Taylor Wessing

Firm overview:

Taylor Wessing is highly regarded for its expertise in managing complex patent disputes and providing strategic advice across a range of industries, including technology, life sciences, telecoms, electronics and software, chemicals and automotive. Home to one of the largest IP teams in Europe, Taylor Wessing is the second most active firm at the Unified Patent Court (UPC), according to figures released in June 2025.

Areas of focus for the firm include advising on life sciences regulation, and drafting and negotiating patents and know-how commercial agreements. Its deep bench of expertise is frequently called upon when high-value patent conflicts arise, and it has a strong track record of representing some of the world’s most well-known organisations and brands, particularly in the life sciences field.

Team overview:

Heading up the UK patents team is Nigel Stoate, a patent litigation specialist who focuses on the medical devices, pharmaceutical, telecoms, chemical and engineering industries. Stoate has acted for clients in high-profile cases in the English High Court and Court of Appeal, as well as coordinating multi-jursidictional cases across Europe.

London partner Tom Foster is particularly regarded for his technical expertise in 5G, broadband, HEVC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other technologies, and he has represented clients in many of the leading cases involving SEP and FRAND matters.

Key matters:

• COVID-19 dispute—Pfizer

In October 2024, the UK High Court ruled in favour of Pfizer and BioNTech in their dispute with CureVac over patents related to COVID-19 vaccines.

The court determined that two European patents belonging to CureVac were invalid. Pfizer and BioNTech had challenged them in a lawsuit filed over their vaccine Comirnaty.

Taylor Wessing represented Pfizer in the matter, and was instructed as the litigation team for all cases being fought in the UK and mainland Europe in the high-profile dispute.

• Successful challenge to AstraZeneca patent—Generics UK

In April 2025, the England & Wales High Court concluded that a patent held by AstraZeneca was invalid, and accordingly, that related supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) were also invalid.

Three claimants had argued that AstraZeneca’s patent, related to its blockbuster diabetes treatment Forxiga, was invalid due to lack of inventive step and/or insufficiency.

Taylor Wessing represented Generics UK, one of the three claimants. AstraZeneca said it intended to seek permission to appeal to the UK Court of Appeal.

• Teva Pharmaceuticals et al v Bayer Intellectual Property

Taylor Wessing acted for Viatris in patent litigation between Teva and other generic manufacturers against Bayer.

In April 2024, the UK High Court handed a win to the generic challengers, finding that Bayer’s patent—which covers rivaroxaban, the active ingredient in blockbuster anticoagulant drug Xarelto—was invalid for lack of inventive step.

Clients:

Abbott, Generics UK, Pfizer, Viatris