Patrícia Paias

Patrícia Paias leads the Life Sciences and IP Litigation practice at MFA Legal & Tech. Her work focuses on the intersection of legal rigor and scientific vanguard, integrating the firm’s technological vision into one of the global economy's most innovative sectors.

Specialising in high-complexity projects, Patrícia provides daily support to clients across the Life Sciences & Healthcare, Energy, and Mobility industries. Her practice centers on comprehensive product development strategies, from R&D to market launch, as well as resolving critical regulatory disputes and patent litigation.

With over 20 years of experience, Patrícia’s career is marked by international leadership roles and a robust background in Intellectual Property and Regulatory Law. Before joining MFA, she held strategic in-house positions at leading pharmaceutical multinationals, including Lead IP Litigation Counsel at Sandoz International GmbH (Munich) and Director International IP, ACE at Gilead Sciences Inc. (Dublin). She also gained professional experience at the European Patent Office (Directorate 5.2.5, International and Legal PCT Affairs) in Munich. Domestically, she developed her practice at prestigious firms such as Vieira de Almeida (VdA), DLA Piper, and Antas da Cunha ECIJA.

In Portugal, her practice focuses on patent and regulatory litigation, international transactions, and regulatory affairs, covering Market Access, Regulatory Compliance, Data Exclusivity, and Pricing and Reimbursement strategies. She provides specialised counsel in niche areas such as Post-Approval Extensions (PTEs), Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs), Biosimilars, and Orphan Drugs, with a focus on defining and defending strategies for the protection and valuation of innovation assets.