Category: News

Appointed to PMAC’s Guidelines Working Group

Posted on by Jo Woods

Congratulations to Alex Wilson, Partner at Powell Gilbert, on his appointment to the UPC’s Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre (PMAC) FRAND Guidelines Working Group.

The newly established Working Group brings together an impressive range of experts from across the global SEP and FRAND ecosystem, including leading practitioners, senior judges, academics, and industry specialists, to develop non-binding guidelines and best practice recommendations for resolving FRAND licensing disputes.

Speaking to JUVE Patent (JUVE Pacemaker) about the appointment, Alex highlighted the unique role PMAC is designed to play: “The PMAC provides an ADR toolbox which was designed from the get-go with FRAND disputes in mind. Court procedures are necessarily less focused on these types of disputes. The PMAC rules and, hopefully, FRAND guidelines could fill a gap, for example, where litigants want a neutral venue to determine the terms of a FRAND licence.”

Alex’s appointment is a testament to his deep expertise in dispute resolution of standard essential patents and FRAND disputes. He is a CEDR accredited mediator and neutral before the PMAC. His appointments reflect the continued prominence of Powell Gilbert in shaping important developments across the IP landscape.

We look forward to seeing the Working Group’s contribution to the future of efficient and balanced dispute resolution in SEP and FRAND matters.

Summer Work experience Prorgramme 2026

Posted on by Jo Woods

Over two fantastic weeks we hosted this year’s cohort of university students and graduates for work experience at Powell Gilbert.

The weeks were split between those having a legal or STEM background, all with a common interest in learning more about a career in IP. We were impressed by the enthusiasm, curiosity, and fresh perspectives that they brought to every activity!

The programme provided valuable insights into the world of IP, covering a variety of experiences including negotiation, claim chart analyses and presentation exercises, CV workshops and trips to court. Both weeks provided opportunities to develop professional skills and industry knowledge.

Alongside the work experience programme, PG was pleased again to support IP Inclusive’s Summer of IP & Careers In Ideas by hosting two engaging events on:

– Life as an IP Solicitor/Barrister
– Different Forms of Intellectual Property

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to making these initiatives such a success, including our panellists, speakers, attendees, and the many colleagues who generously gave their time and expertise.

Special thanks to Anna Rigby, Chiedza Masapatali, Gabriella Simon, and Oliver Roberts for their support and involvement throughout.

Find out more here.

WIPR – World IP Review UK Rankings 2026

Posted on by Jo Woods

The WIPR – World IP Review UK Trademark Rankings 2026 have been published and Powell Gilbert are Recommended again for Contentious Trademark matters. Congratulations to Simon Ayrton and Alex Wilson who also receive individual recognition.

Find out more about PG’s trademark expertise: here.

Managing IP Article – Why Powell Gilbert believes integration gives it UPC edge

Posted on by Jo Woods

PG partners Alex Wilson and Dr Andreas Kramer have been featured in Managing IP, discussing what differentiates Powell Gilbert’s approach to Unified Patent Court (UPC) litigation and why the firm’s integrated model gives it a competitive edge.

In the interview, Alex and Andreas explain why Powell Gilbert has never viewed the UPC as a single, uniform jurisdiction, but rather as a ‘mosaic’ that brings together judges, procedures and legal traditions from across Europe. They discuss how the firm’s long-standing experience coordinating complex pan-European litigation, combined with its integrated London, Dublin and Düsseldorf teams and trusted network of local counsel, enables it to build the right team for each client’s dispute.

They also reflect on the firm’s continued growth before the UPC and the importance Powell Gilbert’s fully integrated teams in delivering successful outcomes for clients.

Read the full article below and on the Managing IP website here.

PDF of article here.

Life Sciences EMEA Awards Dinner 2026

Posted on by Jo Woods

Four awards. Four impact cases. One exceptional evening.
 
Last night Powell Gilbert achieved significant recognition at the Life Sciences EMEA Awards.
 
The firm and its partners received awards in the following categories:
 
Patent Litigation Firm of the Year: Medical Devices
Patent Litigator of the Year: BioTech – Penny Gilbert
Patent Litigator of the Year: Medical Devices – Siddharth Kusumakar
IP Rising Star – Callum Beamish-Lacey
 
The team also received awards for their involvement in 4 “impact cases” involving pharma, medtech, and biotech patents in the UK and UPC.
 
A huge thank you to our clients for their continued trust, and to our brilliant team at Powell Gilbert for their fantastic support, expertise and dedication!

Anna Rigby at the EUIPO Careers Event 2026

Posted on by Jo Woods

Powell Gilbert were delighted to be represented by Anna Rigby at the EUIPO – European Union Intellectual Property Office Careers Event 2026 in Alicante back in March, where she shared insights into life and career opportunities in IP litigation at Powell Gilbert.

A wonderful opportunity for Anna to reconnect with friends and colleagues from across the European IP community.

A huge THANK YOU to Anna, the EUIPO and the fantastic Academy Team for hosting such a genuinely worthwhile and interesting event.

IAM Patent 1000 2026 is live!

Posted on by Jo Woods

IAM Patent 1000 2026 is live!

We’re incredibly proud to share that Powell Gilbert has once again been recognised top tier among the world’s leading patent firms:

Gold Tier – UK litigation
Silver Tier – UPC (new ranking category)

Alongside this, a remarkable 16 individuals across the firm have been recommended – a testament to the depth of talent, expertise, and dedication within the team.

  • Simon Ayrton, United Kingdom: England and Wales
  • Zoë Butler, United Kingdom: England and Wales
  • Joel Coles, United Kingdom: England and Wales
  • Peter Damerell, United Kingdom: England and Wales
  • Penny Gilbert, United Kingdom: England and Wales
  • Bethan Hopewell, United Kingdom: England and Wales
  • Rajvinder Jagdev, United Kingdom: England and Wales
  • Andreas Kramer, Germany
  • Siddharth Kusumakar, United Kingdom: England and Wales
  • Ari Laakkonen, United Kingdom: England and Wales
  • Bryce Matthewson, United Kingdom: England and Wales
  • Hannes Obex, Germany
  • Tom Oliver, United Kingdom: England and Wales
  • Tess Waldron, United Kingdom: England and Wales
  • Tim Whitfield, United Kingdom: England and Wales
  • Alex Wilson, United Kingdom: England and Wales

This continued recognition reflects the hard work and commitment to excellence that defines Powell Gilbert. A huge congratulations to everyone involved on such an outstanding achievement! And thank you to our wonderful clients for their support and their confidence in us 

Take a look at PG’s full profile and find out more here. 

PG Wins four Awards at the Managing IP EMEA Awards 2026

Posted on by Jo Woods

At the Managing IP EMEA Awards 2026, Powell Gilbert is proud to have received four prestigious accolades. The firm was named UPC Firm of the Year (UK) and also secured awards for Impact Cases across both the Life Sciences and Technology sectors in the UK and at the UPC.

Managing IP’s coverage of Powell Gilbert’s work and UPC recognition, including commentary from partner Alex Wilson, can be accessed here.

We extend our congratulations to the entire firm, and in particular to the teams behind these standout impact cases:

  • Generics (UK), Teva & Glenmark v AstraZeneca
  • Samsung Electronics v ZTE & Others
  • Edwards v Meril

Exceptional work all round—this recognition is truly deserved!

Powell Gilbert appoints Callum Beamish-Lacey to the Partnership

Posted on by Jo Woods

Callum Beamish-Lacey is an experienced intellectual property litigator, with a primary focus on complex patent disputes across sectors including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, mechanical engineering and telecommunications. He has particular expertise in damages inquiries, especially those arising from undertakings linked to preliminary and interim injunctions in the life sciences sector.

His practice frequently involves multijurisdictional litigation and cross border strategy, and he regularly collaborates with international litigation teams on matters before courts and tribunals across several jurisdictions, particularly the Unified Patent Court (UPC). In the UK, he has represented clients before the UKIPO, the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

In addition to patent litigation, Callum has advised clients in broader IP disputes across a variety of industries including publishing, automotives, and clothing design.

He began his career as a barrister at 8 New Square and therefore holds full rights of audience before all courts in England and Wales, enabling him to appear as an advocate in his own right and as part of specialist counsel teams. He was named a ‘Rising Star’ by Managing IP in its IP Stars 2025 report in recognition of his expertise in IP litigation.

The promotion follows the firm’s continued growth and development, particularly following the success of its UPC practice, which is one of the most active in Europe. This success led to the launch of the firm’s third office in Düsseldorf in September 2025 under the leadership of renowned German patent litigator Dr Andreas Kramer.

 

Dr Penny Gilbert, partner at Powell Gilbert LLP, commented:

 “We are delighted to welcome Callum to the partnership. He is an exceptional litigator and a valued member of the Powell Gilbert team.  He has demonstrated his talent across a wide range of technically demanding and strategically complex patent and broader IP matters. His reputation for handling sophisticated damages inquiries and multi-jurisdictional litigation is of particular value at a time when we see an increase in this work – particularly in the life sciences and technology sectors. We look forward to his ongoing contribution to the success of our firm and our clients.”

Chambers Global Guide 2026

Posted on by Jo Woods

We’re proud to share that Powell Gilbert has once again been ranked Global Band 1 for UK Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation in the Chambers and Partners Global 2026 Guide.

Recognised as ‘one of the best patent litigation practices in the world’, the firm is praised for its work on ‘the most cutting-edge life science and hi-tech disputes.’

Special congratulations to our individually ranked lawyers:

We’re also delighted to be ranked Global Band 3 for UK Intellectual Property: General, recognising our work across trade mark, passing-off and copyright matters.

You can read more about our recent work highlights and view the full rankings here.

 

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