Dr. Beatriz San Martin is a leading intellectual property lawyer with extensive experience in innovative and emerging technologies, particularly within the life sciences sector and technology-enabled solutions. She is highly regarded for her strategic insight into the interplay between intellectual property rights and trade secrets, her niche experience in supplementary protection certificates (SPCs), and her specialist knowledge of international treaties relating to genomic resources, including the Nagoya Protocol.
Beatriz is increasingly engaged in advising on the legal implications of artificial intelligence, and the intersection between intellectual property and data governance. Her work in this area reflects her commitment to staying at the forefront of technological and regulatory change.
Her disputes practice spans high-profile litigation before the UK Courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union, coordination of cross-border European proceedings, and support in multinational arbitrations. She is known for her robust approach to resolving complex disputes across the full spectrum of intellectual property rights and for providing strategic advice on technically challenging issues.
Before entering the legal profession, Beatriz was a scientist with a degree, Ph.D., and postdoctoral research in genetics, cellular, and molecular biology. Her enduring passion for science and technology continues to inform her legal practice, enriched by her work with clients and active involvement in trade associations.
Experience
- Leading manufacturer of synthetic DNA in patent infringement and confidential information disputes in the USA and in Europe.
- Fortune 500 multinational life sciences conglomerate in arbitration proceedings in which the licensor sought nearly US$100 million dollars by way of outstanding royalty payments from a patent licence.
- Global pharmaceutical company on preliminary injunction applications in multiple jurisdictions relating to the protection of confidential information.
- Multinational technology company in a significant dispute relating to the provision of IT platform services.
- Global manufacturer of ingredients and pharmaceutical excipients in several trade mark oppositions.
- Global pharmaceutical corporation on notification requirements and procedure for parallel relating to imports by parallel traders.
- Fintech company in its global brand management protection and enforcement strategy.
- Global education and travel organization in an IP dispute regarding a collaboration with a UK University.
- Representing various charities and not-for-profit organisations pro bono in branding disputes with third parties and providing advice on trade mark prosecution strategy.
- First-chair counsel in two Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) revocation actions, both of which included a preliminary reference to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
- Global agrochemical business on technical aspects of breach of contract and misuse of confidential information proceedings.
- Global IT services company in a copyright infringement proceedings relating to a software product.
- Advising in a significant trade mark dispute which turned on whether the relevant trade marks were geographically descriptive.
- Assisting in long-running confidential information litigation concerning long-lasting insecticidal nets. The liability action went all the way up to the Supreme Court on a discrete point. The case also included an inquiry as to damages.
- Representing a global medical device company on its patent litigation strategy in the UK regarding a product incorporating digital technologies.
- Representing a global pharmaceutical company in several patent revocation actions concerning biologics.
- Advising an insulation company in a patent infringement and invalidity action concerning a phenolic foam insultation product.
- Assisting in a patent infringement and invalidity action concerning an autoinjection delivery system.
Perspectives
Recognition
Intellectual Property (2022-2024)
Life Sciences and Healthcare (2021-2023)
“WIPR Leaders” (2020-2023)
Credentials
Education
- Ph.D., Genetics, Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge
- Post-Graduate Diploma in Law, BPP University Law School
- M.A., University of Cambridge
- Legal Practice Course, BPP University Law School
- Diploma, Intellectual Property Law and Practice, Bristol University
Admissions
- England and Wales
Activities
- Secretary, Intellectual Property Lawyers' Association (IPLA)
- Member, WG 9 & 10 Steering Committee (Patent Litigation), Sedona Conference
- European Lawyers' Association (EPLAW)
- Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA)
- Member, Intellectual Property Advisory Committee, UK BioIndustry Association
- Member, Engineering Biology Advisory Committee, UK BioIndustry Association
- Member, the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)
- Member, The Law Society, England & Wales
Languages
- Spanish