Intellectual property
Our clients rely on us to solve their most complex, business-critical IP and commercial challenges, wherever they arise.
Freshfields’ global team of over 100 IP practitioners help clients to identify, commercialise and protect their technology, brands, content, data and know-how. Our practice covers transactional, advisory and contentious matters and spans our international network.
Clients trust us for their largest, strategic projects, transactions and disputes where IP is critical and the commercial challenges are complex, often with a significant international component. This includes market-leading tech transactions and disputes.
Our international IP and technology team takes a practical approach to helping clients defend their businesses and enforce their rights. We find commercial solutions where possible, but we’re ready to litigate when and where necessary. We have a wealth of experience in cross-border IP licence disputes and patent litigation and have acted on many of the most high-profile pharmaceutical and technology cases.
Recent client successes
Advising London Stock Exchange on its $27bn acquisition of Refinitiv, including on related data, technology and analytics integration projects.
Freshfields also advised London Stock Exchange on its strategic tech partnership with Microsoft which involved Microsoft also taking a 4 per cent stake in LSEG – and for which we won Corporate Team of the Year at the Lawyer Awards 2023.
Advising AB InBev on the sale of its Australian business to Asahi, including a significant standalone IP licence for global brands including Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois.
Advising Novartis on the sale of Novartis Manufacturing GmbH, which operates a production plant for biotechnological substances, to BioNTech SE for the production of the COVID-19 vaccine candidate BNT162.
Advising Volkswagen AG as IP/IT, Antitrust and CFIUS counsel in its $2.6bn co-investment with Ford Motor Co. in autonomous vehicle technology company Argo AI.
Advising Novartis in patent litigation in the Netherlands and Germany for all patented products (eg Aclasta®, Gilenya®, Afinitor®, Exjade®, Entresto®), including obtaining a cross-border injunction in the NL for Exjade® and developing new strategies for second medical use patents in Germany in the context of the Glivec® litigation.
"The Freshfields IP team is very strong, with trusted advisers across different disciplines."
“[Freshfields] boasts an impressive roster of clients from the automotive, life sciences and technology sectors.”
"Freshfields is extremely well connected in the world: if it is a multi-jurisdictional matter the firm is ideal."
