Our Advisory Board | Kisaco Research

Our Advisory Board

The Pharma & Biotech Patent Litigation Summit, Europe
20-22 January, 2025
Amsterdam, Beurs Van Berlage Centre

Our advisory board comprises of a selection of all in-house-advisors, including Chief IP Counsels, General Counsels and very senior executives from the leading industries consisting numerous years of experience. This ‘inner circle’ counsels Kisaco Research upcoming conferences on the impact of latest IP updates and emerging topics.

Life Sciences Patent Advisory Board

Author:

Dr. Leslie Fischer

Principal Patent Attorney
Sandoz

Leslie Fischer is a Principal Patent Attorney at Sandoz, who focuses on global IP strategy for biosimilars. Before joining Sandoz, Leslie was a patent attorney at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, where she worked for over a decade developing global patent portfolios for biologicals. Before joining the Novartis group, Leslie was an associate at Fitzpatrick Cella (NY) (now Venable). Leslie holds a J.D. from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Thomas Jefferson University. Her scientific work appears in JCB, JBC, and Osteoarthritis & Cartilage. She speaks frequently at patent-related events and is an adjunct professor at Seton Hall Law School.

Dr. Leslie Fischer

Principal Patent Attorney
Sandoz

Leslie Fischer is a Principal Patent Attorney at Sandoz, who focuses on global IP strategy for biosimilars. Before joining Sandoz, Leslie was a patent attorney at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, where she worked for over a decade developing global patent portfolios for biologicals. Before joining the Novartis group, Leslie was an associate at Fitzpatrick Cella (NY) (now Venable). Leslie holds a J.D. from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Thomas Jefferson University. Her scientific work appears in JCB, JBC, and Osteoarthritis & Cartilage. She speaks frequently at patent-related events and is an adjunct professor at Seton Hall Law School.

Author:

Christof Bull

Assistant General Patent Counsel
UCB

Christof Bull

Assistant General Patent Counsel
UCB

Author:

Lorenz Kallenbach

Senior Corporate Patent Counsel (Director)
Merck

Lorenz Kallenbach is a senior corporate patent counsel in the healthcare division of Merck KGaA. He is responsible for defining and executing the IP strategy for innovator projects. Including the assessment of the IP landscape, coordination of worldwide patent litigation, and portfolio development.

Before joining Merck, Lorenz worked in private practice. He is qualified as a German and European patent attorney.

Lorenz studied biochemistry and received a Ph.D. in the field of epigenetics.

Lorenz Kallenbach

Senior Corporate Patent Counsel (Director)
Merck

Lorenz Kallenbach is a senior corporate patent counsel in the healthcare division of Merck KGaA. He is responsible for defining and executing the IP strategy for innovator projects. Including the assessment of the IP landscape, coordination of worldwide patent litigation, and portfolio development.

Before joining Merck, Lorenz worked in private practice. He is qualified as a German and European patent attorney.

Lorenz studied biochemistry and received a Ph.D. in the field of epigenetics.

Author:

Stephan Kutik

Senior Director, Intellectual Property
Genevant Sciences GmbH

Stephan Kutik

Senior Director, Intellectual Property
Genevant Sciences GmbH

Author:

Ewan Nettleton

Principal IP Counsel, Oncology Litigation
Novartis Pharma AG

Ewan Nettleton

Principal IP Counsel, Oncology Litigation
Novartis Pharma AG

Author:

Tessa M. Malamud-Cohen

Director, Patents, Global Intellectual Property
Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Tessa M. Malamud-Cohen

Director, Patents, Global Intellectual Property
Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Author:

Paki Banky

Senior IP Counsel (IP Lead Cell & Gene)
Novartis

Paki Banky

Senior IP Counsel (IP Lead Cell & Gene)
Novartis

Author:

Corinna Sundermann

Senior Vice President Intellectual Property
Fresenius Kabi

Corinna Sundermann

Senior Vice President Intellectual Property
Fresenius Kabi

Author:

Frank Landolt

Chief Counsel IP & Legal
Confo Therapeutics

Frank Landolt is Chief Counsel, Intellectual Property and Legal at Confo Therapeutics, a privately held biopharmaceutical start-up based in Ghent, Belgium specializing in GPCR-targeted therapeutics.

After studying chemistry and law at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, Frank worked for almost ten years on pharmaceutical and biotechological patents and licensing in private practice in the Netherlands, where his clients included major pharmaceutical companies as well as some of the top biotech firms and research institutions in the Netherlands. 

Prior to joining Confo in 2018, Frank worked for fifteen years in Ablynx N.V. (now a wholly owned Sanofi company), where he was a member of the management team and headed an integrated IP and legal group of four lawyers and five patent professionals. At Ablynx, Frank was involved in negotiating Ablynx’s strategic partnerships and licensing deals with AbbVie, Boehringer-Ingelheim, MSD, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Wyeth. 

From 2000 to 2004, Frank was director of IP and legal counsel at Devgen N.V. (now part of Syngenta), another Ghent-based biotechnology company, where he was involved in negotiating Devgen’s strategic collaborations with Sumitomo, Monsanto and DuPont Pioneer.

Frank is a Dutch and European patent attorney, and also holds a degree in business law from the University of Antwerp. He is a member of the Dutch association of patent attorneys (where he is a tutor for the professional qualification course), EPI and LES Benelux (where he is involved in the LES Licensing Course). He is a regular speaker on a range of topics relating to IP and licensing in the (bio)pharmaceutical sector. Frank was named as one of Managing IP’s ‘Corporate IP stars’ for four years in a row (2015-2018).

Frank Landolt

Chief Counsel IP & Legal
Confo Therapeutics

Frank Landolt is Chief Counsel, Intellectual Property and Legal at Confo Therapeutics, a privately held biopharmaceutical start-up based in Ghent, Belgium specializing in GPCR-targeted therapeutics.

After studying chemistry and law at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, Frank worked for almost ten years on pharmaceutical and biotechological patents and licensing in private practice in the Netherlands, where his clients included major pharmaceutical companies as well as some of the top biotech firms and research institutions in the Netherlands. 

Prior to joining Confo in 2018, Frank worked for fifteen years in Ablynx N.V. (now a wholly owned Sanofi company), where he was a member of the management team and headed an integrated IP and legal group of four lawyers and five patent professionals. At Ablynx, Frank was involved in negotiating Ablynx’s strategic partnerships and licensing deals with AbbVie, Boehringer-Ingelheim, MSD, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Wyeth. 

From 2000 to 2004, Frank was director of IP and legal counsel at Devgen N.V. (now part of Syngenta), another Ghent-based biotechnology company, where he was involved in negotiating Devgen’s strategic collaborations with Sumitomo, Monsanto and DuPont Pioneer.

Frank is a Dutch and European patent attorney, and also holds a degree in business law from the University of Antwerp. He is a member of the Dutch association of patent attorneys (where he is a tutor for the professional qualification course), EPI and LES Benelux (where he is involved in the LES Licensing Course). He is a regular speaker on a range of topics relating to IP and licensing in the (bio)pharmaceutical sector. Frank was named as one of Managing IP’s ‘Corporate IP stars’ for four years in a row (2015-2018).

Author:

Guido Pontremoli

Vice President Global IP
Chiesi

Currently employed as global Head of the IP department-Patent at Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA, managing and coaching a team of experienced patent attorneys, patent searchers and administrators, working on the protection, enforcement, litigation and/or opposition of the Chiesi IP, aligned with business decisions.

 

Before joining Chiesi, I worked in IP groups of big pharma companies (GSK Vaccine, and Bracco Imaging) as senior patent attorney responsible for all the IP aspects concerning some key R&D projects. I also had experience as patent counsel in private practices, dealing with pharma, chemical and bio entities.

Graduated in chemistry from the Univ of Milan, with a PhD in medicinal chemistry and a post-doc experience in USA, I am qualified EPA and chartered Italian patent attorney.

Guido Pontremoli

Vice President Global IP
Chiesi

Currently employed as global Head of the IP department-Patent at Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA, managing and coaching a team of experienced patent attorneys, patent searchers and administrators, working on the protection, enforcement, litigation and/or opposition of the Chiesi IP, aligned with business decisions.

 

Before joining Chiesi, I worked in IP groups of big pharma companies (GSK Vaccine, and Bracco Imaging) as senior patent attorney responsible for all the IP aspects concerning some key R&D projects. I also had experience as patent counsel in private practices, dealing with pharma, chemical and bio entities.

Graduated in chemistry from the Univ of Milan, with a PhD in medicinal chemistry and a post-doc experience in USA, I am qualified EPA and chartered Italian patent attorney.

Author:

Kristin Cooklin

Group Head IP Counsel
Recordati

Kristin Cooklin

Group Head IP Counsel
Recordati

Author:

Toni Santamaria

Vice President Intellectual Property
Adalvo

Toni has been leading the Intellectual Property team at Adalvo since 2021. He has more than 20 years of experience in different pharmaceutical companies where he has been involved in developing and implementing complex patent and data exclusivity litigation strategies for several generics and added value products, including leading parallel litigation cases in multiple European countries.   He also has experience in patent and trademark prosecution.

Toni qualified as European Patent Attorney in 2010 and holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry.

Toni Santamaria

Vice President Intellectual Property
Adalvo

Toni has been leading the Intellectual Property team at Adalvo since 2021. He has more than 20 years of experience in different pharmaceutical companies where he has been involved in developing and implementing complex patent and data exclusivity litigation strategies for several generics and added value products, including leading parallel litigation cases in multiple European countries.   He also has experience in patent and trademark prosecution.

Toni qualified as European Patent Attorney in 2010 and holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry.

Author:

Shohta Ueno

Assistant General Counsel - Dispute Resolution
Regeneron

Shohta Ueno

Assistant General Counsel - Dispute Resolution
Regeneron

Author:

Adrian Spillmann

Director of Intellectual Property
Valneva

Adrian Spillmann

Director of Intellectual Property
Valneva

Author:

Julia Pike

Global Head of IP
Sandoz

Since March 2020, Julia has been the Global Head of IP for Sandoz. In her previous roles with Sandoz, she has had a leading role in the first wave of US biosimilars litigation, including the first litigations on critical aspects of the governing legislation (the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act or BPCIA), culminating in the landmark US Supreme Court decision, Sandoz v Amgen.

 

Since leaving private practice at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Julia has been in-house counsel for many years including at Mayne Pharma and Hospira Inc before joining Sandoz in 2008. While there, she has taken on roles in European public affairs and led Sandoz’s global IP litigation function as Global Head of IP Litigation. Through those roles, she has maintained a keen interest in IP strategy and litigation worldwide, including cases arising under the Hatch-Waxman and BPCIA legislation in the US, PM(NOC) regulations in Canada and litigation arising from patent linkage systems around the world. 

Julia Pike

Global Head of IP
Sandoz

Since March 2020, Julia has been the Global Head of IP for Sandoz. In her previous roles with Sandoz, she has had a leading role in the first wave of US biosimilars litigation, including the first litigations on critical aspects of the governing legislation (the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act or BPCIA), culminating in the landmark US Supreme Court decision, Sandoz v Amgen.

 

Since leaving private practice at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Julia has been in-house counsel for many years including at Mayne Pharma and Hospira Inc before joining Sandoz in 2008. While there, she has taken on roles in European public affairs and led Sandoz’s global IP litigation function as Global Head of IP Litigation. Through those roles, she has maintained a keen interest in IP strategy and litigation worldwide, including cases arising under the Hatch-Waxman and BPCIA legislation in the US, PM(NOC) regulations in Canada and litigation arising from patent linkage systems around the world. 

Author:

Christoph Rehfuess

Head of IP
Sotio

Christoph Rehfuess

Head of IP
Sotio