Saunders known as “a seasoned and ambitious life sciences patent litigator.”

Eliza Jane Saunders has joined Pearce IP in Sydney as an executive lawyer, patent and trademark attorney.

Saunders is a seasoned and ambitious life sciences patent litigator with a molecular biology background. She is a registered Patent & Trademark Attorney and is highly experienced in copyright, trademark, PBR and general IP commercial advice and disputes. She is recognized by peers, colleagues and clients as a force to be reckoned with in patent litigation in Australia.

She has approximately 20 years’ IP experience, with DLA Piper, Griffith Hack and Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick in Australia, and Freshfields in the UK. Immediately before joining Pearce IP, Saunders was at DLA Piper, where she established and developed the International HealthTech practice.

Saunders’ litigation experience is extensive – recently including Pfizer v. Samsung Bioepis (Enbrel, etanercept), Jusand v. Rattlejack & Murray Engineering (Byrnecut), Pfizer v. Sandoz (Enbrel, etanercept preliminary injunction), Neurim v. Apotex (Circadin, melatonin), Sigma v. Wyeth (Efexor, venlafaxine), Commonwealth v. Wyeth (Efexor, venlafaxine – commonwealth damages), Apotex v. Pfizer (Viagra, sildenafil); Fisher & Paykel v. Resmed (medical devices) and Apple v Samsung (the largest by number of patents, patent litigation in Australian history). She has also acted in many high-profile trademark and copyright matters over many years.

“I am so pleased to welcome Eliza to Pearce IP. Eliza is an excellent lawyer, attorney and strategist, and her litigation experience is second to none.  Dedicated to her craft and fiercely committed to her clients, Eliza is determined to find creative ways to further her clients’ commercial objectives in Australia,” said Naomi Pearce, the firm’s CEO and executive.

“In Eliza Jane Saunders (who leads the Pearce IP litigation team), and Chris Vindurampulle, who joined Pearce IP from K&L Gates in October 2022 (who leads the Pearce IP prosecution team), Pearce IP has the leaders it needs to achieve our mission to set the standard for excellence in the provision of legal and IP services in Australia.”

Pearce IP’s head of prosecution Chris Vindurampulle says: “Pearce IP is young, but has won numerous awards in recognition of the firm’s strong leadership and client-centric service delivery. Naomi Pearce’s vision for Pearce IP is clear, and her commitment to the firm’s clients is matched only by her drive and passion for delivering high-quality advice and service. It is this commitment and passion that drew me to work at Pearce IP. The firm is growing rapidly, and the recent addition of Eliza Jane Saunders builds solidly upon the firm’s litigation foundation. I am greatly looking forward to the future at Pearce IP, working closely with Eliza and Naomi.”

Pearce IP is a boutique firm offering intellectual property specialist lawyers, patent attorneys and trademark attorneys to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and life sciences industries.