Ashwin Sapra has joined Luthra & Luthra, New Delhi, as the group head of the Intellectual Property and Pharmaceutical practice, bolstering the firm's capability in patent law. Sapra holds an LLM in IP and Antitrust Law from Duke University, and has over ten years of experience in the field, six of them in the United States. He previously was the Senior Manager of Legal Affairs at Ascend Therapeutics, Virginia.

Sapra has extensive experience and expertise in the area of patent prosecution and litigation, and of USA FDA regulations, US OIG (Office of the Inspector General) guidelines, US Anti-Kickback and licensure regulation and the Pharma Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals (in the area of compliance related to post approval drug marketing and promotion).

Speaking of his decision to shift to Luthra, Mr. Sapra told Bar & Bench, "My decision to join Luthra stems from an appreciation of their commitment towards providing clients with world class legal services in all areas of law. Indian pharmaceutical companies have increasing business interests in the US and the US is looking towards increasing amounts of business in India. The US has established elaborate procedures that govern drug approvals, with compliance and IP issues intersecting at every level. Having worked extensively in both the IP and compliance fields, it is my intention to utilize this experience and skill set in advising the firm's clients in their IP, drug approval and compliance related matters in the US and elsewhere."

Replying to a query about his future plans, he said, "The IP team at Luthra comprises experts in the field who are dynamic and client-result oriented. It will be my endeavor to further assist the IP practice and increase the firm's client footprint in the Patents and Pharmaceutical sector. The firm's commercial background impels the firm to treat IP as an asset class and thus is instinctively geared to assisting clients in efficiently prosecuting, managing and leveraging their IP assets. We can expect to see a continuing expansion in the firm's Pharma and IP capabilities." 

Managing Partner Rajiv Luthra predicts that "IP is an area that is going to expand rapidly in India." He adds, "We were looking for someone with the right skill set to broaden the firm's expertise in patent litigation and patent practice. We felt that Ashwin was one of the best talents we could choose."

Luthra has been strategically strengthening its IP practice, hiring three senior associates and Partner Ameet Datta from leading IP firm Anand & Anand in November last year.