Patrick Farrant

Patrick is a Partner in the Innovation department. He is Co-Head for Commercial, Technology, Data and Sport within the Innovation Department and Head of the Life Sciences Group.

He is nationally recognised leading IP lawyer specialising in the life sciences sector. He looks after technology businesses’ commercial needs, and loves getting IP deals done. He has developed a detailed knowledge of the interface between the public and private sector and works extensively with high growth entrepreneurial businesses.

Throughout his career, Patrick has specialised in IP matters and technology (in particular patents and know-how), always with a focus on the life sciences sector. He has experience in advising on:

• IP licences
• R&D agreements
• Joint ventures
• Spin-outs and start-ups
• Regulatory issues
• IP strategy
• Strategic partnerships

Patrick is regularly endorsed as a leading IP lawyer in Legal 500, Chambers, IAM Patent 1000 and PLC’s Which Lawyer (Life Sciences) Guide. He is also a Chair of the University of Cambridge’s Technology Appeals Tribunal. He is a dual UK and Swiss national and fluent French speaker.

Key Experience

• RQ Bio: advising on its $157m licence with AstraZeneca to help progress the treatment and prevention of viruses through antibody technologies. Supporting them with two previous funding rounds and in securing licensing agreements with Oxford University Innovation and AstraZeneca means that significant progress is being made in protecting vulnerable patients against COVID 19.
• Advising long standing client ViceBio on IP and regulatory due diligence in connection with its $1.3b sale to Sanofi.
• Advising Relation Therapeutics on its multi-programme, strategic collaborations with GSK and with Novartis. Under the terms of the Novartis agreement, Relation will receive $55 million comprising an upfront payment, equity investment, and additional R&D funding. In addition, Relation is eligible to receive preclinical, development, regulatory and commercial milestones of up to $1.7 billion, along with tiered royalties on new sales of products..
• Advising AIM listed Arecor Therapeutics plc on a royalty financing agreement with Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated which will raise non-dilutive capital of up to $11 million.
• Advising Cellular Origins on a collaboration with Johnson & Johnson to develop a scalable, end-to-end automated platform for autologous CAR-T cell manufacturing.

Career History

Partner, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Partner, Taylor Vinters LLP
Partner, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
University of London, LLB Law