Speaker details

Biography

Tess Waldron is a Partner and UPC Representative at Powell Gilbert LLP (www.powellgilbert.com), a specialist European IP Law firm with offices in London, Düsseldorf, and Dublin. Tess has a particular focus on life sciences, including small molecules, vaccines, biologics, biosimilars and medical devices. She coordinates pan-European patent litigation strategy for innovator and originator clients, including leading in high-stakes litigation before the UK Patents Court and the UPC. As a registered UPC Representative and solicitor advocate, Tess acts for clients at the UPC, including appearing in the first ever hearing held by the Paris Central Division (Edwards Lifesciences v Meril). She has also litigated at every level of the UK courts, including at the Supreme Court (Unwired Planet v Huawei). Tess’s recent life sciences work includes representing BioNTech in UK, Irish and UPC proceedings (against GSK, Moderna, CureVac and Promosome) in relation to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, as well as assisting Edwards Lifesciences with its pan-European enforcement campaign against Meril Lifesciences and advising Sun Pharmaceuticals in proceedings to clear the way for launch of its deuruxolitinib product. She also has substantial experience in FRAND and SEP licensing disputes, entitlement proceedings and cross-jurisdictional commercial disputes, and a long-standing interest in the interface between IP and competition law (PGDip, EU Competition Law, King’s College London). Prior to becoming a solicitor, Tess qualified as a doctor and spent three years working in hospital medicine. This experience provides her with valuable background and context when advising clients operating in the life sciences sector. Tess sits on the CLA committee and the ChIPs London leadership team and is a member of AIPPI and EPLAW. She speaks and writes regularly on UK and European patent developments, including on UPC procedure and jurisdiction, plausibility, and patent issues affecting cutting edge life sciences inventions. Tess won Client Choice IP Patents Award 2026, has been recognised as a Next Generation Partner by Legal 500, as Up and Coming by Chambers and as One to Watch in UK patent litigation by JUVE. She is also recommended in IAM Patent 1000: World’s Leading Patent Professionals, IAM Strategy 300 and as a WIPR Leader.