PLG Introduction to Healthcare Business Development and Licensing Course – March 2026

Format: Training course
Date: 11-13 March 2026
Time: 5 New Street Square, London, EC4A 3TW
Registrations: Book online (paid event)

The Introduction to Healthcare Business Development & Licensing training course runs over three days and focuses on the key elements of licensing and business development. Covering 10 key topics, the course is delivered by a faculty of experienced business development practitioners in their area of expertise, providing guidance on best practice using case study material.

Ash Earl, a senior associate in our chemistry and life sciences team, will deliver the session on ‘’Intellectual Property Rights’’ as part of the course.

This session provides an overview of intellectual property (IP) rights, with a particular focus on patents and their critical role in the pharma and biotech industries.

It will cover:

• How intellectual property rights fit into a company’s overall business plan.
• An overview of the different types of IP, including what is and is not patentable.
• The key steps in the patenting process.
• The distinction between owning a patent and having freedom to operate.

By the end of the session, attendees will have a practical understanding of the IP rights most relevant to healthcare companies, and how IP can complement and influence business strategy. This knowledge will equip participants to ask the right questions about intellectual property when evaluating or working on commercial deals.

Speaker

Ash Earl, Senior Associate and European & UK Patent Attorney

Ash is a European and UK Patent Attorney and advises clients in the pharmaceutical and chemistry sectors. He specialises in small molecule pharmaceuticals and has expertise working with new chemical entities, medical uses, polymorphs, dosage regimen, salt forms and deuterated compounds.

Ash has extensive experience at drafting patent specifications, global patent prosecution, and defending and opposing European patents. He has helped clients to secure patent protection for their commercial products in key territories, including the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Ash has successfully represented clients in high-stakes opposition and appeal proceedings at the European Patent Office, involving marketed drugs and other products. He has also performed due diligence exercises for patent portfolios, provided freedom to operate opinions and helped his clients to evaluate partnering opportunities.