Gregory Bacon
Partner - Patent litigation
- London / Dublin / UPC
- gregory.bacon@bristows.com
- +44 20 7400 8393 / +353 1 270 7753

Greg’s extensive scientific background gives him a valuable understanding of technical issues that can underlie IP matters, particularly in the life sciences field. For almost 20 years, he has advised and represented clients on small molecule pharmaceuticals, biologics (originators and biosimilars), biomanufacturing, medical devices (hardware and software), as well as in the chemicals, cosmetics, food, shipping and online publishing sectors.
Greg has represented clients in many patent cases before both the English High Court (including Patents Court) and Court of Appeal. In addition, Greg has extensive experience of strategic multinational litigation in multiple jurisdictions, including at the EPO, through global pharmaceutical product coordination projects for many clients. He is also an Authorised Representative handling cases before the UPC.
- In the UPC, Greg was part of team of internationally recognised lawyers that represented Novartis in the defence of a DNI action instigated in the Central Division (Milan) by Accord in relation to patents to Tasigna® (nilotinib).
- Winnow v Orbisk – representing patentee Winnow in UPC proceedings before the Local Division (The Hague) concerning commercial food waste management solutions.
- DSM v Mara Renewables & Algal Omega 3 – Patents Court litigation concerning omega-3 microbial oils, and processes for their manufacture. Mara successfully revoked 2 of the 3 patents in suit, clearing the way to continue manufacture and sale of its products.
- Novartis v Teva & Ors – Patents Court and Court of Appeal litigation concerning dosage regime patent for client’s blockbuster fingolimod product (Gilenya®), including ground-breaking application for interim injunctive relief pre-patent grant and significant decisions on the availability of Arrow declarations for use in foreign proceedings.
- Otsuka v GW Pharma – IP licence dispute relating to client’s Epidiolex®/Epidyolex® cannabidiol (CBD) treatment for epilepsy.
- Lilly v Novartis; UCB v Novartis – acting for Novartis in relation to global enforcement of IL-17AF antibody patent portfolio against IL-17 antibody products Taltz® and Bimzelx®.
- Parainen Pearl Shipping v Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Skipsrederi – case on exhaustion of patent rights in a pneumatic cement discharge system for a ship, including a pan-European jurisdiction challenge.
- Novartis v Focus, Actavis & Teva – Patents Court and Court of Appeal patent litigation concerning transdermal dosage regime patent for rivastigmine (Exelon®), including global coordination of parallel litigation and EPO opposition.
- Orion v SS for Health and Social Care & Ever Neuro – judicial review challenge to decision of MHRA to grant generic marketing authorisation for dexmedetomidine hydrochloride, involving question of whether pre-accession Czech MA was compatible with Directive 2001/83/EC and thus the first MA for the purposes of calculating the term of data exclusivity.
- Celltrion v Biogen, Roche & Genentech – clearing the way revocation action in the Patents Court in relation to biosimilar rituximab product (MabThera®).
- Merck Serono v AbbVie – clearing the way revocation action in the Patents Court in relation to biosimilar adalimumab product (Humira®).
- ConvaTec v Smith & Nephew – long-running case in the Patents Court and Court of Appeal concerning patents and claims to misuse of confidential information in relation to gel-forming wound dressings (Durafiber®), and subsequent damages claim under a cross-undertaking.
- Allergan v Ipsen – patent litigation in the Patents Court on second medical use patents to botulinum toxin (Dysport®).
- Servier v National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) – successful judicial review of NICE decision not to recommend a client’s osteoporosis treatment (Protelos®).
He has also spent time on secondment to the IP litigation department of a leading IP law firm in the Netherlands as well as the UK legal department of a global healthcare IT company, working on non-contentious IP/IT, regulatory and commercial matters.
Greg is a member of AIPPI (Association for Protection of Intellectual Property) and EPLAW (European Patent Lawyers Association), and is a regular speaker at international conferences on UK and international patent litigation, including the UPC.

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