Paul Inman
With a first degree in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and more than 25 years' experience of litigating intellectual property disputes both within the UK and internationally, Paul Inman works with companies ranging from small start-ups to major multi-national corporations. He specialises in the life sciences sector, which has included acting on high-profile pharmaceutical and biotech patent infringement and revocation actions in the UK Patents Court.
As a global industry, life science businesses expect commercial advice from lawyers with an international outlook. Paul's specialist experience and skill set make him perfectly placed to provide this expertise and client care.
His role has extended to litigating across industries as diverse as fashion, oil drilling and consumer products both here, and overseas.
Whether "success" is measured by getting the right court order at the end of the dispute, or evaluating and reaching the right commercial settlement between the parties beforehand, a thorough and balanced assessment on each case is critical. The ultimate aim for Paul is to provide his clients with well-rounded advice and guidance to ensure the best possible outcome.
His interest and expertise in the life sciences sector has also seen him advising on regulatory work concerning European pharmaceutical bodies.
Paul's role gives him the unique opportunity to act for a wide range of patent and design proprietors, which he relishes.
Paul's background in molecular biology and biochemistry means he can take on highly complex pharmaceutical or biotechnological inventions, as easily as less technical (but equally important) mechanical patents and designs.
Successfully guiding clients through the maze of litigation is where Paul's strength lies, having now been involved over 25 years of litigation in cases leading to more than 60 reported judgments, ranging from the tribunals of the UK Patent Office (UKIPO) up to the UK Supreme Court (formerly the House of Lords), European Patent Office (EPO) and European Court of Justice (CJ EU).
As well as litigating in the English courts, Paul has co-ordinated and advised on IP and regulatory litigation matters across the globe, as far afield as the US, South Africa, Malaysia, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand, and closer to home, in Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, Holland, Denmark, Sweden. Norway, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece.
It is this great variety of work and clients that, for Paul, really makes the job dynamic and exciting, week-in and week-out.
Recognition
Paul is ranked as a leading individual in Chambers UK for both Patent Litigation and Life Sciences.
Paul has an outstanding reputation in the market. Chambers UK 2022 says of him: " "Paul Inman is a seasoned biotech practitioner and strong in the life sciences space." "Pleasant to work with and forensic in his approach.". He is described as "outstanding and invaluable – really rolls his sleeves up and gets stuck in", and as a "very accomplished" contentious lawyer, who specialises in high-stakes pharmaceuticals patent litigation."
Paul is recognised as a 'patent star' in the IP Stars guide 2022 and in The Legal 500 2022.
Highlights
Despite a number of significant victories in the Supreme Court, and several victories creating new law (e.g. two successful applications for "Arrow Declarations"), my absolute highlight remains winning a large litigation action in the UK, when losing would have meant closing the company down.
The case involved working to overturn a first instance patent invalidity finding. Paul went to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court (House of Lords) and at the end of all the hard work, the patent was upheld by both.
It was a key triumph for Paul because a loss would have meant the client's UK operation effectively closing down, leading to the redundancy of more than 100 people. Not just a commercial "win" - this end result was extremely rewarding from a real-life, real people point of view.
Clients
GlaxoSmithKline, BioNTech H. Lundbeck A/S, Neurim Pharmaceuticals (1991) Limited, FujiFilm Kyowa Kirin Biologicals; Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research, and many other pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device and chemical companies, from start-ups to multi-nationals and designers across all sectors.
Experience
Acting for FujiFilm Kyowa Kirin Biologicals and GlaxoSmithKline (in separate actions) seeking relief for both clients from allegations of patent infringement, in the form of so-called "Arrow declarations". The declaration is that (aspects of) the alleged infringer's process or product was known at the priority date of the allegedly infringed patent, so affords protection against current, but importantly also future granted divisional patents in the same patent family, which, in light of the declaration, must either be not infringed, or invalid if they are.
Acting for Neurim Pharmaceuticals (1991) Ltd in a long running patent infringement (and validity) action against Mylan (now "Viatris") in relation to its flagship primary insomnia product, Circadin, involving interactions with the ongoing EPO opposition/TBA proceedings, prosecuting a divisional patent to grant and ultimately successfully obtaining a finding of validity and infringement that was upheld by the Court of Appeal, securing the client the right to seek significant damages for infringing sales made over some two years.
Advising the Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research in the first 'biosimilar' patent litigation in the UK. Kennedy's patents protect the use of several of the world's largest selling monoclonal antibody medicines. A generic manufacturer seeking to market its biosimilar antibody (the first authorised for sale in Europe) sought to revoke Kennedy's patents. This was a technically demanding case requiring detailed research into the seminal nature of the invention. Paul brought a strong case for Kennedy to trial which ultimately resulted in a favourable settlement mid-trial.
Acting for H. Lundbeck A/S defending a revocation action brought against the patent for its blockbuster anti-depressant drug, escitalopram. The action involved unusual applications, both to strike the revocation case out, and to replace the judge (due to a potential conflict). The case itself was highly complex involving substantial organic chemistry experiments in the evidence. As a trusted adviser to Lundbeck for more than ten years, Paul led the case to a significant and successful outcome for the client.
Acting for a global brand in actions for infringement of UK Unregistered Design Right (UDR). The case involved multiple allegations of infringement and potentially new aspects of law relating to the scope of UDR.