Dr Agnieszka Sztoldman

Agnieszka is a partner and head of the intellectual property and life sciences practice at international law firm Osborne Clarke. She is a qualified attorney-at-law (adwokat) and European trade mark and design attorney with extensive experience gained at leading international law firms. She has in-depth knowledge and experience, particularly in the technology and the life sciences and healthcare sectors.

Clients particularly value her ability to bridge the interface between intellectual property/fair competition and regulatory issues. She is praised for advising in complex domestic or European patent, trade secret, trademark, copyright and unfair competition litigation, as well as IP advisory (licensing or collaboration agreements) and IP portfolio management across all major industries.

She advises on the regulation of pharmaceutical law, medical law and food law, in particular pharmaceutical advertising and medical devices, reimbursement and borderline products.

She also has a proven track record in advising and litigating in arbitration, regulatory and product withdrawal proceedings in the areas of life sciences, consumer protection and digital regulation. She is listed on the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center's List of Neutrals and is a recommended arbitrator of the Arbitration Court for the Creative Industry and Culture in Warsaw.

She is an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Wrocław, one of Poland's top three law faculties.

Agnieszka's work has earned her recognition as a leading IP and life sciences lawyer across major legal rankings and directories. In 2025, "Rzeczpospolita", a leading Polish daily, recognised her as a leader in pharmaceutical and medical law and as head of a top-ranked practice. She was named one of the "Top 25 Women Lawyers in Business" by the Polish edition of Forbes Women and the Women in Law Foundation (2023) and was included in the World IP Review "Top 50 Influential Women in IP" list (2023) and recognised as an "IP Trailblazer" by World IP Review (2022). In 2020, she was a double winner of the LMG European Rising Stars Award (Life Sciences and Poland). She is listed in IAM Strategy 300 and IAM Global Leaders (2024–2026), recommended by IAM Patent 1000 for patent enforcement and litigation (2019–2025), by WTR 1000 for trademark enforcement and litigation in Poland (2020–2025), recognised as an IP Rising Star in Poland by Managing IP (2021–2024), a WIPR Global Leader (2021–2024), and recommended by Legal 500 in the IP, Life Sciences and Healthcare directories since 2018.
 

Helping you succeed in tomorrow's world

I work on intellectual property matters that are often at the forefront of legal and technological developments. Whether you are protecting a global brand, navigating complex patent disputes or seeking strategic IP advice in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment, I offer a unique combination of courtroom experience, academic rigour and deep sector knowledge that shapes court practice and the local market, to deliver results that matter to your business. I have successfully handled precedent-setting cases across the pharmaceutical, technology and consumer goods sectors, and I leverage this experience to anticipate risks and craft winning strategies tailored to each client's commercial objectives. My academic work directly informs my practice: I authored the first book on the Bolar exemption in the EU and have published more than 70 works on intellectual property and civil law, including in the European Intellectual Property Review, the Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice, GRUR International, IIC – International Review of Intellectual Property and Competition Law and the European Pharmaceutical and Health Law Review, with publishers such as Edward Elgar Publishing and Kluwer Law International. I co-authored leading commentaries on Polish copyright and industrial property law, pharmaceutical law and the Digital Services Act. Many intellectual property institutions, such as the Polish Patent Office, the World Intellectual Property Organization and local chambers of advocates and patent and trade mark attorneys, seek my expertise in projects that shape the local IP ecosystem, including the legislative drafting process and opinions on existing legislation. I regularly participate in conferences and contribute to the contemporary debate on intellectual property.
 

Holding down the fort at Osborne Clarke, Agnieszka Sztoldman is establishing herself as a indispensable partner on the Polish market. She has an extensive knowledge of regulatory law, which she marries with her IP experience to assist customers in the pharmaceutical, chemical, cosmetics and food industries.

IAM Patent 1000 2025

Osborne Clarke's Warsaw team has become the name behind some of the most complex trademark battles and portfolio strategies in Poland. Known for its sharp litigation edge and sector-driven insight, the firm is trusted by global giants, from tech innovators to life sciences leaders. At the heart of this success is Agnieszka Sztoldman, a counsel whose name rings across Europe's IP circles. She is not only shaping the trajectory of global brands but actively influencing policy and academic thought leadership. Her work bridges the gap between cutting-edge litigation and scholarly innovation, positioning her as an authoritative voice driving the future of intellectual property law.

WTR Trademark 1000 2026

Agnieszka Sztoldman is an outstanding legal expert with exceptional knowledge and deep expertise in the field of intellectual property law and beyond. With extensive professional and academic experience, she combines remarkable analytical skills with a profound ability to assess complex legal realities.

Legal500, Intellectual Property 2025

Agnieszka Sztoldman is an excellent life sciences lawyer, with a hands-on approach.

Legal500 Healthcare and life sciences 2025

Article 73 of the TRIPS agreement provides for the security exceptions that states can invoke todefend their non-compliance with the TRIPS agreement. This is a unique provision in the context ofinternational IP law“ - Russia’s IP threat: what might happen next?

WIPR, 2022