Edoardo Barbera

As a partner in our Intellectual Property Group based in Milan, I specialise in safeguarding and maximising the value of innovation across diverse technological sectors. My practice encompasses the full spectrum of IP protection, from cutting-edge patent litigation to pioneering trade secrets protection strategies.

Patent litigation before national courts and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) is my cornerstone specialisation, with deep experience in electronics, telecommunications (including Standard Essential Patents), and life sciences sectors covering medical devices and pharmaceuticals.

As a UPC representative, I have represented and currently represent clients in high-profile cases before Local Divisions, Central Divisions and Court of Appeal, among others:
• Italian medical devices company as defendant in proceedings for provisional measures related to an insulin patch pumps patent before the Milan Local Division and subsequent Court of Appeal proceedings.
• Chinese and Italian medical devices companies as defendants in proceedings for provisional measures related to patents on continuous glucose monitoring system before The Hauge Local Division.
• South Korean company as claimant in Wi-Fi 6 standard essential patent infringement proceedings before the Mannheim Local Division.

With almost two decades of experience in protecting and exploiting trade secrets, I go beyond traditional litigation representation. I have developed comprehensive service packages that leverage emerging technologies to identify and safeguard confidential information.

My anti-piracy expertise includes implementing structured enforcement strategies that seamlessly combine market surveillance, customs cooperation, civil litigation, and support in criminal proceedings.

I also provide strategic counsel on trademark and design portfolio management and defence.

I am an active member of premier IP associations, including EPLAW, LES Italy, and Camera Avvocati Industrialisti. I have also authored publications on trade secrets (in particular, I have contributed to the WIPO Guide to Trade Secrets and Innovation) and co-created the NEXT® project - an innovative training programme developing soft skills for the next generation of general counsels.

I joined Bird & Bird in 2007 as an intern and was promoted to partner in 2021.

• Standard Essential Patents: representing both patent owners and implementers in complex SEP litigation across multiple jurisdictions.
• Life Sciences: assisting pharmaceutical and medical device companies in high-stakes patent disputes.
• Trade Secrets Protection: supporting small, medium and large companies in any industry in identifying and protecting confidential information and trade secrets. This activity ranges from providing legal and strategic advisory services to litigation following unauthorised data acquisition.
• Digital Entertainment Anti-Piracy: cooperating for more than 10 years with a Japanese company, leading in the digital entertainment industry, in counter-piracy activities, with a focus on devices aimed at circumventing technological protection measures implemented on consoles and video games. My support includes surveillance activities, civil litigation, management of relations with Italian customs and criminal courts.
• Anti-Counterfeiting: supporting a multinational company specialising in optical, imaging and industrial products in the protection of its patent portfolio, implementing a structured anti-counterfeiting strategy that includes market monitoring and subsequent litigation.
• Brand Protection: assisting a leading beverages company in anti-counterfeiting activities for its trademarks, working with customs and criminal judicial authorities and representing the client in civil litigation.