Life sciences litigator Wanda French-Brown joins the Intellectual Property Group as counsel

Life sciences litigator Wanda French-Brown has joined the Patent Litigation team of BakerHostetler’s Intellectual Property Group, resident in the New York office as counsel. She brings more than 15 years of combined experience in the pharmaceutical and legal industries, including representing Fortune 500 pharmaceutical companies through major patent victories. French-Brown comes to the firm from Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP.

French-Brown will focus her practice on patent infringement litigation in the life sciences industry for pharmaceutical and medical device companies, with a concentration in Hatch-Waxman Paragraph IV-based litigation. She has 10 years of experience as a former registered pharmacist serving the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, and brings deep knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) regulations and statutes concerning Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs), Biologics License Applications (BLAs), pharmaceutical quality and manufacturing standards, new drug product exclusivity, and the Hatch-Waxman and Biologics Price Competition and Innovation acts.

French-Brown has litigated patent infringement cases on behalf of national and international companies before federal courts, the International Trade Commission and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Adept at devising litigation strategies related to Paragraph IV certifications filed under the Hatch-Waxman Act, French-Brown’s representation of pharmaceutical companies in Hatch-Waxman ANDA actions have resulted in the protection of branded drug products that average annual U.S. sales in the hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars. In addition to her pharmaceutical experience, French-Brown has represented clients across a multitude of technologies, including food chemistry, medical diagnostics, telecommunications and LTE technology.

BakerHostetler has one of the nation’s largest IP practices, with more than 160 dedicated IP lawyers with over 100 lawyers and patent agents registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. French-Brown will work alongside Partner Benjamin Hsing, a Chambers-ranked life sciences patent litigator. “I’m eager to partner with Wanda as we advise clients through the defense of exclusivity rights while growing the firm’s ANDA and Hatch-Waxman practice,” he said.

“BakerHostetler is known for having a deep bench of well-credentialed patent attorneys in every area of science,” said French-Brown. “As a litigator, it’s important to have a team of patent attorneys to support your work. I couldn’t be more pleased to have access to this prominent knowledge base.”

“As we continue to build out our ANDA practice, Wanda’s 10 years as a practicing pharmacist in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries is the kind of experience we’re looking for — we’re thrilled she’s joining our team,” said John Weber, Chair of the Intellectual Property Group.

“Wanda’s innate understanding of the needs of clients –– as a trained pharmacist and a seasoned trial lawyer –– adds enormous strength to our growing bench focused on serving our pharmaceutical clients in this competitive marketplace,” said David Sheehan, Intellectual Property Coordinator for the New York office.

French-Brown earned her J.D. in 2008 from Seton Hall University School of Law, with a concentration in intellectual property law. While in law school, she participated in the Impact Appellate Litigation clinic for the Seton Hall Center for Social Justice. French-Brown graduated with her B.S. in Pharmacy from Rutgers University College of Pharmacy in 1996.