Regarded as a dominant firm in pharmaceuticals and life sciences, Fitzpatrick Cella Harper & Scinto tops the biotechnology/life sciences rankings. Companies like Sanofi-Aventis, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline turn to the firm for its deep technical and scientific expertise. "If I were general counsel in the life sciences, litigating over some billion-dollar-a-year drug, I would bring in Fitzpatrick," noted a competitor. Said another: "Fitzpatrick has the reputation and deserves it. It is an excellent life sciences patent litigation law firm."
Specialising in litigation relating to chemistry, pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical devices and diagnostics, Dominick Conde, said a client, is "one of the best IP litigators I've ever seen". Biotechnology group chair Raymond Mandra, added another, is "second to none" in patent prosecution.
The firm secured one of the largest monetary awards in patent litigation history for Sanofi-Aventis as compensation for Apotex's launch of a generic version of Plavix. In another matter, the firm successfully represented Daiichi Sankyo in Federal Court, which affirmed the district court's decision finding the patent covering Benicar valid and infringed. The drug generates $1 billion a year. Rising this year in the patent contentious rankings, the firm is also well-regarded in electronics and computers. Canon and IBM have been clients for years. Said one satisfied customer: "I wouldn't trade them for anything."