Sophie has nearly 20 years experience in all areas of intellectual property law and has acted on a wide range of heavy contentious matters, particularly concerning patents. She is recognised by all of the major legal directories as a leader in both the intellectual property and life sciences fields. She heads the firm's life sciences practice.
In addition to her contentious work, Sophie advises clients on the negotiation and drafting of intellectual property licences and freedom to operate projects. Her work frequently concerns the acquisition and disposal of companies with valuable intellectual property rights and complex technology.
Sophie has a first class honours degree in biology and is a member of the Intellectual Property Advisory Committee of the BioIndustry Association. She is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents.
Credentials
- Daiichi on the pan-European defence and enforcement of patents protecting its blockbuster anti-microbial drug, Tavanac (Levofloxacin). This included the successful defence of revocation proceedings in the UK
- Roche and Genetics Institute in the multi-jurisdictional patent litigation concerning the rights to the human hormone erythropoietin
- AstraZeneca in various high value patent matters
- Cambridge Antibody Technology in the widely reported litigation against Abbott concerning the royalties payable on sales of HUMIRA - Abbott's blockbuster treatment for rheumatoid arthritis which was developed using CAT's phage display technology
- (subsequently) Abbott in a high value action brought by GSK under two GSK patent licences
- Roche in the successful defence of a challenge to the validity of a commercially important formulation patent- the first case to come to trial in the UK under the new streamlined procedure
- De La Rue in a complex patent entitlement dispute
- Sandvik in a number of patent disputes concerning industrial machine tooling
Accolades
"Sophie Rich is 'undoubtedly an excellent lawyer.' She has impressive experience of acting on highly significant IP actions"
Chambers UK 2010 - Life Sciences
"Sophie Rich is ‘the best I have ever worked with in any jurisdiction’"
Legal 500 UK 2009 - Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
“a really fine lawyer who knows exactly what her clients need.”
Chambers UK 2009 - Life Sciences
“'Excellent at handling patent disputes', Sophie Rich receives praise for her 'good client handling, speed at catching up on complex matters and innovative approach'”
Chambers UK 2008 - Intellectual Property
“…heads a team which pharmaceutical clients say is ‘very strong’ and ‘our first choice for patent cases in the UK”
Legal 500 2007 - Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology