Damian primarily practices in the fields of chemistry and pharmaceuticals and is adept at advising clients in a manner which is informed and directed by the regulatory and business framework in which they operate. His approach is enhanced by his formal training as a barrister and solicitor.
He is a Partner of the firm and counsels in areas such as patent strategy and freedom to operate as well as patent drafting, filing, and prosecution. Damian has also coordinated opposition proceedings and has provided both scientific and legal advice in a number of patent litigation matters.
Damian is experienced at leading multi-disciplinary teams of attorneys such as those required for handling the portfolios of multinational corporate clients and for assisting in large-scale patent litigation. He has specialised experience in guiding applications through to grant in jurisdictions in the Asia-Pacific region including India and China.
Managing IP’s 2010 annual survey of IP firms included this statement about his expertise and client focus:
'Damian Slizys and his team paired up with Clayton Utz to fight for Eli Lilly in a patent dispute against two pharmaceutical rivals. A client in this matter has choice words for Slizys: “the acting counsel said the evidence he (Slizys) prepared was the best he’d ever seen in years. Damian was fantastic, and with his specific chemistry background, he actually had more expertise in the drug than the drug makers themselves!" '
Damian views each client as unique and works to find a solution which is completely appropriate to their needs. He acts for a number of international and Australian clients including drug development companies, universities, research institutes and multi-national pharmaceutical companies. Throughout his career he has represented clients in areas as diverse as biosensors, crystallography, nanotechnology, molecular modelling, veterinary products, packaging and food technology including “nutraceuticals”.
He has advised on a number of patent issues of particular importance to the pharmaceutical industry such as extension of term provisions, both for Australia and internationally; the so-called Bolar provisions; and the patentability of applications directed to new uses and new formulations of known active ingredients.
Before joining the patent profession, Damian was a lecturer in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at the Victorian College of Pharmacy and a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Melbourne’s School of Chemistry.
