Fiona has been advising clients on intellectual property and commercial law for over 30 years as a Scottish and English qualified lawyer. Throughout her career, she has represented clients across sectors including life sciences, IT, industrial markets, academia, and consumer products.
Her practice is highly international, assisting UK businesses in commercialising their IP globally and advising overseas clients on transactions involving English and Scottish law. She is also very experienced in international licensing transactions and has specifically worked with many businesses in the life sciences sector, helping them to enter new markets using licensing and other collaborative ventures.
Fiona’s clients include startups and spinouts, fast-growing SMEs, universities, multinational corporations, public companies, and institutions.
Expertise
Fiona advises on commercialisation of intellectual property, including licensing, technology transfer, international agreements, patents, trademarks, spinouts, startups, and managing IP litigation risks, supporting clients from innovation to market deployment across diverse sectors.
Experience
Advised a listed UK plc on the IP and contractual aspects in relation to the transfer of a large portfolio of life science agreements including ongoing R&D arrangements, licences, patents and trademarks.
Advised a leading Irish-based, US-venture-backed biotech startup on a number of licensing arrangements with UK and US educational institutions and charities
Advised a consumer health SME based in Scotland on licensing arrangements for a new health supplement with a European headquartered multinational pharma company which specialises in over-the-counter and generic drugs.
Fiona advises on collaboration and joint venture agreements as well as research and development agreements, helping clients structure partnerships, protect intellectual property, and manage risk in complex, innovation-driven commercial arrangements.
Experience
Advised one of the leading research institutes in Europe on an ongoing basis on licensing, spinouts, collaboration and R&D agreements with multinationals, educational institutions and SMEs.
Advised a London-based life science spinout from a US headquartered multinational pharmaceutical company on licensing and manufacturing agreements in Europe, the US and Asia.
Advised a US-based medical device developer on IP due diligence matters, patent assignments and ongoing joint venture and collaboration agreements in the UK, US and Asia.
Fiona has substantial experience in advising life sciences clients on commercial and IP arrangements both in the UK and overseas, in the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical devices sectors and in both the human and veterinary fields.
Experience
Advised one of the leading research institutes in Europe on an ongoing basis on licensing, spinouts, collaboration and R&D agreements with multinationals, educational institutions and SMEs.
Advised a leading Irish-based, US-venture-backed biotech startup on a number of licensing arrangements with UK and US educational institutions and charities.
Advised a London-based life science spinout from a US headquartered multinational pharmaceutical company on licensing and manufacturing agreements in Europe, the US and Asia.
Advised a consumer health SME based in Scotland on licensing arrangements for a new health supplement with a European headquartered pharma company which specialises in over-the-counter and generic drugs.
Advised a US-based medical device developer on IP due diligence matters, patent assignments and ongoing joint venture and collaboration agreements in the UK, US and Asia.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised by Managing Intellectual Property (MIP) IP Stars for IP transactions, patent strategy and counselling 2020–2025
Recognised in the IAM 1000 Patent Transactions Directory 2025
Recognised by Best Lawyers for IP and IT Transactions 2021–2025
Recognised by The Legal 500 for IP 2026
Recognised by Managing Intellectual Property as one of the 50 most influential people in IP (global list) 2019
Chair of the Law Society of Scotland’s Accreditation Panel for Intellectual Property
Board Member (Governor) Certified Licensing Professionals Inc
President Licensing Executives Society International 2019–2020
Co-Editor of Getting the Deal Through: Licensing (Lexology) 2019–2025
“An invaluable partner to those operating in the life sciences industry. She has an incredible grasp of the science as well as the business realities of her clients and tailors her solutions to neatly fit their needs.”
IAM Patent Directory 2024
“The enterprising Fiona Nicolson relishes the challenge of taking a start-up to big places through collaborative ventures.””
IAM Patent 1000 2018
Fiona qualified as a solicitor in 1986. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2025, she worked at the following firms:
