Powell Gilbert

Firm overview:

Litigation boutique Powell Gilbert combines technical expertise with a focus on complex, high-value disputes. Described as a “fantastic litigation outfit” by a peer, the firm has been nurturing a new generation of litigators who take leading roles across Unified Patent Court (UPC), Supreme Court and multinational proceedings. The opening of Powell Gilbert’s Düsseldorf office in September 2025 further reinforces a practice built around European coordination. The firm continues to be involved in high-profile patent matters, for clients including BioNTech, Tesla, ZTE and Ocado.

Team overview:

Powell Gilbert has depth across pharmaceutical, telecommunication and life sciences disputes.

Penny Gilbert remains one of the profession’s most influential practitioners, leading complex cross-border pharmaceutical disputes while mentoring the firm’s next generation of litigators. Peers consistently cite her among the market’s top individuals, reflecting her standing across the profession.

Key team members include Siddharth Kusumakar, who has built a highly respected practice centred on life sciences and medical technology litigation. A UPC representative, Kusumaker was involved in some of the first cases before the court and leads the Powell Gilbert team representing and coordinating Edwards Lifesciences’ major dispute with Meril Life Sciences over heart valve technology.

Pete Damerell continues to play a leading role in many of the firm’s highest-profile patent disputes, particularly across life sciences and telecommunications. He is one of the lead partners acting for ZTE in its global patent and licensing dispute with Samsung.

Bethan Hopewell regularly handles technically sophisticated disputes before the UK courts and the UPC. Peers highlight her commercial outlook and strategic judgement, and her recent notable representations including leading a team that has had multiple successes in asserting patent rights for Illumina.

Joel Coles combines a scientific background with sophisticated litigation expertise. His work across High Court and UPC proceedings demonstrates the firm’s confidence in its younger partnership; he is currently representing BioNTech in UK, UPC and Irish proceedings relating to the company’s Comirnaty vaccine.

Bryce Matthewson handles cross-border litigation involving pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Combining scientific training with growing advocacy experience, he has become an important contributor to the firm’s expanding European practice, particularly in disputes requiring coordinated strategies across multiple jurisdictions.

Key matters:

• Tesla: Landmark FRAND and 5G standard-essential patent (SEP) litigation

Powell Gilbert represents Tesla in a landmark UK Supreme Court FRAND dispute against InterDigital and Avanci, challenging the fairness of Avanci’s 5G licensing programme and seeking court-determined terms for SEP licences.

• BioNTech: Multi-jurisdictional COVID-19 vaccine patent litigation

The team represents BioNTech in complex patent disputes relating to its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, defending infringement claims and coordinating proceedings across the UK, UPC, Ireland and EPO involving Moderna, CureVac, GSK and Promosome.

• Edwards Lifesciences: Pan-European transcatheter heart valve patent enforcement

Powell Gilbert led Edwards Lifesciences’ Europe-wide patent enforcement programme against Meril Life Sciences, securing a series of important UPC injunctions protecting transcatheter heart valve technologies across multiple jurisdictions.

Clients:

AIM Sport, BioNTech, Biogen, Edwards Lifesciences, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Illumina, ParTec, Samsung Bioepis, Skechers, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Tesla, Transsion, ZTE