Powell Gilbert promotes two partners across UK and Ireland

The addition of Bryce Matthewson and Peter FitzPatrick brings the total number of partners to 15 for the leading IP litigation firm

LONDON, 2 April 2024 — Leading IP law firm Powell Gilbert has announced the promotions of Senior Associates Bryce Matthewson and Peter FitzPatrick to the partnership with effect from 1 April. The promotions bring the total number of partners across the UK and Irish firms to 15.

Matthewson is admitted to practice as a solicitor in England and Ireland and is also a registered UPC (Unified Patent Court) representative. He is an experienced patent litigator with a focus on the life sciences sector, having obtained a degree in Chemistry and Applied Chemistry prior to his legal studies. He represents clients in the medical devices, pharmaceutical, and biotech fields, as well as in the gaming, banking, and FMCG sectors. In addition to advising on major patent cases before the UK courts, Matthewson has been involved in eight of the early cases before the UPC, including infringement and revocation actions across various divisions of the First Instance Court and the Court of Appeal. Prior to joining Powell Gilbert in 2016, Bryce worked as a patent litigator in South Africa and other African countries. He was named as a Rising Star in the Patents category of LMG Expert Guides. Matthewson will join the partnership of Powell Gilbert in London and Ireland.

FitzPatrick is admitted to practice as a solicitor in England and Ireland and is also a registered UPC representative. He advises across all major areas of intellectual property litigation including patents, FRAND, licensing, copyright, database rights, trademarks, passing off, and confidential information. Before becoming a lawyer, Peter worked for 15 years in the information technology industry as a software developer/architect. He has a particular focus on IT/electronics disputes but has been involved in litigation across various industry sectors ranging from medical devices and pharmaceuticals to synthetic grass. Like his colleagues in the firm, FitzPatrick has substantial experience in cross-border litigation including involving choice of law, jurisdiction, anti-suit relief, and foreign law disputes. He has worked in matters before the courts of Australia, England, and the UPC. Peter joins the partnership in Ireland, where he will be based full-time and will play a leadership role in the firm’s Dublin office.

Powell Gilbert’s Dublin office was launched in May of last year to support the firm’s work in advising and representing clients in European patent disputes before the UPC, which began operations in June 2023.

Separately, the firm recently appointed Adam Rimmer as an Associate in the London office. Rimmer holds a master’s degree in chemistry and has worked on a broad range of contentious and non-contentious patent matters. He is a registered UPC representative. In addition to his experience in patent litigation, having qualified as a UK and European Patent attorney, Rimmer has been involved in defending and challenging patents in EPO opposition proceedings, appearing regularly as an advocate before the Opposition Division and Boards of Appeal. He has experience in handling cases spanning a wide variety of technologies, with a particular focus on the pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields.

Dr Penny Gilbert, partner at Powell Gilbert LLP, commented: “Bryce and Peter are talented IP litigators who have each made exceptional contributions on behalf of the firm’s clients. We are delighted to welcome them to the partnership at Powell Gilbert, not least in this period of opportunity for the firm following the launch of the UPC and our Dublin office.

“Bryce’s scientific and legal expertise, combined with astute commercial awareness, makes him an invaluable advisor to our clients, particularly those in the life sciences sector where we are renowned for our UK patent litigation experience and our advice in developing and supporting pan-European litigation strategies. Peter’s technical knowledge and impressive IP and commercial litigation experience allow him to advise businesses at the forefront of innovation across a range of technologies, including in FRAND litigation and patent license disputes in the life sciences sector.

“Peter is an ideal leader for our operations in Ireland, where he will help us build on our success in acting for clients across a significant number of the UPC’s earliest cases, and in co-ordinating Europe-wide patent litigation strategies.

“We are also pleased to welcome Adam Rimmer to the firm. Adam brings experience in a wide range of patent matters, both contentious and non-contentious, and we look forward to him bringing his insights to bear as part of the team.”

Bryce Matthewson, partner at Powell Gilbert LLP, commented: “I am thrilled to be joining the Powell Gilbert partnership. As a firm we occupy a special position in the market, coordinating some of the most complex and high-stakes international patent litigation strategies and acting for clients in proceedings before the UK courts as well as the UPC. The key sectors we advise, such as life sciences, continue to see extraordinary rates of innovation, and we take pride in adapting to meet tomorrow’s IP challenges to support our client’s long-term objectives. I look forward to continuing my contribution to this work as a member of the partnership.”

Peter FitzPatrick, partner at Powell Gilbert (Europe) LLP, commented: “Ireland continues its remarkable growth trajectory as one of the world’s major commercial and financial centers. Our office right in the heart of the capital has access to market-leading expertise, experience, and local counsel partners, to capture the potential of Dublin as a destination for IP dispute resolution, including as a prospective local division of the UPC, subject to ratification in the upcoming referendum.

“I am very excited to be relocating full-time to my home city, to take a leadership role in the Dublin office.”

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