Katie Coltart

Since joining Kirkland, Katie has been involved in the following matters:

• Representing a US biotech company in its patent litigation against a UK biotech company concerning the use of transgenic mice as a therapeutic antibody development platform. The case was won in the English Court of Appeal and involved the global coordination of parallel / related actions in several jurisdictions. The case is going up on appeal to the Supreme Court on an issue on the law of patent sufficiency.
• Advising a multi-national pharmaceutical company on clearing the path in respect of its first-in-class antibody drug for pain.
• Acting for a multinational telecommunications company in its defence of an SEP infringement and global FRAND licensing action.
• Advising a Hollywood film studio on trade mark issues surrounding the title of an upcoming film.

Prior to joining Kirkland, Katie worked on the following matters:

• Represented Novartis in patent litigation concerning the use of phage display for screening potential biological therapeutics. The case related to the client’s blockbuster sight-saving drug and was won in the English High Court and Court of Appeal. The case involved the cross-border coordination of litigations in several jurisdictions.
• Advised a multinational pharmaceutical company in relation to patent litigation proceedings brought by two competing market players against its exclusive licensor in respect of patents relating to vascular endothelial growth factor antagonists and their use in the treatment of certain non-neoplastic diseases. The case involved significant strategic collaboration with the patentee / licensor and was won both at first instance in the English High Court and in the English Court of Appeal.
• Advised Pfizer in relation to patent proceedings against another global player concerning a cholesterol-lowering antibody drug.
• Advised two collaborating pharmaceutical companies on their freedom to operate position in relation to one of their pipeline cancer immunotherapy products.
• Assisted a large biopharmaceutical company with the drafting of evidence for an EPO Opposition against one of its ‘crown jewel’ patents in Europe.
• Coordinated detailed surveys and analyses of the patent regimes of various emerging market jurisdictions for GSK.
• Advised Premaitha on its freedom to operate position in relation to its non-invasive prenatal testing and next generation sequencing technology.
• Advised a multinational company on the prospects of enforcement of a suite of patents related to consumer products. Further advised the same company in relation to the purchase of said patent portfolio.
• Represented a multinational telecommunications company in a multi-patent action brought by a competing market player concerning wireless communications systems.
• Acted on a trade secrets litigation concerning algorithmic high frequency trading strategies.
• Advised a global media corporation in relation to various trade mark issues relating to certain key brands, including filings with the UK IPO and EUIPO.
• Represented a Middle Eastern media company in an ICC arbitration arising out of a contractual claim for (among other things) trade mark infringement and in a related claim for Community Trade Mark infringement in the English High Court.
• Advised a multi-national investment bank regarding a payment dispute in relation to a number of commercial software licenses.
• Assisted (pro bono) a charity in the coordination of the global registration of its trade mark.
• Advised an online payment services provider in relation to the overhaul of its standard services agreements with, and IP licensing to/from, merchants and acquiring banks, alongside various other contractual issues relating to software and IP licensing.
• Advised a global online marketplace in relation to the licensing of the IP of a large sporting association for use in online marketing and television advertising.
• Advised an English football club in relation to the IP licensing aspects of its sponsorship agreement with a large multinational sports brand.

Self-employed Legal Consultant

• 2016–2018

Allen & Overy LLP, London

• Associate, 2011–2015
• Trainee Solicitor, 2009–2011