IP law firm Powell Gilbert LLP has recently announced the promotion of Senior Associates Tess Waldron and Joel Coles to its partnership.
Dr Tess Waldron (pictured) represents life sciences and consumer electronics companies, having particular experience in relation to SEP/FRAND licensing disputes involving patent and competition law issues.
Tess has acted in patent cases in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Most notably, she was involved in the Unwired Planet v Huawei case on FRAND/SEP licensing, including on appeal to the Supreme Court and has acted in numerous cases involving medical devices, vaccines and biosimilar products. Tess has also taken a leading role in successful mediations and has represented clients in the High Court as a solicitor advocate. Prior to joining Powell Gilbert in 2014, Tess was a practicing doctor.
Tess has been recognised as a ‘Rising Star’ by Legal 500 and Managing IP, and was also named ‘IP Rising Star’ at the 2021 Women in Business Law Awards Europe.
Dr Joel Coles is an experienced patent litigator, with a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge, who has worked on a number of high-profile cases in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields. He has represented clients before the UK Patents Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court—as well as in opposition proceedings at the European Patent Court. Joel successfully represented clients in Warner Lambert v Actavis (second medical use claims) and Regeneron v Kymab (sufficiency), which both reached the Supreme Court. He has also acted in cases involving diagnostics, biologics, electronics, mechanical devices and robotics.
Joel also handles multi-jurisdictional patent actions and advises clients on patent litigation strategies, freedom to operate, and supplementary protection certificates.
In 2021 Joel was recognised as a ‘Rising Star’ in Expert Guides - in Life Sciences; LMG European Life Sciences Awards: Intellectual Property and Managing IP's Rising Stars.
The firm also announced that Senior Associate Dr Richard Fawcett has been appointed Of Counsel. Richard joined Powell Gilbert in 2011 and specialises in IP litigation and advisory work, including in relation to confidential information, patents, trade marks, copyright and domain name disputes. Richard has a PhD in microelectronics and engineering. He is experienced in analysing complex patent matters in the IT, semiconductor and mobile telephony sectors and has acted in cases involving FRAND disputes and been involved in litigation over a major damages claim.
Dr Penny Gilbert, partner at Powell Gilbert LLP, commented: 'It is with great pleasure that we welcome Tess and Joel to the partnership. They are exceptional IP litigators who have proven their abilities time and again, including in some of the most high-profile and precedent-setting IP cases before the English courts in recent years.
'We are also delighted to announce the appointment of Richard to his new role as Of Counsel in recognition of his depth of experience and the tremendous contribution that he makes to the firm. We congratulate Tess, Joel and Richard and look forward to the next chapters of their careers as they continue to provide the highest standard of service and value to Powell Gilbert’s clients.'
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