Firm promotions: Powell Gilbert welcomes IP specialists to partnership

Specialist IP law firm Powell Gilbert LLP has promoted senior associates Tess Waldron and Joel Coles to its partnership.

Dr Tess Waldron represents life sciences and consumer electronics companies, with particular experience in relation to SEP/FRAND licensing disputes involving patent and competition law issues.

She was involved in the Unwired Planet v Huawei case on FRAND/SEP licensing, including on appeal to the Supreme Court, and has acted in numerous cases involving medical devices, vaccines and biosimilar products. Prior to joining Powell Gilbert in 2014, Waldron was a practicing doctor.

Dr Joel Coles is an experienced patent litigator who has worked on high-profile cases in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields. He successfully represented clients in Warner Lambert v Actavis (second medical use claims) and Regeneron v Kymab (sufficiency), which both reached the Supreme Court.

Coles, who has a PhD in biochemistry, also handles multi-jurisdictional patent actions and advises clients on patent litigation strategies, freedom to operate, and supplementary protection certificates.

Senior associate Dr Richard Fawcett, who joined the firm in 2011, has been appointed Of Counsel. He specialises in IP litigation and advisory work, including in relation to confidential information, patents, trade marks, copyright and domain name disputes. Fawcett has a PhD in microelectronics and engineering. 

Dr Penny Gilbert, partner at Powell Gilbert LLP, commented: 'It is with great pleasure that we welcome Tess and Joel to the partnership. They are exceptional IP litigators who have proven their abilities time and again, including in some of the most high-profile and precedent-setting IP cases before the English courts in recent years.

'They bring extraordinary depths of knowledge in life sciences and in SEP/FRAND litigation, which further enhances Powell Gilbert’s expertise and reputation in these important sectors.

'We are also delighted to announce the appointment of Richard to his new role as Of Counsel in recognition of his depth of experience and the tremendous contribution that he makes to the firm. We congratulate Tess, Joel and Richard and look forward to the next chapters of their careers as they continue to provide the highest standard of service and value to Powell Gilbert’s clients.'