Sidley was the recipient of the “UK Impact Case of the Year” award at the 17th annual Managing IP Awards. Each year, the awards celebrate the “in-house teams, firms, individuals and corporations behind the most innovative and challenging intellectual property work of the past year, as well as those driving the international market.” Sidley was recognized for its representation of Servier Laboratories in Secretary of State for Health and another v Servier Laboratories Ltd and others [2021] UKSC 24.
On July 2, 2021, an extended panel of seven UK Supreme Court Justices handed down a unanimous judgment in favour of Servier Laboratories, in a landmark case which saw the panel reject the Secretary of State’s attempt to reformulate and broaden the scope of the unlawful means tort. This industry-significant judgment is a major win for patentees in the UK; it both leaves the patent system undisturbed and serves as a crucial clarification for patentees and stakeholders in the UK and beyond. Marie Manley, Dr. Chris Boyle, and Victoria Kerr represented Servier Laboratories, together with Marie Demetriou, QC and Daniel Piccinin from Brick Court Chambers.
Spanning three continents, Sidley’s integrated Global Life Sciences industry team works cohesively to provide pioneering legal advice to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries, and represents clients before national and international courts. The team advises clients’ multi-faceted, multinational business concerns across borders, cultures, and complex legal terrain. Sidley’s team includes scientists and former clinicians, and a number of its lawyers have years of experience serving in senior roles at key regulatory agencies. The team’s substantial government credentials include successfully representing clients before government agencies including the European Commission, the MHRA, EMA, Swissmedic, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the National Medical Products Administration.
