Commercial, IP and IT associate Dr Nabil Asaad, who will be based in the Cambridge office with senior associate Rachel Bradley, joins Penningtons Manches from leading healthcare sector firm Hempsons. He will advise across a range of commercial, IP and regulatory matters including contracts and contract disputes; the identification, protection and monetisation of IP rights; IP infringement and threats of litigation; data protection; and the regulatory regimes for medicines and medical devices. With a PhD in Physical Organic Chemistry from the University of Cambridge, Nabil’s experience before training as a lawyer included work in the commercial sector involving fine chemicals manufacturing and early-phase pharmaceutical R&D. Nabil has recently advised on data protection compliance and the associated contracts for the flagship NHS Test Beds programme on Long Term Conditions Early Intervention; contractual and regulatory issues relating to the use of an experimental therapy for prion diseases; and judicial review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
Senior associate Dr Eileen McMorrow, who previously ran her own specialist IP/IT and commercial practice providing legal advice to creative, technology and traditional SMEs, law firms, public bodies and charities, joins the firm’s commercial, IP and IT team in London and will specialise in providing legal advice on protecting and exploiting IP to clients in the life sciences sector. In particular, she will be involved in negotiating and drafting patent licences and a wide range of commercial contracts. Eileen holds a PhD in Plant Biochemistryfrom King’s College London, and has over 10 years’ experience as a CEDR accredited mediator, successfully mediating a wide range of general commercial and IP disputes.
Building on her experience gained as editor of The Legal 500 publication, Life Sciences Law and Business, Eileen has taken on the role of editor for Penningtons Manches’ quarterly life sciences update publication, BioBrief. Nabil also has experience of sector writing, having published a number of scientific papers in leading international journals. He previously chaired the Physical Organic Chemistry Group of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Eileen is a member of The International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI).
Winner of five consecutive Corporate Intl Global Awards for 'Life Sciences Law Firm of the Year in England', the Penningtons Manches life sciences team has gone from strength to strength in recent years. The expanding team provides a full range of legal, commercial and regulatory advice to clients in this fast-moving and competitive field. The sector group takes an active role in organisations that support the life sciences industry, both on a local level, such as OBN and One Nucleus, and internationally, and has strong links to life science specialists outside the UK. With an established reputation acting for life sciences companies over many years in the Oxfordshire biotech hub, these two new appointments will help the firm to increase its influence in the Cambridge and London life sciences markets.
Commenting on the new arrivals, senior associate Rachel Bradley, said: “I am pleased to welcome Nabil and Eileen to the firm. They bring with them not only doctorates in the field, but also a wide range of experience in the sector. I know our team will develop even further with their valuable input. The past few years have seen significant improvement for our position in the life sciences sector and we are excited to see this continue and advance in 2018.”