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Sinclaire Schäfer

she/herSenior Associate
London
About

Sinclaire Schäfer is a dual-qualified intellectual property lawyer focusing on multi-jurisdictional patent and copyright disputes.

An experienced High Court litigator, she also advises on enforcement and defence programmes, working closely with in-house teams and individual rightsholders on strategy, risk assessment, and portfolio management to deliver commercially driven results for her clients.

Her practice spans a range of sectors including technology, industrials, life sciences, and media and entertainment.

Areas of FocusIntellectual PropertyPatent LitigationTrademark and Copyright LitigationIndustrialsTechnologyLife SciencesMedia Sports and Entertainment
Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and WalesAttorney-at-law admitted with the Supreme Court of New York
Education
  • Columbia University, J.D., Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, Parker School Award in International and Comparative Law
  • London School of Economics & Political Science, LL.M. (Intellectual Property), Distinction
  • Harvard University, A.L.M., Dean's List
  • Yale University, B.A., magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa; Distinction in Major

Additional Qualifications

Oxford University, Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice

EXPERIENCE

  • Led an enforcement programme for a European commercial-vehicle parts manufacturer involving concurrent infringement actions in the Patents Court to protect client's core product lines.*
  • Managed appeals to the Patents Court and Court of Appeal concerning the grant of supplementary protection certificates (Halozyme v Comptroller-General).*
  • Acted as lead associate from case inception through Patents Court trial in entitlement proceedings relating to DNA vaccine technology (Hill v Touchlight).*
  • Pursued copyright infringement proceedings in the High Court to protect a major video game title; implemented coordinated enforcement strategy with foreign co-counsel.*
  • Obtained a Norwich Pharmacal order compelling disclosure of the source of unauthorised online distribution of a major film.*
  • Acted in the successful defence of a technology company in SEP infringement and global FRAND licensing action (InterDigital v Lenovo); addressing complex multi-jurisdictional issues through to Patents Court trial.*
  • Acted for a leading automated warehouse technology company in patent infringement and entitlement proceedings, including successful appeal overturning ex parte injunction restraining the client from referring to material in parallel US proceedings.*
  • Counselled biosimilar manufacturer on market entry strategy (both patent and trade mark), including coordination across Europe.*
  • Advised pharmaceutical company on multi-jurisdictional strategy to protect biologic product.*
  • Represented medical technology company in US federal court in patent infringement dispute, including through a Markman hearing.*

* Denotes experience from a previous firm

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

  • Recommended Lawyer (England & Wales) - IAM Patent 1000, 2026
  • UK Annual Prize, 2022 - AIPPI

Publications and media

Prior Experience

Before joining DLA Piper, Sinclaire developed a strong intellectual property litigation practice across leading international law firms in London and New York.

Memberships and Affiliations

  • International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)

Connect

Phone

+44 7467 438 705
(Mobile)
+44 207 796 6158
(Work, London)

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