, and Fieldfisher has patent litigators in each of these locations.
Michael Chissick, Fieldfisher managing partner, said: "The firm is well known as a leader in intellectual property and, with the industry set for significant change, it's important to highlight our strengths across our network. I'm delighted to welcome Diana, Nicole and Rebecca to the firm."
Diana Sternfeld said: "Fieldfisher has a very strong Life Sciences group and continues to be a top firm for intellectual property work. Nicole, Rebecca and I are delighted to be joining the firm, particularly with its strong presence in Europe at this key time for European patent litigation. We look forward to working with the current team."