Georgina Straughan

I am a senior associate in Bird & Bird's London Intellectual Property Group, specialising in patent matters with a particular interest in the Life Sciences and Healthcare sector.

Having studied Natural Sciences (Biochemistry) at university before moving into law, I enjoy the technical aspects of IP and using my scientific background to better understand and advise on our clients' innovations.

I have represented clients in patent and trade mark disputes before the High Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court. I focus on pharma, biotech and medical devices, but I also have experience working through difficult legal issues in a whole range of areas, from automotive catalysts to football boots.

In the Life Sciences sector, it is rare for patent litigation to be limited to just the UK. I therefore regularly collaborate with colleagues from our international offices, navigating the variations between different national courts and the Unified Patent Court in order to achieve our clients' strategic goals. I am also experienced in coordinating this type of cross-border litigation, including distilling information through the firm's Access and Fibonacci platforms to clients at their preferred level of detail.

In addition to litigation, I find it rewarding to be able to work with clients who are in the process of bringing products to market, for example, by assisting with research collaborations and providing freedom to operate opinions to support market entry decisions.

Whilst at Bird & Bird, I have also spent time on secondment to an international pharmaceutical company, providing practical, business-focused legal advice on a variety of IP licensing and transactional matters.

Beyond my practice, I am involved in Bird & Bird's CSR and D&I initiatives, for example, volunteering with legal advice clinics where we work with members of the local community to tackle their legal challenges.