Kirkland boosts London patent litigation bench with life sciences barrister

Kirkland has hired life sciences barrister Tim Austen from IP set Three New Square in a boost to its top-of-market patent litigation offering.

Austen will join the firm as a partner this summer and continue to practice as a barrister, JUVE Patent reports.

Austen has acted on some of the most significant life sciences patent disputes in recent years, appearing in cases across courts at all levels from the IP Enterprise Court to the Supreme Court.

He represented Abbott in litigation against Dexcom over glucose monitoring technology, and represented Meril Life Sciences against Edwards Lifesciences over heart valve patents - a case on which Kirkland also advised.

Announcing the hire on LinkedIn, Kirkland IP partner Nicola Dagg said: “Tim's addition to the team reflects the firm's commitment to our London litigation practice and response to the sophisticated and evolving business needs of our clients, strengthening both the Kirkland team's capabilities and bench strength as well as our valued relationship with 3 New Square.”

Starting his legal career as a solicitor, Austen qualified in 2007 at Allen & Overy where he worked alongside Dagg. He was called to the Bar in 2012.

Kirkland’s patent plan

Kirkland's London patent litigation practice was established when Dagg and her team moved from A&O to the US firm in 2018.

The group is widely regarded as one of the leading patent litigation teams in the London market, particularly in life sciences disputes.

Kirkland now has seven patent litigation partners and 11 associates in London.