DLA Piper

Firm overview:

The UK practice of global law firm DLA Piper, which has a presence in over 40 countries, has a well-regarded patent offering. Part of the firm’s established European practice, the UK team collaborates with colleagues around the world to offer clients a seamless service for complex, multi-jurisdictional matters.

DLA Piper’s core strength in UK patent matters is litigation, and the team’s expertise includes the Internet of Things (IoT) and life sciences. The firm can provide representation in the full range of courts and tribunals, from the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), IP Enterprise Court, High Court and Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court and Court of Justice of the European Union. The London team has also worked with colleagues on cases before the Unified Patent Court (UPC).

Team overview:

Ruth Hoy leads the firm’s UK IP practice, having worked in IP litigation for over two decades. An industry peer commends patent litigator Rebecca Lawrence as “very good”, placing her among the best in the profession. Lawrence has particular expertise in the life sciences sector, and has litigated numerous patents covering pharmaceutical and biotechnological inventions and medical devices.

Another key member of the UK team, Deborah Bould focuses on patent dispute resolution, and has over 20 years of experience of standard-essential patents assertions in a wide range of technologies including IoT. Most of her work is multi-jurisdictional and she has extensive experience of winning cases with colleagues in the US, China, Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands.

Key matters:

• Successful appeal—Safestand

DLA Piper successfully represented Safestand, which designs and markets modular scaffolding systems to low level access platforms, before the Court of Appeal in overturning a judgment in relation to the validity of its re-registered designs (RRDs) following a challenge brought by Weston Homes.

Safestand initially brought a case against Weston in respect of its ‘Kwik Kage’ system, alleging infringement of three of Safestand’s patents relating to safety features of module scaffolding systems. Following a seven-day trial, Weston was found to have infringed all three patents, and all were found to be valid.

DLA Piper’s team included partner Rebecca Lawrence.

Clients:

Dyson, Safestand