Herbert Smith Freehills

Firm overview:

Herbert Smith’s patents practice covers the Asia-Pacific, Europe, UK and the US. A global team works with clients and across jurisdictions to provide advice and assistance in local and international litigation, transactions, risk management and strategic matters.

A particular focus is on running complex, multi-jurisdictional patent disputes, where key IP rights are litigated in parallel proceedings in separate countries. The firm is known for acting for innovators through its life sciences practice, notably for pharmaceuticals and diagnostics Swiss multinational holding healthcare company, F. Hoffmann-La Roche. Commentators report the firm’s IP and patents practice has reduced market presence than in previous years, perhaps due to the preparation cycle rather than court appearances in recent times.

Team overview:

Commentators note a lack of high profile individuals on the team perhaps due to a transition at the senior or junior stage of experience.

Key matters:

• Abbott Laboratories

Herbert Smith advised global healthcare company Abbott Laboratories on potential patent infringement and revocation proceedings in the UK, regarding Abbott Laboratories' blood glucose testing strips.

• AbbVie

Herbert Smith defended US pharma giant AbbVie in  a UK patent infringement case in relation to the autoinjector used to deliver AbbVie's Humira, the biggest-selling pharmaceutical product globally at the time.

• Ariosa (Roche group)

Herbert Smith defended Ariosa, a molecular diagnostics company specialising in non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) using cell-free DNA acquired by global healthcare company Roche in 2015, in patent infringement proceedings brought in the Patents Court in relation to the Harmony non-invasive prenatal test.

Clients:

Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie, Ariosa (Roche Group)