Steven Baldwin

Partner Intellectual Property
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP

London +44 20 7953 2641

Steven Baldwin

Overview

Steven is an exceptional lawyer with a strong strategic mind.” - Chambers UK, 2025

Steven Baldwin is a partner in Kirkland’s IP Litigation Team in London with significant experience representing clients in patent, life sciences regulatory, trade mark, copyright and trade secrets matters. His practice focuses primarily on complex cross-border telecommunications (SEP/FRAND) and life sciences patent disputes, as well as high-profile trade mark and trade secrets cases. Steven frequently plays the role of global coordinating counsel charged with creating and driving forward the client’s litigation strategy across the world.

Steven has been involved in SEP/FRAND litigation in over 30 countries worldwide. Key recent SEP/FRAND cases include, Panasonic v Xiaomi, Lenovo v Ericsson, MediaTek v Huawei, InterDigital v Lenovo, Sisvel and Mitsubishi v Xiaomi/Oppo, IP Bridge v Huawei (intervening third party), Philips v TCL, and IPCom v Xiaomi. Each of those cases has involved novel aspects of SEP/FRAND law and Steven has been at the very forefront of developing the case law on SEP and FRAND issues in the United Kingdom and beyond. This includes obtaining a ‘first of its kind’ interim licence for Xiaomi from the English Court of Appeal in the Panasonic v Xiaomi case, which has been described as “groundbreaking” and “a spectacular success”.

Steven also regularly acts for the world’s largest pharmaceutical and biosimilar companies and has worked on numerous blockbuster medicines worth billions of dollars worldwide. Example blockbuster biologics and small molecule cases include Pfizer v Amgen, Boehringer v Teva, Regeneron v Kymab and Novartis v MedImmune. Steven also advises on the life sciences regulatory aspects of billion-dollar life sciences deals and has developed a particular interest in, and deep knowledge of, the law governing supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) – he is recognised as a thought leader and regular writer, speaker and commentator on the topic.

Accordingly, Steven’s case experience covers a broad range of technical fields including 3GPP, 3GPP2, IEEE, ITU-T, DMR, TETRA and other wireless (standardised and non-standardised) mobile telecommunications technologies, organic chemistry, antibody biologics, biological product development and screening platforms, formulation science, next generation cancer treatments, and e-cigarette/vaping technologies.

Steven also has significant non-contentious IP experience including billion-dollar IP portfolio purchases, global strategic IP portfolio strategies, and business-critical licensing deals, as well as advising on image rights, sponsorship and global celebrity advertising campaigns for world-renowned soccer clubs and automotive clients.

Steven is recognized in Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, JUVE Patent, IAM 1000, Managing IP, WTR 1000 and WIPR. Key testimonials include:

  • “A distinguished partner in Kirkland’s IP litigation team…with particular expertise in handling complex cross-border disputes. His exceptional analytical skills and ability to craft compelling arguments consistently lead to outstanding outcomes for his clients.”
  • “Steven Baldwin has won two trials for us in the past year. He focuses on finding the right strategy both legally and commercially and provides targeted, pragmatic advice which he then works very hard to implement. He is an excellent litigator that delivers results.”
  • “Steven Baldwin is a pleasure to work with. He is fantastic both in his grasp of the detail and clear strategic thinking.”
  • “Steven Baldwin is intelligent and reassuring – clients know they are in excellent hands.”
  • "Steven understands both the law and the tech, and you are not going to be disappointed when you work with him.”
  • “He is a wonderful litigator and coordinator of worldwide strategies, with fantastic client skills and keen perception of the key issues.”
  • “He is the best lawyer I have ever worked with, an extremely responsive, creative problem solver.”

Since joining Kirkland, Steven has been involved in the following matters:

  • Acting for the world’s largest and most successful telecommunications companies in complex and high-value global SEP/FRAND litigation. Key recent cases include, Panasonic v Xiaomi, Lenovo v Ericsson, MediaTek v Huawei, InterDigital v Lenovo, Sisvel and Mitsubishi v Xiaomi/Oppo, IP Bridge v Huawei (intervening third party), Philips v TCL and IPCom v Xiaomi.
  • Obtaining ‘first of its kind’ novel relief for Xiaomi in the form of an interim FRAND licence in the Panasonic v Xiaomi case.
  • Advising multiple US, European and Asian automotive OEMs in their SEP/FRAND licensing negotiations, strategy and litigation.
  • Advising SkyKick (post-acquisition by ConnectWise) in the UK Supreme Court in its well-known trade mark dispute case against Sky.
  • Advising Delta Air Lines on a significant victory in its trade mark dispute against global hotel company Marriott.
  • Advising AutoStore in its global patent dispute against Ocado relating to robotic storage technology.
  • Advising multiple multinational life sciences company in relation to clearing the path actions and generic entry in the UK.
  • Advising multiple multinational life sciences companies in relation to the life sciences regulatory aspects of billion-dollar life sciences deals, such as routes to marketing authorisation approval, clinical trial and HCP regulation, market and data exclusivity, drug pricing and reimbursement, GMP, compliance, cosmetics, OTC products and prescription medicines.
  • Advising clients across multiple sectors regarding registration, protection and exploitation of their trade marks, including national trade mark office and court litigation.
  • Advising a Norwegian tech company in the shipping industry on building an out-licensing program and generating revenue for its inventive technology relating to gas storage solutions.
  • Advising a multinational telecommunications company regarding litigation relating to (non-SEP) mobile telecommunications technology and trade secrets.
  • Coordinating global litigation for a multinational company relating to next generation consumer products.
  • Acted for an EQT-led consortium on the CHF 10.2 billion exclusive negotiations to acquire Nestlé Skin Health, a leading global skincare company.
  • Advising a multinational real estate investment and luxury hospitality brand in protecting the misuse of its trade marks and goodwill.

Prior to joining Kirkland, Steven also worked on the following matters:

  • Acted for another multinational telecommunications company in defending a market-leading global FRAND and SEP infringement action, including a jurisdictional challenge made against the English Court’s ability to grant global FRAND licences.
  • Teva v Boehringer Ingelheim — acted for Boehringer Ingelheim in its global formulation patent and SPC litigation against Teva in relation to BI’s blockbuster SPIRIVA® COPD inhalation product worth over $3 billion in sales worldwide.
  • Pfizer v Amgen — acted for Pfizer in a revocation action brought against Amgen to clear a path for Pfizer’s anti-PCSK9 hypercholesterolaemia antibody treatment.
  • MedImmune v Novartis — acted for Novartis in its revocation action against MedImmune in relation to Phage Display screening technology.
  • Acted for a global pharmaceutical company on product lifecycle management, vaccines platform technology and patent and SPC litigation relating to a blockbuster antibody product.
  • Acted for a global pharmaceutical company on achieving freedom to operate in the UK in relation to a blockbuster biologic next generation cancer treatment.
  • Acted for a global pharmaceutical company on a UK infringement and revocation action regarding a formulation patent covering a well-known topical product.
  • Acted for a global pharmaceutical company on a business-critical licensing dispute in relation to a complex and high-value global licence of a globally-renowned antiseptic product.
  • Acted for multiple quantitative hedge funds in former employee cases relating to the misuse of business-critical trade secrets.

Allen & Overy LLP, London, 2010–2018

More

Thought Leadership

Publications

“Trade Secrets 2022: Law and Practice”, Chambers and Partners Practice Guides, 2022

“Patent Litigation 2021: Trends and Developments”, Chambers and Partners Practice Guides, 2021 

“UK continues to retain role as a go to forum for SEP holders seeking worldwide royalties”, AIPLA Standards and Open Source (SOS) Committee Newsletter, 2020

“Trade Secrets 2020: Law and Practice”, Chambers and Partners Practice Guides, 2020

“Asking AI to explain itself – a problem of sufficiency”, Managing Intellectual Property, 2020

“From Takeda to Teva v Merck: Are we treading the right path on combination product SPCs?” (Part 2 of 2) European Intellectual Property Review, 2017

“The definition of product in the SPC Regulation: (Part 1 of 2) What's in a name?” European Intellectual Property Review, 2017

“Teva v Gilead, Abraxis v Comptroller and Wobben v Siemens kick of 2017's patent cases”, The IPKat, 2017

Seminars

Speaker, “SEP case law developments in the EU (UK, France and Netherlands)”, Fair Standards Alliance General Assembly, 2020

Speaker, “Should FRAND Licensing Rates be Global?” and “An International Trade and Enforcement Perspective on FRAND”, OxFirst Intellectual Property and Competition Forum, Brussels, 2020

Speaker, “SPCs - Recent Developments”, EPLAW Congress, Brussels, 2019

Speaker, “Introduction to SPCs and Second Medical Use”, ERA Conference, Brussels, 2018

Speaker, Roundtable on Pharmaceutical Incentives, ERA Conference, Brussels, 2018

Speaker, “Identifying the Effects of Brexit on the Protection and Enforcement of IP Rights”, The Knowledge Group, Webcast, 2017

Speaker, “Update and forecast on SPCs”, EPLAW Congress, Brussels, 2016

Press Mentions

Quoted "A (hitchhiker’s) guide to willingness in FRAND", Managing Intellectual Property, March 2021

Quoted "Bombshell IP Ruling Could Start Race to International Courthouses", Law.com, August 2020

Quoted "Lawyer reactions: Unwired Planet ‘brings certainty’", Intellectual Property Magazine, August 2020

Quoted “SPC decision spells bad news for second medical use”, Managing Intellectual Property, July 2020

Quoted “Court of Appeal rules Xiaomi may continue to sell products in the Netherlands”, JUVE Patent, March 2020

Quoted “COVID-19: Patents are not adequate incentives for vaccine research”, Managing Intellectual Property, March 2020

Quoted “What Brexit Will Mean For Intellectual Property Law”, Law360, January 2020

Quoted “Untangling the wires of global FRAND”, JUVE Patent, October 2019

Quoted “FRAND At UK's Top Court: What You Need To Know”, Law360, October 2019

Quoted “In-House Counsel Should Pay Attention to Court Rulings in FRAND Litigation”, Corporate Counsel, August 2019

Quoted “Stockpile fears - The SPC manufacturing waiver has now come into effect, with both the generic and innovator industries unhappy with aspects of the new legislation”, Intellectual Property Magazine, August 2019

Quoted “Analysis: CJEU SPC Basic Patent Ruling 'Doesn't give any more clarity'”, Managing Intellectual Property, August 2018

Memberships & Affiliations

The Law Society of England and Wales

AIPPI: International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 2012, Admitted to practice as a Solicitor of England and Wales

Education

  • Oxford UniversityPostgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice2013
  • College of LawLegal Practice Course2009
  • University of OxfordB.A., Jurisprudence2008
    First class mark in Patent and Copyright Law