Wragge & Co enhances IP practice with new partner hire

Wragge & Co has boosted its IP capability with the appointment of a new partner. Patent litigator and life sciences specialist Paul Inman joins the firm’s London office from Howrey LLP, where he was an IP partner.

Paul Inman said: “Life sciences businesses are global, and expect commercial advice from lawyers with an international outlook. With the continued internationalisation of its business and impressive global client list, this is exactly what Wragge & Co provides. The opportunity to join a growing IP team which is regularly at the forefront of high-profile, high-value transactions and disputes was too good to pass.”

Senior partner Quentin Poole said: “A first class litigator, Paul has established an excellent reputation in the life sciences market and is well connected with many of the pharmaceutical industry’s major players. With Wragge & Co’s growing IP practice in the UK, Germany, China and Paris, Paul’s appointment underlines our commitment to providing clients with first-rate, international IP advice.”

With a degree in molecular biology and biochemistry, Paul Inman’s 17-year legal career began at Simmons & Simmons, where he trained and qualified. There, he led a number of high-profile, multi-jurisdictional life sciences patent cases, before joining Howrey as partner in 2008. Clients include GlaxoSmithKline and Danish pharmaceutical company Lundbeck.

Led by former microbiologist and geneticist Patrick Duxbury, Wragge & Co’s 16-strong Life Sciences team provides non-contentious, contentious, corporate and regulatory expertise to a global client base. Other sector-focused experts include partners Dr Luke Kempton, Ian Piggin, Kevin Jones, Maurice Dwyer, Clark Sargent, Bernardine Adkins and regulatory associate Dipti Dashore.

Experience includes advising Eisai Europe Limited on a cross-border €95 million licence and co-promotion agreement with Bial-Portela & CA, S.A for the treatment for epilepsy. The team also acted for biotechnology company Chroma Therapeutics Limited on a billion dollar deal double.

With 36 lawyers, Wragge & Co’s Intellectual Property (IP) team is one of Europe’s leading dedicated IP practices. Highlights include securing landmark victories for Cinpres and Dyson. This year, the firm appointed Munich-based IP specialist Alex Bayer to the partnership. The firm’s Paris office, which opened in April, also provides IP advice, with specialists including partner Philippe Rousseau. Dr Jian Xu leads the China office, which is acting for household name clients in the Chinese courts. Paul Inman’s appointment takes the total number of IP partners to 12.