Robert Williams

I am a partner and co-head of our Intellectual Property Group in London where I use my deep-level experience of complex IP strategy and disputes to advise clients from a range of IP-rich industries. I also jointly lead our International Trade Secrets Protection Group.

Over the years, I have developed particular experience in complex IP disputes, focusing on multi-jurisdictional patent litigation and trade secrets disputes, and have advised our clients from IP-rich industries including life sciences, chemicals, energy & utilities and engineering on strategic IP issues, including freedom to operate opinions and lifecycle management.

In my role as co-head of the IP Group in London, I manage the department and team structure so we can ensure we have the right lawyers in place for our clients' needs. We provide regular training and skills development to ensure our lawyers achieve the best professional standards required to meet those needs.

Communication is key within our large team to ensure seamless collaboration across our case work. Our business development teams work closely with our lawyers to offer our clients timely seminars, events and materials to help you keep up to speed on relevant issues affecting your business.

We offer our clients a range of technology based tools and have worked closely with various clients to develop innovative ways to meet the challenges you face in a rapidly changing legal market-place. A prime example is 'Pattern', our market-leading patent portfolio landscaping and valuation tool.

Project management is crucial to our client service and over the years I have been involved in, and co-ordinated, a number of multi-jurisdictional and complex patent disputes. Drawing on that experience, I have been closely involved in the creation and implementation of a number of project management tools with a particular focus on their use in IP disputes.

• Johnson Matthey: acting in UK patent infringement and revocation proceedings relating to hydrocarbon reservoir monitoring technology.
• Actelion: bringing coordinated patent revocation actions across a number of European countries relating to a pharma product.
• Synthon: acting in patent revocation proceedings relating to a biologic product.

• Actelion -v- Eli Lilly/ICOS (High Court & Court of Appeal - patent validity - Tadalafil)
• Warner-Lambert -v- Ranbaxy (High Court & Court of Appeal - patent infringement & validity - Lipitor)
• Synthon -v- SmithKline Beecham (High Court, Court of Appeal & House of Lords - patent validity - leading case on novelty - paroxetine mesylate)
• Lilly ICOS -v- Pfizer (High Court & Court of Appeal patent validity - Viagra)
• Hoechst-Celanese -v- BP Chemicals (High Court & Court of Appael - patent infringement & validity and account of profits - acetic acid)