Shantelle L. LaFayette

Shantelle represents clients in all phases of IP litigation, including discovery, motion practice, claim construction, deposition preparation for fact and expert witnesses, and trial preparation. She also counsels clients on IP due diligence, including freedom-to-operate analyses, patentability assessments, and the drafting and review of IP contract provisions in connection with licensing, collaborations, mergers, and acquisitions. Clients value her scientific background and her pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach to resolving IP challenges. In addition, Shantelle advises on trademark enforcement and brand licensing strategies. Shantelle maintains an active and broad pro bono practice.

Before joining Mayer Brown, Shantelle practiced law at another prominent global firm, where she handled a broad range of IP litigation matters involving pharmaceutical, medical device, mechanical, and software patents, as well as trademarks and damages. She completed a secondment in the legal department of a multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation, where she gained experience with commercial, regulatory, and intellectual property matters related to the innovative pharmaceutical industry.

Transactional

• Supported the representation of Roivant Sciences as IP counsel the licensing of an anti-TL1A antibody (RVT-3101), the creation of a new corporate entity (Televant) for the development of RVT-3101 as a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease, and the subsequent sale of Telavant to Roche for $7.1 billion.
• Supported the representation of Gilead Sciences as IP counsel in an $848 million licensing deal with Compugen for antibody-based cancer therapies developed using Compugen’s AI platform.
• Supported the representation of Gilead Sciences as IP counsel in a collaboration and licensing deal with Tentarix Biotherapeutics to design and develop multifunctional antibody-based therapies targeting cancer and inflammation.
• Supported the representation of Gilead Sciences as IP counsel in a collaboration and licensing deal with A-Alpha Bio to design and develop biologic HIV treatments using machine learning technology.