Bethan is a litigator with a strong technical background and advises clients in contentions IP matters, often with an international element.
 
She works on matters spanning a wide range of technologies from electronics and telecoms to pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. This includes advising on issues arising from international technology standards, patent pools and associated licensing issues.
 
Owing to her strong scientific background, which includes a D. Phil in molecular biology, Bethan is adept at getting to grips with complex technical issues. Her background in biological sciences is of particular relevance to advising clients on complex mutli-jurisdictional patent disputes, pharmaceutical regulatory issues and contested SPC disputes in the Life Sciences sector.
 
Bethan also provides freedom to operate and due diligence advice. In the contentious soft IP field, she advises clients on disputes concerning counterfeiting, brand and advertising issues. She also has experience in dealing with technology contract disputes.
 
Bethan represents clients in litigation before the UK Patents Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. She also represents clients in European Patent Office at opposition and appeal proceedings. In the context of coordinating multi-jurisdictional patent matters, Bethan also has considerable experience of actively assisting with litigation in various European courts.
 
Bethan joined Powell Gilbert as an associate when it was founded in 2007 and became a partner in 2016.

Key Cases

• Illumina v MGI (gene sequencing technology)

• GSK v Fibrogen (anti-anaemia drugs)

• Chugai Pharmaceutical v UCB (patent licence dispute - antibody technology) 

• Illumina v Ariosa & Premaitha (non-invasive pre-natal testing)

• Unwired Planet v Huawei & Others (telecommunications)

• ​ Merck Sharp & Dohme v Royalty Pharma Collection Trust (DPP-IV inhibitors)

• Warner-Lambert v Actavis & Others (pregabalin)

• Wobben Properties v Siemens & Others (wind turbines)

• Rovi v Virgin Media & TiVo (electronics)

• Eugen Seitz v KHS Corpoplast & Norgren (PET plastic technology)

• HTC v Gemalto (telecommunications)

• Eli Lilly v Human Genome Sciences (neutrokine alpha)

• Eli Lilly v Human Genome Sciences (SPCs – neutrokine alpha)

• Sandoz / ratiopharm v Napp (patents - controlled release oxycodone formulations) 

• Dr Reddy’s v Eli Lilly (olanzapine)

• Monsanto v Cargill (GM crops)

• Ferag AG v Muller Martini Ltd (print trimming machinery)

• Roche v Chiron (SPCs – trastuzumab and enfuvirtide)