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Saif Khan

Partner – IP Enforcement

PRACTICE AREA/INDUSTRY FOCUS

Litigation Department and heading the Enforcement team

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Mr. Saif Khan is working as a Partner with Anand and Anand in the Litigation Department and heading the White Collar Crime Practice and IP Enforcement team of the firm. He completed is schooling from Sherwood College in Nainital .He is a commerce graduate from Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, Pune University post which he pursued his law degree from Jamia Millia Islamia University. He has also done Masters Diploma in Business Administration from Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, Pune. Prior to Anand and Anand he was working with British Petroleum (on the rolls of Castrol India Ltd) for nearly two years as Manager – Legal Trade Mark Operations. He has also practiced as a trial lawyer during the initial four years of his practice. Mr. Khan has a vast experience of handling contentious Criminal matters relating to corporate frauds and technological frauds and has been representing conglomerates in contentious criminal matters. He also has on ground experience of strategizing and conducting IP enforcement actions both under the Civil and Criminal law (Anti-Piracy and Anti-Counterfeiting including Customs Enforcement of IP Rights). He has distinctive experience of working, coordinating and liaising with the law enforcement agencies to ensure focused solutions for IP infringement. Mr. Khan also represents the Firm at various forums on conducting IP awareness workshops with government and non-government agencies across the country. He regularly appears and conducts trials (Civil and Criminal) and extend arguments on behalf of firm’s clients in contentious matters before the various courts throughout the Indian jurisdiction.

Dr. Neeti Wilson

Partner

PRACTICE AREA/INDUSTRY FOCUS

IP Consultancy, Patents, Designs, Plant Variety, Bio resources, IP Portfolio Asset Management, Licensing, Technology Transfer, IP Valuation and Strategy

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Dr. Wilson specializes in intellectual property management and protection with customized planning as per client’s business needs and IP monetization-related strategic advice besides other IP areas including licensing, management, opposition, revocation and infringement.

Dr. Wilson is a lawyer with a Ph.D in applied sciences making her an expert in handling technical as well legal issues effectively. She appears before various legal authorities including Indian Patents, Designs and Trademark Office, Plant Variety Authority, National Biodiversity Authority, Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) and Judicial Courts in India.

Dr. Wilson is an active member of various international organizations and is Executive Committee Member of the India chapter of APAA and also India representative of its Emerging IP Rights Committee.

Dr. Wilson has been selected as UN Consultant for developing training Manual for Intellectual Property Management and Technology Transfer Licensing with ESCAP-APCTT. She was a member of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Committee for Developing Guidelines for IP Management and Commercialization of Technologies.

Dr. Wilson regularly attends national and international conferences and is keen on spreading awareness related to IPM, Licensing and Biological Resources.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

  • Recommended Individual IAM Strategy 300 (2019)
  • Recommended Individual IAM Patent 1000 (2019)
  • Asia IP expert (2016)
  • Board Member of Zonal Technology Management and Business Planning and Development (ZTMBPD) Unit, IARI (Indian Agricultural Research Institute)

AFFILIATIONS

  • APAA – Asian Patent Attorneys Association
  • AIPPI – International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property
  • DHCBA – Delhi High Court Bar Association
  • FICPI – International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys
  • IBA – International Bar Association
  • ISCA – Indian Science Congress Association
  • LES International – Licensing Executives Society

QUALIFICATIONS

  • TERI School of Advanced Studies, Delhi – Ph.D.
  • Pt. R S.S.University, Raipur – Masters in Science
  • NALSAR, Hyderabad – PGD Patent Law
  • IME College, Sahibabad – LL.B.
  • Holy Cross Convent, Raipur – High School
  • UPOV – WIPO – Plant Variety Protection

RECENT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTS

  • International Workshop on IP Management and Technology Licensing; Bangkok; June 2019; Resource Person as UN Consultant
  • Global IP Convention; Bengaluru; January 2019; Session Speaker: Recent Monsanto judgment by the Indian Supreme Court
  • National Biodiversity Authority Committee Meeting; Chennai; December 2018; Stakeholder representation

Vaishali Mittal

Litigation Partner & Strategist

BIOGRAPHY

Vaishali Mittal is a litigation partner and strategist at Anand and Anand. Vaishali has been engaged as a lead in many firsts and also some of the most ground-breaking IP matters including India’s first Anti-AntiSuit injunction, India’s first final judgment on Standard Essential Patents interpretation of Section 8 of the Patents Act to the benefit of patent-holders; first compulsory licensing order for radio broadcasters under Copyright Act; India’s first judgment declaring colour combination (green & yellow) a well-known trademark; landmark judgement on trans-border reputation, landmark judgment on aggravated damages being the highest ever quantum in a copyright, trademark and design infringement case, to name a few. She is better known as “leading light” in India for Standard Essential Patents, an epithet given by IAM 300.

PRACTICE FOCUS

Vaishali focuses on litigation and dispute resolution. She has over 19 years of experience in litigation, prosecution, drafting and advisory work to various Fortune 500 companies and other leading organizations worldwide on disputes concerning patent, trademarks, copyright infringement and passing off, etc. She frequently appears before the Supreme Court of India and the High Court of Delhi where she handles some of the most hotly contested matters to protect the patents of global pharma majors and the mark of leading businesses. Given her court craft and innovative strategies, a leading publication once described her as the “engine of Anand and Anand’s patent practice, an outstanding advocate and deal negotiator”. Another celebrated publication recently ranked her amongst noteworthy IP litigators while identifying her as “a rising star in the litigation space especially noted for her expertise in SEPs”.

Vaishali has been consistently recognised as a leader in intellectual property by some of the most prestigious bench-marking tables. She has been complimented by her clients that “Her strategies reflect global insight and commercially well-informed approach”. Outside courts, Vaishali combines her knowledge and ingenuity in penning article for renowned publications like GTDT, Asia IP, MIP etc.

 

REPRESENTATIVE LEGAL MATTERS

The following is a partial listing of some of the path-breaking matters handled by Ms Mittal.

  • InterDigital Corp & Ors v Xiaomi Corp & Ors – India’s first Anti-Anti Suit injunction
  • Multi-year, Multi-technology Patent Cross-license Agreement between Nokia and Lenovo, and settlement of all pending patent litigation worldwide.
  • Renaissance Hotel Holdings Inc v B Vijaya Sai & Ors:- first decision from the Supreme Court of India clearly distinguising between section 29 (2) and section 29 (4) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999.
  • Lysosomal Storage Disorders Support Society (LSDSS) vs State of Karnataka – represented the petitioner pro bono and secured free medical aid for children braving rare genetic disorders after several years of legal battle with the State and the Centre.
  • Represented Koninklijke Philips N.V. before the Delhi High Court in two heavily contested patent battles namely: Philips v. KK Bansal; Philips v. Rakesh Bansal, securing India’s first final judgment on the issue of Standard Essential Patents.
  • Represented Nokia in various pre-suit mediation claims concerning infringement of Standard Essential Patents before the Delhi High Court.
  • Represented Koninklijke Philips N.V. before the Delhi High Court in two landmark heavily contested design and infringement of trademark lawsuits namely: Philips v. Amazestore & Ors. and Philips v. Amitkumar Kantilal Jain & Ors, securing a landmark judgment on the highest ever quantum of damages in a copyright, trademark and design infringement case in India.
  • Represented Astrazeneca AB before the Delhi High Court against leading pharmaceutical companies Emcure Pharmaceuticals Limited and MSN Laboratories Limited in a highly contested patent infringement lawsuit, securing an ad interim injunction in favor of Astrazeneca.
  • Represented Toyota Motor Corporation, before the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India, in Toyota v. Deepak Mangal, India’s landmark judgment on the issue of trans-border reputation.
  • Represented John Deere in Deere & Co. & Anr. v. Mr. Malkit Singh & Ors.; India’s first judgment recognizing a color combination of green and yellow as a trademark.
  • Represented John Deere in Deere & Co. v. S. Harcharan Singh & Ors.; India’s first judgment declaring a color-combination as a well-known trademark.
  • Represented Koninklijke Philips N.V. in Maj. Sukesh Behl v. Philips; securing a landmark judgment providing much-needed relief to patent holders from strict liability under the disclosure regime of section 8 of the Patents Act, 1970.
  • Represented Sanofi S.A., a pharmaceutical company in Sanofi v. Kirti B. Maheshwari before the Delhi High Court, which saw the first instance of judicial recognition that “trade-secret” disputes could be considered as “commercial disputes” under the Commercial Courts Act, 2015. This is despite there being no statutory recognition of trade secrets as intellectual property in India.
  • Represented Vifor Pharma International (Galenica Group), a pharmaceutical company in Vifor v. High Court of Delhi in a writ petition before the Delhi High Court resulting in, to the relief of scores of intellectual property owners, a stay of the transfer of at least 20,000 intellectual property lawsuits (valued under INR 1 crore) from the High Court to subordinate district courts, in the aftermath of the promulgation of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015.
  • Represented BIC Cello Limited, before the Delhi High Court in a pre-suit mediation namely: BIC Cello v. Flair Pens Limited, settling a high stake claim between the companies concerning design infringement and trade dress passing off.
  • Represented Music Broadcast Limited, formerly known as Music Broadcast Pvt Ltd in India’s first compulsory licensing complaint & secured the first twenty licenses in its favour.
  • Secured declarations of Well-Known status of several trademarks as per section 2 (1) (zg) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, including; Mitsubishi; Pulse, JIO, Honeywell; Microsoft; WWE, Rajnigandha etc.
  • Appointed as a Mediator by the Delhi High Court to facilitate an amicable settlement of complex copyright and design dispute.
  • Led the Intellectual Property arm of the team representing Embibe (Individual Learning Private Limited), an Artificial Intelligence-based start-up pioneering in the education industry, in its acquisition by one of the world’s biggest companies, Reliance Industries, in a multimillion-dollar deal in India.
  • Assisted the Sports Development Authority of India in the development of a “Sports Code” for India with a writ petition seeking its implementation presently pending before the Delhi High Court;
  • Legal advisor, assisting and spearheading various transactions with leading companies securing protection for their Intellectual Property and other legal compliances in India on issues such as Advertisement-Media campaigns, regulation requirements for electric products imports, imports of milk and other health hygiene products for infants etc.

 

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Vaishali is also the creative mind behind ‘IPONOMICS’, a picturesque coffee table book co-authored by her compiling legendary IP matters; ‘Origami’, an in-house knowledge manual on Best Practices and Procedures of IP practice in India, for law firms and companies. She also conceptualized and created ‘IP Thinker’ a digital newspaper to celebrate World IP Day, 2020. Outside of courts, Vaishali combines her knowledge and ingenuity of a writer in authoring various chapters and articles in renowned publications like GTDT, Asia IP, MIP etc. Some of her recent works are:

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

  • Member of AIPPI
  • Member of APAA
  • Member of INTA
  • Bar Council of India
  • Delhi High Court Bar Association

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Always ready to give back to the society, Vaishali represented pro bono the Lysosmal Storage Disorders Support Society (LSDSS) in a writ petition which, after five years of legal tussle, resulted in the Karnataka High Court directing the State and the Centre to forthwith to provide Rs 6 cr for free medical treatment of 45 children suffering from life-threatening rare disorders. The order’s ripple effect manifested itself in Madras HC coming to the aid of patients with life-threatening rare diseases. Setting this is a precedent, several other High courts have now passed similar orders.

In another matter, which is the first civil suit to be filed during the Lockdown, the cost paid by the defendant went towards the treatment of a COVID-19 patient.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

Recognitions at firm level:

  • Nokia and Lenovo Multi-year, Multi-technology Patent Cross-license Agreement – IBLJ Deal of the Year 2021
  • InterDigital vs Xiaomi – IBLJ Deal of the Year 2020
  • Koninklijke Philips Electronics Vs. Rajesh Bansal – “Impact Case of the Year” at MIP Asia Awards 2019; “Milestone Case of the Year” at Legal Era Awards, 2019;

Individual Recognitions

  • WIPR Leader 2022 – Patent and Trademark
  • Benchmark Litigation Asia Pacific Litigation Star 2022
  • Leading Individual – Legal 500 Asia Pacific Rankings
  • IBLJ A list lawyer 2021-22
  • Ranked in IP Litigation department of Chambers and Partners Asia Pacific Guide 2022
  • Ranked amongst Top IP Litigators in India 2021 by Thomson Reuters Asian Legal Business
  • Amongst Top 10 Women in IP – ASSOCHAM IP Excellence Awards 2021
  • Managing IP IP Star 2021
  • WIPR Diversity Women in IP 2021
  • Amongst ‘Top Individual Lawyers’ for ‘IP’ and ‘Pharma & Life Sciences’ -Forbes Legal Powerlist 2020
  • ‘Leading Individual’ – Legal 500 Asia Pacific Rankings. Recognised as “leading name in patented technology litigation, specifically regarding SEPs in the telecoms sector.”
  • World’s Leading Strategists – IAM 300 Global Leaders
  • World’s Leading Patent Professionals IAM 1000 & IAM 300  (2021)
  • IP Expert – AsiaIP – 2022
  • Women in Business Law – Expert Guides – 2020
  • Super 50 Lawyers in India – Asian Legal Business – 2020
  • Top 15 Dispute Lawyers in India – Asian Legal Business – 2020
  • World’s Leading Strategists – IAM 300 Global Leaders – 2020
  • World’s Leading Patent Professionals IAM 1000 & IAM 300  – 2022
  • Best Trademark Lawyer – Euromoney’s Women in Business Law  – 2020
  • Recognized amongst the “Top 15 Dispute Lawyers in India” across all verticals by Asian Business Law Journal in 2019;
  • Recognized amongst the “Star Women in Law” Awards at the Legal Era-Woman in Law Awards 2019
  • Recommended lawyer by Expert guides-patents 2019
  • Winner of “40 under 40 – Rising Star award” at the Legal Era Awards, 2017

BAR ADMISSION AND EDUCATION

  • L.L.B (Gold-medalist) from Jamia Milia Islamia University, Delhi (2000-2003);
  • Bachelor of Arts (History), Delhi University (1997-2000)

Vaishali was called to the Bar in year 2003 and has been practicing ever since.