Christopher Stothers to join Carpmaels & Ransford as litigation Partner from Freshfields

Heavyweight patent litigator will bolster Carpmaels & Ransford’s rapidly growing Litigation team as firm marks its 250th anniversary

London, September 17, 2026 – Carpmaels & Ransford, the leading European intellectual property firm, has appointed Christopher Stothers as a partner in its Litigation practice in London and Dublin. Joining from Freshfields, Stothers is one of Europe’s leading patent litigators in the UK courts, the UPC, and the EPO, bringing more than two decades’ experience managing complex, cross-border disputes in life sciences and technology. He is particularly known for his work in the intersection between IP, antitrust, and pharmaceutical regulatory law.

Regularly recognized for his eminent position in the market, Stothers was named as one of Managing IP’s ’50 most influential people in IP‘ in 2024, in part for his role in a landmark transparency case that secured greater public access to UPC documents, and their Patent Practitioner of the Year in England in 2025. His arrival will further strengthen Carpmaels & Ransford’s market-leading expertise in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices.

It comes as the latest in a series of lateral hires for Carpmaels & Ransford during its 250th anniversary year, reflecting the firm’s commitment to growing key service lines, including its pioneering Litigation team, which was the first dedicated litigation practice fully integrated within a patent attorney firm in Europe. Carpmaels & Ransford’s specialism in UPC advocacy will also be bolstered by Stothers’ arrival, who has already appeared before the UPC in several local divisions and the Court of Appeal. He is looking forward to collaborating with colleagues at the firm’s London and Munich Offices on UPC and EPO matters.

Alongside patent litigation, clients will benefit from Stothers’ extensive experience working on antitrust and pharmaceutical regulatory litigation, arbitration, and mediation, including his listing as a WIPO and UPC PMAC neutral. Besides practicing law, Stothers is a Visiting Professor at UCL and wrote the leading legal textbook: “Parallel Trade in Europe: Intellectual Property, Competition and Regulatory Law.”

James Warner, Senior Partner at Carpmaels & Ransford, said: “Christopher is one of the most highly regarded patent litigators in Europe. His experience leading sophisticated cross-border disputes, combined with his deep sector expertise in both life sciences and technology, will be an enormous asset to our clients and further cements our position as one of the leading patent litigation teams. I look forward to welcoming him to the firm.”

Jennifer Antcliff, Head of Litigation at Carpmaels & Ransford, said: “Our Litigation group is growing rapidly in response to increasing demand from our clients to act on their most technically and legally challenging cases. With decades of experience and an enviable track record at the EPO and UPC, Christopher is a fantastic addition to our team and perfectly placed to steer our clients through complex, multi-jurisdictional litigation.”

Christopher Stothers, incoming Partner at Carpmaels & Ransford, said: “Carpmaels & Ransford has long been recognized as a pioneer in European patent litigation. Its early investment in a dedicated litigation practice, together with its outstanding reputation before the UPC, has created an exceptional offering for clients navigating today’s manyfold IP challenges. I am delighted to be joining a world-class team at such an exciting point in its history and look forward to helping build on its remarkable 250-year heritage.”

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