Zoë Butler

Partner

Zoë
Butler

Partner

Zoë is an experienced IP litigator with a strong technical background and has advised clients on IP disputes relating to a broad range of technological areas and industry sectors.

Zoë is particularly known for her expertise in advising clients in complex patent disputes, often with an international element, and recently Zoë has acted for a range of clients from telecoms/electronics/software companies to pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Zoë also advises on related issues arising from international technology standards, such as patent pools, licensing and FRAND, and counsels on patent litigation strategy, including pharmaceutical lifecycle management, with a wealth of experience in providing freedom to operate and due diligence advice.

In addition to representing clients before the UK courts (including up to the Supreme Court), Zoë has experience of European Patent Office opposition proceedings, and has represented clients in arbitration proceedings and mediations relating to technology contract disputes. Zoë has been involved in many multi-jurisdictional disputes, working with advisors from across Europe, North America, China, Korea, Japan and Australia, and, in many instances, has taken a role in coordinating such litigation.

Zoë has also been appointed by the UK court to supervise the execution of search and seizure orders by other firms.

Zoë frequently lectures on IP law, and is a tutor on the Oxford University Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice. She is also a contributor to the CIPA Guide to the Patents Act. Zoë has also lectured on the Bristol University Law School Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series.

Zoë has been a partner at Powell Gilbert since its founding in 2007.

Key cases

AutoStore v Ocado (robotics)
Vestel v HEVC Advance & Philips (HEVC codec / FRAND licensing)
IPCom v Xiaomi (telecommunications / FRAND licensing)
Biogen v Fresenius (adalimumab formulations)
Biogen v Gedeon Richter (adalimumab formulations)
Biogen v AbbVie (adalimumab)
Unwired Planet v Huawei & Others (telecommunications / FRAND licensing)
Good Technology v Airwatch (mobile management technology)
CompactGTL v Velocys (gas to liquid conversion)
Motorola Mobility v BT (digital TV)
Microsoft v Motorola Mobility (smartphones)
Mölnlycke v BSN Medical (wound dressings)
LG v Sony (blu-ray technology / FRAND licensing)
Apple v Nokia (smartphones)
Philips & Others v Alba (MPEG-2 / FRAND licensing)
Dr Reddy’s v Eli Lilly (olanzapine)
Ivax v Chugai (nicorandil formulations)
Sony Computer Entertainment v Ball (copy protection circumvention devices)
Allergan v Pharmacia (latonoprost)
Affymetrix v Multilyte (DNA microarrays)
Oxford Gene Technology v Affymetrix (DNA microarrays)
Pharmacia v Merck (COX 2 inhibitors)
Iomega v Nomai (trade mark/passing off – ZIP disc technology)

Zoë Butler

Partner

ZoëButler

Partner

extremely knowledgeable and pragmatic.

Zoe Butler is a sensible litigator.

…creative thinker with a strong understanding of a complicated and fluid area of law. The combination of her business mindset, legal fundamentals and creative thinking result in high-quality, focused counsel

impressive organisational skills and attention to detail

Give thoughtful, timely and insightful advice… are consummate professionals, are always willing to listen and consider the opinions of others, and are a pleasure to work with.

is a highly accomplished IP litigator, who is sought after by pharmaceutical and biotech companies for her experience and expertise with patent litigation before EU and UK courts

a strong partner with a high profile for life sciences

a distinguished advocate, held in high esteem for her wealth of experience representing pharmaceutical and biotech clients in patent disputes.

Zoë Butler has a razor-sharp mind. She is knowledgeable, adaptable, and friendly.

Zoë Butler is a brilliant team leader and superb with clients ‘exceptional in the TMT area…acted for some of the largest players in this sector.'

She is thorough, thoughtful and organised

Zoe is great - an incredibly thoughtful lawyer

Zoë Butler is superb at leading and co-ordinating teams on the largest of cases. She is absolutely unflappable even in the most difficult situations, and brings integrity and honesty which clients really value

strong partner with a high profile in the pharma and biotech markets

“immensely talented” and “really knows her stuff”

Professional, organised, calculated, and strategic, [she is] always mindful of business interests and are exactly what you’d want in outside counsel

She is very impressive – she produces great, high-quality work and is really responsive

really hard-working, very good with clients and a very good strategist

fantastic IP litigator with a strong technical background

"a delight to deal with" ... "expert and insightful views" on complex patent disputes

draws plaudits this year for her fantastic work in pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, representing and coordinating clients in multi-jurisdictional disputes

receives high praise from respondents, and is frequently engaged in handling a range of patent disputes across the telecommunications and pharmaceutical sectors

very good grip on her cases and has a lot of good ideas

Zoe Butler is an extensively experienced patent litigator who stands out in our research thanks to her excellent work in the biotechnology field

"impresses enormously" because she "has extremely good judgement and is very bright."

a "market leader" in the life sciences space.

brilliant advocate and fine strategist

Zoë Butler “readily springs to mind for referrals” says peers; her facility for coordinating complex cross-border matters that extend into North America and Japan proves particularly popular with electronics and software multinationals.

Zoë Butler is renowned as one of the country’s finest patent litigators, and much of her work is on behalf of leading companies in the [Life Sciences] sector.

Zoë Butler is a seasoned patent litigator with experience handling difficult, high-value cases in life sciences, electronics, and oil and gas technology. Sources appreciate her strategic insights and practical case management.

Zoë Butler has experience of European Patent Office proceedings and is commended for her “innovation and technical brilliance.”

“Brilliant litigator” Zoë Butler can effortlessly switch gears between different technical areas and ascends to the silver tier on the recommendation of peers.

Zoë Butler advises clients on all IP rights although she is best known for litigating sophisticated patent cases in electronics and life sciences. She is recognised as one of the country’s leading IP lawyers, having an enviable client roster and record in life sciences patent disputes.

Demonstrating great range, Zoë Butler is at home on life sciences and high-tech cases, and is also an adroit performer across all areas of IP.

Zoë Butler is “excellent, both as a litigator and on the science front.”

Zoë Butler is “an extremely skilled lawyer"

Zoë Butler is “like a professional chess player: her strategic nous future-proofs her advice as she thinks through all the moves to the endgame”. She is “proactive and instantly puts patent owners at ease”.

Zoë
Butler