Freehills adds new partner

Freehills Patent Attorneys has appointed Damian Slizys as a partner in its pharmaceutical and biotechnology practice.

Slizys was previously a partner at intellectual property firm FB Rice.

Slizys specialises in chemistry and pharmaceuticals, and counsels in areas such as patent strategy and freedom to operate as well as patent drafting, filing and prosecution.

He has experience at leading multidisciplinary teams of attorneys, such as those required for handling the portfolios of multinational corporate clients and for assisting in large-scale patent litigation.

He has also acted for a number of international and Australian clients including drug development companies, universities, research institutes and multinational pharmaceutical companies. He has specialised experience in guiding applications through to grant in jurisdictions in the Asia-Pacific region including India and China.

Slizys has advised on a number of patent issues of particular importance to the pharmaceutical industry such as extension of term provisions, both for Australia and internationally; the so-called Bolar provisions; and the patentability of applications directed to new uses and new formulations of known active ingredients.