Bethan Hopewell

Partner

Bethan
Hopewell

Partner

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)

Bethan Hopewell

Partner

Bethan
Hopewell

Partner

Bethan Hopewell is really sharp and knowledgeable. She works hard and it shows.

ranks as one of the go-to lawyers for patent litigation. Clients praise her as “an excellent strategic thinker” with “an outstanding work ethic”.

Bethan is a really sensible and collaborative litigator.

She is always a couple of steps ahead of the opposition. We rely heavily on her experience and expertise to navigate successfully through UK patent litigation and pan-European litigation.

Bethan is truly one of the best litigators I have worked with, not only in the UK but worldwide

smart, responsive and a pleasure to work with

is singled out by peers as a sterling litigator, whose practice encompasses multi-jurisdictional patent disputes and pharmaceutical regulatory briefs

"an excellent strategic thinker who is great at juggling several high-priority matters at once". She is highlighted for her "outstanding work ethic and commitment to clients".

Extremely bright and a big-picture thinker …sharp on the science as well as the law and stays on top of all the detail. She is exceptional in every aspect – experience, strategy, execution and responsiveness.

highly specialised and class lawyer

She is an amazing lawyer, super-smart, extremely responsive and really gets the issues. She comes up with great legal arguments." "A really strategic litigator

Bethan Hopewell is resolute and determined

strong scientific understanding and excellent patent skills

highly experienced patent litigator with significant knowledge of the life sciences sector

very responsive and decisive approach

excellent Europe-wide coordination

an excellent addition to the PG partnership. She gets it - the balance required to execute on a complex strategy

undertakes a volume of work that some firms’ entire patent departments would struggle to match. “Extremely knowledgeable in biotech and pharmaceuticals”, she is “sensible and easy to work alongside – someone you can do business with”.

wins plaudits from across the region for her adept handling of disputes in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and telecommunications sectors

an experienced patent litigator with a comprehensive knowledge of the life sciences sector

has “an excellent understanding of the law” and is recommended by one commentator for her “superb ability to communicate complicated concepts clearly and concisely"

Very strong on the technical stuff; a great disputes lawyer.

Bethan Hopewell

Partner

BethanHopewell

Partner

Bethan Hopewell is really sharp and knowledgeable. She works hard and it shows.

ranks as one of the go-to lawyers for patent litigation. Clients praise her as “an excellent strategic thinker” with “an outstanding work ethic”.

Bethan is a really sensible and collaborative litigator.

She is always a couple of steps ahead of the opposition. We rely heavily on her experience and expertise to navigate successfully through UK patent litigation and pan-European litigation.

Bethan is truly one of the best litigators I have worked with, not only in the UK but worldwide

smart, responsive and a pleasure to work with

is singled out by peers as a sterling litigator, whose practice encompasses multi-jurisdictional patent disputes and pharmaceutical regulatory briefs

"an excellent strategic thinker who is great at juggling several high-priority matters at once". She is highlighted for her "outstanding work ethic and commitment to clients".

Extremely bright and a big-picture thinker …sharp on the science as well as the law and stays on top of all the detail. She is exceptional in every aspect – experience, strategy, execution and responsiveness.

highly specialised and class lawyer

She is an amazing lawyer, super-smart, extremely responsive and really gets the issues. She comes up with great legal arguments." "A really strategic litigator

Bethan Hopewell is resolute and determined

strong scientific understanding and excellent patent skills

highly experienced patent litigator with significant knowledge of the life sciences sector

very responsive and decisive approach

excellent Europe-wide coordination

an excellent addition to the PG partnership. She gets it - the balance required to execute on a complex strategy

undertakes a volume of work that some firms’ entire patent departments would struggle to match. “Extremely knowledgeable in biotech and pharmaceuticals”, she is “sensible and easy to work alongside – someone you can do business with”.

wins plaudits from across the region for her adept handling of disputes in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and telecommunications sectors

an experienced patent litigator with a comprehensive knowledge of the life sciences sector

has “an excellent understanding of the law” and is recommended by one commentator for her “superb ability to communicate complicated concepts clearly and concisely"

Very strong on the technical stuff; a great disputes lawyer.

Bethan
Hopewell