Legally, scientifically and technologically savvy, Ms Shanker is the go-to person for patent protection, prosecution, pre-grant and post-grant oppositions, appeals, revocations, plant variety protection as she manages an extensive portfolio of patents. She and her team, an ensemble of lawyers-cum-scientists, engineers, biotechnologists, chemists and physicists - also provide straightforward advice in litigation. Archana has enabled the firm to successfully secure patent protection for Nivolumab after 6 oppositions, Ertugliflozin, Delgocitinib for Japan Tobacco and Luseogliflozin for Taisho after several pre-grant oppositions. It also successfully defended several ICT (SEP) patents and mechanical inventions before the Patent Office; secured patent for Pfizer for Tofacitinib while checking delay caused by benami pre-grant oppositions.
Under her leadership, the firm has succeeded in opposing ‘pre-grant opposition’ to a patent sought by Pfizer. The case also finds mention in the FT Innovative Lawyers Asia-Pacific 2021 special report as a study on innovation in the Asia-Pacific region supporting Anand and Anand’s standing amongst one of the most innovative law firms. She has led from the front in cases returning noteworthy judgements like Monsanto’s Supreme Court order, Ferid Allani case, Pioneer Overseas Corporation, Novo Nordisk, Roche, Merck, Sterlite and so on.
An astute lawyer and patent professional, her work has earned her accolades from some of the most prestigious benchmarking tables like Euromoney, Managing IP, IAM, Expert Guides, Chambers and Partners. Speaking of her, IAM identifies Archana as “one of the most successful female practitioners in the market”.
Besides her excellent work in complex patent prosecution and equally complex litigation matters, Archana is credited with advising the government on much of the country’s existing patent law.
Driven by the firm’s vision of 360 Degrees IP & Beyond, Archana has been spreading IP awareness through thought-provoking nuanced pieces in ‘Patent Rewind’ a blog run by her team besides also writing for leading national and international publications like Managing IP, World IP Review, AsiaIP Magazine and a series of publications from Law Business Research. She has also co-authored the Halsbury’s Laws of India chapter on Patents. Ms Shanker also occupies a place on the editorial panel of Life Sciences IP Review (LSIPR).
She is also a profound orator who regularly speaks at national and international forums sharing her insights on subject matters ranging from pharmaceuticals, life sciences, software, mechanics and electronics to biodiversity.
Domestic and International clients trust her understanding of the key drivers of the industry and the science behind them. Business-minded, cost-conscious and a thought leader, Archana is ever-ready to take challenges head-on and shift paradigms.
Professional Involvement:
• IAM’s first ever Women in Patents event’s advisory board
• First woman president of Federation of IP Attorneys - India Section
• Vice president, North India for Licensing Executives Society International
• Nominated by FICPI on EPO’s Standing Advisory Committee 2021-23
• Member - Asian Patent Attorneys Association and Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle (AIPPI)
Awards and Rankings:
• Ranked in Chambers and Partners Asia Pacific Guide 2022
• Among MIP Top 250 Women IP Professionals and IP Star 2016 - 2021
• Recognised as Legal 500 Leading Individual
• IAM 2022 Global Leader
• IAM Patent 1000 World’s Leading Patent Professionals 2021
• Elite Practitioner - Asialaw Profiles and Leading Lawyers 2022
• Global Leader in IP Patents - WWL Global Leaders 2021
• Features amongst Powerful Women in IP India 2021 by World IP Forum
• World’s Leading Patent Practitioner- IAM 300 and IAM 1000
• Consistently featured in Expert Guides Women in Business Law (Patents)-2016-2020
• Chambers and Partners Spotlight for Life Sciences 2016 – 2020
• IFLR Euromoney Asia Women In Business Law-2019
• Ranked in Whos Who Legal – Patents and Life Sciences Guide – 2015-19
“To lead, learning and sharing are the two constants”
“Senior partner Archana Shanker heads the firm’s patents and designs practice, where she is noted for her excellent work in complex patent prosecution and is credited with advising the government on much of the country’s existing patent law”
Asia IP
At the top of her game, Archana Shanker is a zealous patent practitioner setting new patent narratives in Indian IP jurisprudence while heading the Patents & Designs department at Anand and Anand, a Tier 1 IP law firm.
