Simmons & Simmons

Firm overview:

London-headquartered Simmons & Simmons offers the specialist knowledge of a boutique IP practice within the full-service offering of an international firm. Particularly known for its involvement in high-stakes patent litigation in life sciences, the firm has an enviable client roster that includes AstraZeneca, GSK, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer and Toyota.

The firm fields multidisciplinary teams to handle its clients’ increasingly complex needs, and offers an integrated pan-European patent prosecution practice, operating as one group across its offices. A particular forte is advising on multi-million pound transactions where IP is integral to the deal.

Simmons & Simmons is growing its patent litigation practice and establishing itself as a high-profile dispute firm. In a major strategic hire, the firm took on Joel Smith in October 2024, who joined from Hogan Lovells and is a seasoned heavy-hitting IP and tech litigator. The team has acted on many of the largest patent cases in recent years and particularly specialises in multi-jurisdictional matters.

A deep bench of attorneys and litigators, including Unified Patent Court (UPC) representatives, advises clients on proceedings in Europe’s newest court. An industry peer recommends the firm for its “strong patent practice across health and life sciences, tech and electronics” and for being “at the forefront of the establishment of the UPC, with legacy partner Kevin Mooney involved in the set-up of the UPC Rule Committee”.

Team overview:

London partner Kevin Cordina leads the firm’s patent prosecution group. Specialising in the electronics, telecoms, and medical device fields, Cordina is an expert on all aspects of the patent process including contentious proceedings at the European Patent Office (EPO).

A specialist on the transactions side, partner Michael Gavey is skilled in handling all types of transactions involving IP. In addition to negotiating agreements, he advises on contractual interpretation and disputes, and also heads up the firm’s UK life sciences practice.

Managing associate, Frederick Nicolle has experience with patent matters in life sciences before the EPO. Nicolle is also a representative before the UPC.

Joel Smith, London partner, is known for his decades of experience in trial and counselling roles. Smith is leading partner regarding non-contentious work, with deep industry knowledge enabling clients’ commercial achievements.

Stand-out litigators at the firm include Scott Parker, a partner in London who has considerable expertise in disputes between companies in the life science and medical device sectors.

Key matters:

• Negotiating and drafting complex collaboration agreements—GSK

The team advised GSK in connection with the negotiation and drafting of a complex collaboration agreement with Muna Therapeutics to identify, develop and commercialise drug targets for the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Simmons & Simmons also advised the client in connection with its agreement with Relation Therapeutics to identify and develop drug targets for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

IP transactions specialist Lydia Torne led on the matter.

• Multi-jurisdictional patent proceedings—SiBio Technology

Simmons & Simmons is defending SiBio Technology and its sales partner Umedwings in patent proceedings against Abbott Diabetes Care. The claims centre around SiBio’s continuous glucose monitoring devices (CGMs), launched in November 2021.

Proceedings are afoot in a number of tribunals including the UK, the UPC, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the EPO. Abbott alleges that SiBio has infringed its patents and SiBio has challenged the validity of some of the patents.

The claim in the UK was one of the first cases where there are parallel proceedings in the UPC.

Priya Nagpal is the key partner involved in the matter based in London, with attorneys in Munich and Amsterdam also involved in the matter.

• Litigation over biosimilar competition—Samsung Bioepis

The team represents Samsung Bioepis, which has been involved in two significant legal disputes, each concerning biosimilar competition and involving complex litigation across multiple jurisdictions in Europe.

The first is a high-profile dispute with Alexion regarding biosimilar competition to Alexion’s blockbuster drug Soliris. The case marked the first-ever UPC biosimilar dispute. In May 2025, the UK High Court ruled that neither Amgen’s nor Samsung’s biosimilars infringed Alexion’s patent for eculizumab.

Simmons and Simmons’ UK team played a central role in the UPC proceedings, which also went in favour of the client when the UPC’s Court of Appeal upheld a decision denying Alexion’s request for a preliminary injunction.

In the second case, the team advised Samsung Bioepis regarding a biosimilar of Janssen’s anti-inflammatory antibody therapy Stelara. Following a trial in June 2024, a successful judgment protected Samsung’s market launch in the UK.

The UK team is also responsible for coordinating several parallel European litigations.

Partner Scott Parker leads the team for Simmons & Simmons.

• Pfizer v UniQure Biopharma

Simmons & Simmons represented CSL Behring and UniQure in patent infringement litigation with Pfizer. In October 2024, the UK High Court found that a haemophilia treatment patent belonging to UniQure was valid and therefore infringed by Pfizer.

Clients:

Alnylam, Amgen, Apple, Ascendis Pharma, AstraZeneca, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Cooper Consumer Health, Covis, Danaher, Insulet, GSK, J&J, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Randox, Regeneron, Roche, Samsung Bioepis, Sibio, Toyota, Whoop