Annsley Merelle Ward is an experienced and strategic intellectual property litigator focusing on complex cross-border patent, SPC, FRAND/SEP and trade secrets litigation, particularly at the interface of competition, contract and regulatory law.   

With her background in chemical engineering, Ms. Ward acts for some of the world’s leading innovative technology companies in high tech IP disputes ranging from wireless technology, radiotherapy/MRI, and algorithmic trading to TNF-inhibitors, respiratory products, and molecular diagnostics. 

Ms. Ward is renowned as an energetic and creative litigator and as someone who can identify game-changing opportunities in national procedural and substantive law. She has acted before every level of Courts of England and Wales, and the Court of Justice of the European Union, and has coordinated litigation strategy in more than 25 countries.  

Prior to joining WilmerHale, Ms. Ward was a senior associate at another international law firm and at a leading London IP litigation boutique.

Professional Activities

For more than 10 years, Ms. Ward has served the global IP community through her writing as a permanent member of the award-winning IPKat blog team, her work in the leadership of the UPC and Trade Secrets Committees of AIPPI and as a Council Member of the AIPPI UK and Programme Committee member of AIPPI. Ms. Ward is a Vice Chair to the Standing International IP Task Force of the American Bar Association Section of Intellectual Property Law (ABA-IPL) for the 2023–2024 bar year and brings her passion for advancing and supporting women in law, technology and policy to her roles in ChIPs Network, in particular as the Chair of the London Chapter and as the Co-Chair for Europe.