Laura specialises in non-contentious IP and commercial matters. She has broad experience of advising on, drafting and negotiating strategic and complex agreements across the full life cycle of IP rights from development to protection and exploitation.

While Laura’s practice covers a range of sectors, she has particular expertise in the life sciences, luxury brands, consumer products and retail sectors. Much of her work is cross-border or global in nature, and her clients range from large multinationals to start-ups to academic institutions and not-for-profit research organisations.

Within the life sciences sector, Laura advises clients on a variety of IP-focused transactions including joint ventures, research and development collaborations, consortium arrangements and licensing and option deals (with commercial and academic partners). She also assists with commercial matters such as manufacturing and distribution arrangements, research funding agreements and service agreements. Laura has a particular interest in the legal issues affecting the women’s health sector.

Within the luxury and consumer products sectors, Laura supports clients with licensing and other complex arrangements relating to the exploitation and protection of their brands. She also helps clients to bring products to market by advising on supply chain and marketing arrangements, including franchise and concession agreements, as well as brand collaborations and sponsorship deals.

Laura also assists our corporate and financing teams by advising on the commercial and IP aspects of corporate and investment deals, and supports our IP litigation teams by advising on agreements to resolve complex, high-value patent and trade mark disputes.

Having spent time seconded to the in-house legal department of various clients, including a multinational pharmaceutical company and a global luxury goods brand, Laura recognises the importance of understanding her clients’ businesses and the industries in which they operate.

Laura is actively involved in initiatives designed to expand access to the legal profession, including mentoring aspiring solicitors. Within the firm, Laura is involved in trainee recruitment and acts as a mentor to junior lawyers through the Bristows mentoring scheme.