Zoë is a highly regarded patent litigator, combining a strong technical background with 30 years’ experience handling complex, multijurisdictional disputes. She has acted in many commercially significant and precedent-setting cases relating to a broad range of technological areas and industry sectors.

Recently, Zoë has acted in matters relating to technologies as diverse as telecoms/electronics/software, video-codec, robotics, oil & gas, LEDs, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology (including biosimilars). She also advises on related issues arising from international technology standards, such as patent pools, licensing and FRAND, and counsels on patent litigation strategies before the national and UPC courts, with a wealth of experience in providing freedom to operate and due diligence advice.

In addition to representing clients before the UK courts (including up to the Supreme Court), Zoë has experience of European Patent Office opposition proceedings and has also represented clients in arbitration proceedings and mediations relating to technology contract disputes. Zoë has been involved in many multi-jurisdictional disputes, working with advisors from across Europe, North America, China, Korea, Japan and Australia, and, in many instances, has taken a role in coordinating such litigation.

Zoë has also been appointed by the UK court to supervise the execution of search and seizure orders by other firms.

Zoë frequently lectures on IP law, and has been a tutor on the Oxford University Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice. She is a contributor to the CIPA Guide to the Patents Act. She is currently on the committee of the UK Intellectual Property Lawyers Association (IPLA) and represents IPLA on the Intellectual Property Court Users’ Commitee (IPCUC).

Zoë has been a partner at Powell Gilbert since its founding in 2007.

Key Cases

• Samsung Bioepis v Regeneron & Bayer (aflibercept biosimilar)
• Apple v Powermat (wireless power / RAND licensing)
• AutoStore v Ocado (robotics)
• Seoul Semiconductors / LG v General Electric (LED lights)
• Sandoz / Polpharma v Biogen (Tysabri)
• Oxford University Innovations v Oxford Nanoimaging (entitlement dispute)
• Vestel v HEVC Advance & Philips (HEVC codec / FRAND licensing / jurisdiction challenge)
• IPCom v Xiaomi (telecommunications / FRAND licensing)
• Biogen v Fresenius (adalimumab formulations)
• Biogen v Gedeon Richter (adalimumab formulations)
• Biogen v AbbVie (adalimumab)
• Unwired Planet v Huawei & Others (telecommunications / FRAND licensing)
• Good Technology v Airwatch (mobile management technology)
• CompactGTL v Velocys (gas to liquid conversion)
• Motorola Mobility v BT (digital TV)
• Microsoft v Motorola Mobility (smartphones)
• Mölnlycke v BSN Medical (wound dressings)
• LG v Sony (blu-ray technology / FRAND licensing)
• Apple v Nokia (smartphones)
• Philips & Others v Alba (MPEG-2 / FRAND licensing)
• Dr Reddy’s v Eli Lilly (olanzapine)
• Ivax v Chugai (nicorandil formulations)*
• Sony Computer Entertainment v Ball (copy protection circumvention devices)*
• Allergan v Pharmacia (latonoprost)*
• Affymetrix v Multilyte (DNA microarrays)*
• Oxford Gene Technology v Affymetrix (DNA microarrays)*
• Pharmacia v Merck (COX 2 inhibitors)*
• Iomega v Nomai (trade mark/passing off – ZIP disc technology)*

*Prior to joining Powell Gilbert