William E. Solander

Partner
Solander William

Bill Solander, a co-chair of Venable's IP Litigation – Life Sciences Group, represents pharmaceutical and other clients in high-stakes patent disputes involving all aspects of life sciences. Bill has secured victories in a wide variety of forums, including federal district and appellate courts, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), and civil arbitrations. His experience includes prescription antiarrhythmic drugs, protein synthesis, new battery technologies, and prescription sleep aids. Bill has particularly deep experience in Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) litigation.

Bill has developed significant knowledge of IP laws and civil justice systems outside the United States and has been on trial teams in Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, and the United Kingdom, among other countries. Because of his global view, many clients in the United States turn to him for strategic advice on their international business and legal activities.

Experience

Representative Matters

  • Represented Sanofi Genzyme against several generics on patents relating to Cerdelga® for the treatment of Gaucher disease (D. Del.)
  • Represented Grünenthal against Antecip in contested proceedings in the USPTO relating to the use of bisphosphonates for the treatment of chronic pain (PTAB)
  • Represented Sanofi against several generics on patents relating to Jevtana® for the treatment of prostate cancer (D.N.J., PTAB, Fed. Cir.)
  • Represented Sanofi against several generics on patents relating to Multaq® for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (D. Del., Fed. Cir.)
  • Represented Hoechst GmbH against Genentech, Inc., in an arbitration before the ICC International Court of Arbitration concerning royalties due under a terminated license involving eukaryotic protein expression technologies, and Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH against Genentech and Biogen-IDEC on patents covering those technologies
  • Represented LEO Pharma against Tolmar Inc. and Perrigo Inc. on patents related to Taclonex, a topical anti-psoriatic medication
  • Represented Sepracor Pharmaceuticals against Sandoz Inc., et al. on patents related to Clarinex®, an allergy medication
  • Represented Sanofi against Sandoz Inc., et al. on a patent related to Ambien CR®, a sleep aid
  • Represented Sanofi in Sanofi v. Sandoz Inc., et al. on a patent related to Eloxatin®, a platinum-containing anti-cancer drug
  • Represented Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation against Mylan Pharmaceuticals on a patent related to Femara®, an aromatase inhibitor
  • Represented Bristol-Myers Squibb against Repligen in an inventorship lawsuit related to Bristol-Myers Squibb’s protein-fusion drug Orencia®
  • Represented Sanofi and Bristol-Myers Squibb against Apotex, et al. on patents covering Plavix®, a leading anti-thrombotic agent
  • Represented Sanofi and Bristol-Myers Squibb against Sun Pharmaceuticals on a patent related to the crystalline form of the active ingredient in Plavix®
  • Represented Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation against Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. on patents covering Lamisil®, an anti-fungal medicine
  • Represented Bristol-Myers Squibb against Rhône-Poulenc Rorer, Inc. et al. on patents related to a semi-synthetic process technology for making Taxol®
  • Represented Yamanouchi against Danbury Pharmacal on a patent related to Pepcid®, an anti-ulcer drug

Representative Clients

  • Astellas Pharma
  • Bristol-Myers Squibb 
  • Gilead
  • Hoechst GmbH
  • LEO Pharma
  • Novartis
  • Sanofi
  • Sunovion Pharmaceuticals
  • Warner Chilcott

Insights

Credentials
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Education

  • J.D. Chicago Kent College of Law 1995
  • B.S. Chemistry California Polytechnic State University 1991

Bar Admissions

  • New York

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • Speaks and writes frequently on litigation strategy, polymorph patents, and Hatch-Waxman litigation

Recognition
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Mentored by the renowned patent litigator Robert Baechtold until his retirement, Bill has earned a “fantastic reputation” as “a truly excellent patent litigator” (Chambers USA).

  • The Best Lawyers in America, 2012 – 2024
  • LMG Life Sciences, 2016 – 2020
  • Benchmark Litigation, Local Litigation Star, 2020
  • Managing Intellectual PropertyIP Star, 2013 – 2020, 2022 – 2023
  • Chambers USA, 2008 – 2018
  • IAM Patent 1000, 2012 – 2018, 2021 – 2023
  • Super Lawyers, New York Metro, 2013 – 2023
  • Legal 500, Patent Litigation – Full Coverage, 2014, 2016 – 2018, 2021, 2023
  • IAM Life Sciences 250, 2010 – 2011
  • Who's Who Legal, Patents, 2020
  • Legal Media Group, The World’s Leading Patent Law Practitioners, 2007