Aoife Murphy

Biography

Aoife is an experienced commercial litigator with particular emphasis on intellectual property. She advises a wide range of indigenous and multinational clients on all aspects of intellectual property issues, patents, trade marks, copyright and design-related intellectual property matters. She is particularly experienced in complex multi-jurisdictional patent disputes and has acted in many of the patent cases that have come before the Irish Courts in recent years. She has been involved in claims of infringement and revocation of patents which protect pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biotechnology and electronic point-of-sale systems.

She has acted for manufacturers and brand owners in trade mark, passing off and unfair competition litigation. She also represents clients in copyright, licensing and ownership disputes.

Aoife sits on the Intellectual Property Law Committee of the Law Society of Ireland and is a member of the Copyright Association of Ireland. She is co-author of Technology & IP Law (2008: Tottell Publishing/Law Society of Ireland).
Aoife appears in international legal directories and is recommended in the International Who’s Who of Patent Lawyers and the International Who’s Who of Life Science Lawyers. She is also recommended as a leading lawyer by Chambers Europe, The Legal 500 EMEA, International Asset Management (IAM Patent 1000), Managing Intellectual Property (MIP) and WIPR leaders.

Aoife qualified as a solicitor in 1998, having obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree (B.Comm) and a Bachelor of Law degree (LLB) from University College Galway. She has been with Whitney Moore since 1995 and became a partner in 2005.

Aoife is consistently recommended by international legal journals such as The Legal 500 EMEA, Chambers Europe and IAM Patent 1000 and has been since 2010. Quotes include:

‘Aoife’s counsel is frequently sought by clients in the life sciences sector in relation to patent, copyright and trade mark infringements. Interviewees describe her as a “leading litigator” with a strong reputation in the market.’
Chambers Europe 2018

‘Aoife is recommended as a “Leading Individual” in the area of IP and noted for her recent advice to Teva in patent revocation proceedings against Amgen.’
The Legal 500 EMEA 2017

‘Aoife is recommended as one of the World’s Leading Patent Professionals and described as  “top-tier” and a “fantastic professional” with abundant courtroom experience’.
IAM Patent 1000 2017

‘Moving up the rankings, Aoife is recommended for her specialist IP advice to pharmaceutical and medical companies on a variety of contentious patent, trade mark and copyright matters. Recent work has involved infringement and revocation proceedings, as well as alleged breach of confidence. Sources appreciate that she is “very responsive, has good commercial awareness and is very approachable”.’
Chambers Europe 2017

‘Whitney Moore has taken centre stage in some of Europe’s biggest pharmaceutical spats of late. Aoife Murphy ascends to gold-tier status on the back of excellent reviews. Clients describe her as “great technically and has experience in important cases. She is incredibly thorough and level headed”.’
IAM Patent 1000 2016

‘The “highly competent” Whitney Moore specialises in patent litigation, where it represents multinational pharmaceuticals companies. On the trade mark side, it recently represented Garmin in a High Court dispute. Aoife Murphy heads the team.’
The Legal 500 EMEA 2016

‘Aoife Murphy is recommended and is noted for her excellent reputation for representing clients in the pharmaceutical sector in contentious IP cases.’
Chambers Europe 2015

‘Murphy is a “canny operator. She gets her fair share of instructions from the big pharmaceutical companies – she has a very interesting practice and is a top practitioner in the field. She’s better informed than many and has a clearer idea of what’s going on in the patent scene, coupled with an understanding of litigation as a practical matter”.’
IAM Patent 1000 2015

‘Head of Whitney Moore’s IP group Aoife Murphy is described as “simply superb”.’
The Legal 500 EMEA 2015

‘Aoife Murphy is described by clients as “collected, astute and she brings a measure of calm to proceedings. She is a pleasure to deal with and understands what the clients need”.’
Chambers Europe 2014