Sam Triggs

As an associate in our Intellectual Property Group in London, I act on a wide range of intellectual property matters across the life sciences, media, and technology & communications sectors.

I aim to provide clear, practical advice and support, whether you have substantial experience working in IP-driven sectors or are dealing with IP rights for the first time.

My patents experience includes acting for Fisher & Paykel Healthcare in successfully revoking three of a competitor's medical device patents in an early post-Actavis decision, acting for a pharmaceutical client engaged in patent litigation relating to its blockbuster drug in jurisdictions across the world, and advising a national government on developing a modern patent system compliant with international law. I have also advised clients on pragmatic and cost-effective ways of enforcing or defending lower-value claims.

I have acted on a broad range of copyright matters. My advisory work has covered subject matter spanning graphic novels to software to religious texts, often involving a complex ownership background requiring a forensic approach. More contentious 'soft' IP work has included online enforcement and domain name disputes, often involving additional trade mark considerations.

I also work with Bird & Bird's Product Compliance Group, helping our clients ensure that complex technological products meet the necessary standards and supporting them whenever their compliance is disputed.

In 2016, I was seconded to our Sydney office where I supported our IP Group in trade mark and passing off matters.

In 2018, I was seconded to EE and BT for nine months, where I supported both companies in a series of long-term strategic projects, assisted in day-to-day consumer, advertising, and media matters, and gained invaluable insight into how best law firms can assist clients and their in-house lawyers.

• Advising a national government, where I advised representatives from its regulatory agencies and a publicly-owned company in relation to patent-related aspects of international law, identified areas of non-compliance, and presented opportunities for modernisation and improvement.
• Advising ARM in its acquisition of Simulity, an eSIM and IoT security firm, providing intellectual property support to Bird & Bird's Corporate team across a range of matters, including patent and trade mark portfolios, employment contracts, and commercial agreements.
• Advising an innovative pharmaceutical client, maintaining responsibility for coordinating its day-to-day European patent enforcement activities, working with Bird & Bird and other law firms across the continent to ensure third parties comply with its IP rights, and providing regular, comprehensive reports on activity.
• Advising an electronics importer who was alleged by a European national regulator to have imported faulty goods. We were able to show that the allegations were based on incorrect testing procedures and that the goods were in fact compliant, avoiding the loss of hundreds of safe units.

• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd & Anor v ResMed Ltd & Anor [2017] EWHC 2748 (Ch), acting for the Claimants.