Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Logo
  • Home
  • Lawyers
  • Practices
  • Insights
  • About
  • Careers
  • Alumni
  • Client
© 2023 Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
    Home /  About /  News And Events /  Client Highlights
    Client Highlights

    In Global IP Disputes Called the ‘Robot Wars,’ S&C Secures Settlement for Client Ocado Group plc

    • Our Lawyers
    • Related Practices
    July 24, 2023

    After a series of IP litigation defense wins against rival AutoStore Holdings, Ocado entered into a resolution that, after the announcement, lifted its market capitalization by more than $833 million. All told, Ocado has won defensive IP trial matters before the U.S. International Trade Commission, the U.K. High Court, the U.S. PTO and the European Patent Office (EPO). Ocado also had major wins in responsive cases it filed asserting its own IP against AutoStore, including before the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire, the U.S. PTO, the EPO and in Germany. Ocado also recently filed complaints in the newly launched Unified Patent Court in Europe.

    Under the settlement that was announced on July 22, AutoStore will pay more than $250 million to Ocado and Ocado retains exclusive rights to its Single Space Robot and certain technology critical to its leading-edge online grocery business. Each party will cross-license each other’s pre-2020 patents and both companies can continue to use and market all their own existing products without challenge.

    The global IP litigation strategy in which S&C played a major role⁠—along with Powell Gilbert LLP in the U.K. and Wildanger in Germany⁠—caused a purely defensive case to flip into a purely affirmative case that led to a substantial nine-figure payment to Ocado and favorable positions as its business continues into the future.

    The S&C team representing Ocado includes Garrard Beeney, Marc De Leeuw, Dustin Guzior, Stephen Elliott, Laurie Stempler, Alexander Gross, Mark Bennett, Austin Mayron, Daniel Richardson, Aviv Halpern, Michael Lemanski, Navraj Dhillon, Miles Greene, Alicia Briggs and Haley Sanders. Mehdi Ansari and Philippe Schiff assisted with negotiating the settlement. Jeff Wall assisted in appellate matters.

    Read More
    Stay Updated

    Subscribe to stay current on S&C Insights.

    Our Lawyers

    Our Lawyers

    Garrard R. Beeney Headshot Photo
    Garrard R. Beeney
    New York
    +1-212-558-3737
    Email
    vCard
    Marc De Leeuw Headshot Photo
    Marc De Leeuw
    New York
    +1-212-558-4219
    Email
    vCard
    Dustin F. Guzior Headshot Photo
    Dustin F. Guzior
    New York
    +1-212-558-4000
    Email
    vCard
    Stephen J. Elliott Headshot Photo
    Stephen J. Elliott
    New York
    +1-212-558-7446
    Email
    vCard
    Laurie N. Stempler Headshot Photo
    Laurie N. Stempler
    New York
    +1-212-558-4000
    Email
    vCard
    Alexander N. Gross Headshot Photo
    Alexander N. Gross
    New York
    +1-212-558-4000
    Email
    vCard
    Austin P. Mayron Headshot Photo
    Austin P. Mayron
    New York
    +1-212-558-4000
    Email
    vCard
    Daniel J. Richardson Headshot Photo
    Daniel J. Richardson
    Washington, D.C.
    +1-202-956-7500
    Email
    vCard
    Read More

    Related Practices

    • Antitrust
    • Intellectual Property & Technology Litigation
    • Litigation
    • Technology, Media & Telecommunications
    Sullivan & Cromwell LLP Logo
    • Twitter icon
    • LinkedIn icon
    • RSS Feed icon
    • Podcasts icon
    • Home
    • Contact Us
    • Information Policy Relating to Cookies
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Privacy Policy
    • Website Notice
    • Attorney Advertising Notice
    © 2023 Sullivan & Cromwell LLP