Venner Shipley

Firm overview:

Venner Shipley offers a combination of high-level scientific expertise and sophisticated legal insight, positioning it as a key player in both patent prosecution and contentious IP work. Headquartered in London with a strong European presence, the firm operates at the cutting edge of patent law, with a bench that includes numerous PhD-qualified attorneys and litigators across life sciences, electronics, and AI.

The firm is particularly known for its ability to distil complex technical inventions into strong legal arguments—an approach that has shaped the outcome of several influential legal matters. Its attorneys regularly advise on matters before the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), European Patent Office (EPO), and Unified Patent Court (UPC), and act in complex oppositions, appeals, and multi-jurisdictional disputes.

Particularly recognised for its non-contentious patent work, Venner Shipley continues to grow its contentious practice as well, with key individuals like Alex Brown strong across both patent prosecution and EPO opposition and appeal proceedings. The firm played a central role in G1/19, which concerned the patentability of simulations, with the team’s advocacy helping to define the scope of technical contribution in this evolving area of law.

Team overview:

Venner Shipley fields an interdisciplinary team of patent attorneys and litigators who work across the full patent lifecycle—from early-stage filings and freedom-to-operate assessments to large-scale litigation. Alex Brown leads much of the firm’s cross-border litigation strategy, with expertise in contentious proceedings before the High Court, EPO, and UPC.

The team also includes specialists in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, neural networks, and clean energy systems, with a strong life sciences contingent supporting biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medtech innovators.

Key matters:

• UPC: Ocado v Autostore appeal

Instructed by Freshfields, Venner Shipley represented Autostore in the appeal proceedings before the Unified Patent Court in Luxembourg, securing dismissal of Ocado’s appeal in a key test of the UPC’s jurisdiction and procedural rules.

• COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines

The firm advised clients including Imperial College on patent filings for novel mRNA vaccine platforms and anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies, alongside technologies related to rapid diagnostics and immune response modulation.

• Philip Morris v British American Tobacco

Partner Phil Harrison acted in a UK High Court dispute involving next-generation heat-not-burn technology, working in collaboration with Kirkland & Ellis on behalf of BAT.

Clients:

British American Tobacco, Imperial College London