Member Profiles

In the biological and chemical fields, Michael Marchant’s expertise comes in all sizes. He works on gene sequences, immunology and antibody technology. He has experience in small molecule pharmaceuticals and cellular technology, particularly stem cell biology. He also works on polymer technology, diagnostic technology and medical devices. Michael works closely with clients to advise on European and global filing strategies. That extends to obtaining and opposing patent term extensions (SPCs) and advising on regulatory and orphan drug issues. He is regularly involved in contentious work, including due diligence advice and infringement and validity opinions, and attendance at EPO opposition and appeal proceedings. Michael also regularly provides opinions on registered and unregistered design infringement and validity, as well as being heavily involved in registered design filings. He is a member of Murgitroyd’s design group. Michael read Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge, where he specialised in plant sciences (including plant pathology and plant genetics). He joined Murgitroyd in 2008 to head the London Office patent group, having spent almost six years at a leading London firm of patent attorneys.

Holly deals with all manner of Private Client work but has particular expertise in the area of elderly and vulnerable clients. Holly joined Morr & Co in September 2006 as a Trainee Solicitor and qualified as an Assistant Solicitor into the Private Client department in October 2008. She became a Partner in October 2015 and took over as Department Head in 2016. Holly is an experienced Court of Protection practitioner (contentious and non-contentious), with a background in wider private client law.  She holds a number of professional appointments and qualifications, including being a panel deputy, panel guardian and a director of national organisations Solicitors for the Elderly and the Professional Deputies Forum (of which she was a founding member).  She also sits on the Court of Protection Rules Committee.  Academically, Holly is the author of A Practical Guide to Assessing Mental Capacity (Law Publishing), a co-author of the Law Society’s Elderly Client Handbook (6th Edition) and Finance & Law for the Older Client (Lexis Nexis Butterworths).  She also lectures for MBL and various other organisations. Holly was named as one of ePrivateclient’s Top 35 Under 35 in 2015 and 2016, as well as being ranked as an individual in both Chambers and Legal 500 over several years. She was a winner of Women in Law 2018 for her work with vulnerable clients. In 2021 Holly was named as Surrey Law Society Private Client Lawyer of the year for the third time, as well as winning Surrey Lawyer of the Year, having been shortlisted twice previously. She was also shortlisted for Today’s Wills & Probate Industry Champion at the British Wills and Probate Awards 2021, along with a shortlisting for the wider team for Private Client Team of the Year.

Samantha leads the products law and life sciences team at Kennedys. She has over 22 years of experience and became a partner in the London office in 2015.  She advises on recalls, public inquiries and product liability claims (including group litigation orders), with a focus on the pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer sectors. The claims she handles are often of a commercially sensitive nature. She represents insurers and manufacturers in some of the largest and most high-profile matters, overseeing claims in the UK and internationally. Notably, Samantha has led hugely significant cases which have shaped the development of product liability law in Europe. She has headed not only the team which successfully defended the DePuy ULTAMET Metal on Metal Hip Litigation, a complex product liability group action culminating in a landmark judgment in the High Court (Gee & Others v DePuy International Limited) but also the team which successfully defended medical device manufacturers in the UK Supreme Court in the case of Hastings v Finsbury Orthopaedics Ltd (1) and Stryker UK Ltd (2).

Samantha leads our products law and life sciences team. She has over 22 years of experience and became a partner in the London office in 2015. She advises on recalls, public inquiries and product liability claims (including group litigation orders), with a focus on the pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer sectors. The claims she handles are often of a commercially sensitive nature. She represents insurers and manufacturers in some of the largest and most high-profile matters, overseeing claims in the UK and internationally. Notably, Samantha has led hugely significant cases which have shaped the development of product liability law in Europe. She has headed not only the team which successfully defended the DePuy ULTAMET Metal on Metal Hip Litigation, a complex product liability group action culminating in a landmark judgment in the High Court (Gee & Others v DePuy International Limited) but also the team which successfully defended medical device manufacturers in the UK Supreme Court in the case of Hastings v Finsbury Orthopaedics Ltd (1) and Stryker UK Ltd (2).

Samantha leads our products law and life sciences team. She has over 22 years of experience and became a partner in the London office in 2015. She advises on recalls, public inquiries and product liability claims (including group litigation orders), with a focus on the pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer sectors. The claims she handles are often of a commercially sensitive nature. She represents insurers and manufacturers in some of the largest and most high-profile matters, overseeing claims in the UK and internationally. Notably, Samantha has led hugely significant cases which have shaped the development of product liability law in Europe. She has headed not only the team which successfully defended the DePuy ULTAMET Metal on Metal Hip Litigation, a complex product liability group action culminating in a landmark judgment in the High Court (Gee & Others v DePuy International Limited) but also the team which successfully defended medical device manufacturers in the UK Supreme Court in the case of Hastings v Finsbury Orthopaedics Ltd (1) and Stryker UK Ltd (2).