Martin Lukwasa
Martin graduated from the University of Aberdeen with a MEng in Electronics and Computer Engineering, and also has a PGCert in Energy and Sustainability with Electrical Power Engineering from the University of Southampton. His dissertation focused on the detection of hydrocarbons in sea water based on time domain reflectometry whilst his final year project involved designing the electrical distribution system of an offshore windfarm based in the North Sea.
During his studies, he gained experience in both the oil & gas and telecommunication industries. In telecoms, he worked with engineers at I.S.Ps to provide extended internet service coverage whilst in oil & gas, he worked with engineers at ConocoPhillips to investigate offshore electrical faults.
Before joining the profession, Martin spent 5 years in the automotive industry working for Jaguar Land Rover where he was responsible for the development and manufacture of various exterior body systems like bumpers and grilles and later the delivery of various SW features for the infotainment system.
Naomi Higginson
Naomi has worked with clients from a broad range of sectors including oil and gas, packaging, automotive engineering, medical devices and construction.
Naomi has experience in drafting and prosecuting applications in the UK and Europe, as well as liaising with attorneys in the US and Asia.
Naomi graduated from the University of Manchester with a first class MEng in Chemical Engineering with Industrial Experience in 2019. Her final year project involved designing a sustainable chemical plant which included process control, design of a distillation column and safety and environmental considerations.
Naomi spent a year working in industry as a Process Engineer on the design of a nuclear treatment plant at Sellafield Ltd. During this year, she gained experience in process design, nuclear power and waste and led a series of development trials to assist in the design of a system to treat a hazardous off-gas.
Atheer Galdagon
Atheer has experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications in the UK and Europe for clients in electronics and software fields. This includes telecommunications, semi-conductor devices, computing devices and signal coding. As well as exposure to methods used for biomedical image processing and analysis, he also studied advanced image analysis technologies such as image segmentation, registration and morphological analysis.
Atheer graduated from the University of Sheffield with a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering. His final year project involved building an electromagnetic transmission system for a passenger vehicle. The project included designing electromagnetic actuators using finite element analysis and building a control system for the transmission system to operate in a shift-by-wire fashion. Atheer also, studied the principles of biomedical imaging, including the basic physics and mathematics associated with the different modalities, including X-ray CT, SPECT, PET, and MRI.
André Spaltowski
He is also security verified according to the German guidelines, so that he can also support and advise in matters with security classification.
André advises on topics specific to the German jurisdiction and market.
André enjoys working directly with clients and inventors alike and successfully developing and growing their IP portfolios. He has particular experience in many aspects of electronics, in the field of automotive inventions, process automation, and computer implemented inventions.
André holds a Diploma Supplement in Computer Engineering and two Master degrees, one in Electrical Engineering and one in Business Administration. The main focus of his degrees was in autonomous driving mobile robots.
He entered the patent profession in 2014, and trained at a German IP firm, the German Civil Court, Mannheim and the German Patent and Trademark Office as well as the Federal Patent Court of Germany. In 2018, André qualified as a German patent attorney and has since worked as a Freelancer for several IP firms in Germany before joining Withers & Rogers in 2020.
Matthew Holden
Since joining Withers & Rogers in 2019, Matthew has gained experience in drafting and prosecuting European and UK patent applications in a variety of sectors, including analog electronics, signal processing and medical devices.
Matthew graduated from the University of Bristol with a first class MEng degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. During his degree he enjoyed learning about renewable energy technologies, power electronics and communications. His final year project researched the use of Gallium Nitride HEMTs to improve power converter performance. He also assisted with designing technology demonstrators for nanowatt sensor systems, as part of a project spinning-out university research into a start-up company.
Matthew was awarded the Toshiba Prize and a scholarship from Boeing for his academic and project performance.
Calvin Williams
Calvin has worked on the prosecution of applications in the UK as well as before the European Patent Office. He has also done some drafting for UK applications.
The clients Calvin has worked with have covered a breadth of disciplines including aerospace, medical devices, marine applications, automotive engineering and rail.
Calvin graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, with a focus on Materials. During university he worked on an industry research project based on supplying water to mountainous townships in developing countries.
For his final year project, he conducted research into X-ray diffraction studies of lithium ion battery electrode materials, in particular investigating the use of operando techniques of evaluating battery performance.
Eleanor Jordan
Eleanor has worked with clients from a broad range of sectors including automotive engineering, packaging, construction, control systems and heavy industrial machinery. She has experience in drafting and prosecuting applications in the UK and Europe.
Eleanor graduated from the University of Sheffield with a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Her final year project involved developing a computational model showing the dynamic effects of vibration on sports equipment.
Eleanor gained experience with condition monitoring and signal processing during her placement as a gas turbine engineer.
Ailis Chadwick
Since joining Withers & Rogers in 2019, Ailis has gained experience in patent prosecution in the UK and Europe. She has particular expertise in the areas of inorganic chemistry, catalysis, medicinal and biological chemistry and formulation chemistry.
Education & background
Ailis has a first class MSci degree in Medicinal and Biological Chemistry from the University of Nottingham, and a PhD from the University of Bristol which focussed on synthesising novel functionalised phosphine-based ligands for use in nuclear imaging. During her PhD, Ailis presented her research at multiple international conferences and has published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Nicholas Watermeyer
Nicholas’s practice includes drafting and prosecuting patent applications for inventions in the fields of chemistry and life sciences. His areas of technical expertise include specialist chemicals, pharmaceuticals, polymers, packaging, minerals & mining, biochemistry and bioprocessing. He also has experience advising on freedom-to-operate and conducting infringement and validity assessments. He especially enjoys tailoring his advice to the various strategic requirements of different types of clients, from SMEs to universities and multinational companies.
Education & background
Nicholas has a PhD in chemistry and molecular biology from the University of Cape Town. His PhD project focussed on the synthesis of inhibitors of redox enzymes found in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. He then became a research fellow at the University College of Dublin in the field of organic synthesis of carbohydrates, conducting multistep syntheses of derivatives of the anticoagulant drug, Heparin.
Prior to joining Withers & Rogers, Nicholas worked for one of the top patent attorney firms in South Africa and qualified as a South African patent attorney in 2017.
Peter Heins
Peter has experience in drafting and prosecuting UK and European patent applications relating to technologies in a variety of sectors, including medical devices, aerospace, defence, construction and oil & gas.
Peter has helped a diverse array of innovative clients to obtain patents, from individual inventors to large multinational companies.
Experience gained during his PhD and postdoctoral research has afforded him the ability to gain an in-depth understanding of his clients’ inventions and to provide his clients with commercially relevant IP protection.
Education & background
Peter graduated from Imperial College London in 2011 with a Masters degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Peter then joined the University of Sheffield to pursue his PhD, which focused on developing control systems for reducing drag in turbulent fluid flows. After spending two years conducting postdoctoral research, Peter then spent two years at another leading patent attorney firm before joining Withers & Rogers in 2019.
Andie McConnell
Andie has experience in drafting and prosecuting applications in the UK and Europe. She has worked with clients from a broad range of sectors including semi-conductor devices, medical devices, software and telecommunications.
Education & background
Andie graduated from the University of St Andrews with a Bachelor’s degree in Physics. Her final year project involved developing a coding platform with applications in nuclear and particle physics.
During her time at university, Andie conducted and presented research in the areas of quantum theory, condensed matter physics and scanning tunnelling microscopy.
Steffi Sesuraj
Steffi’s drafting and prosecution work covers a wide range of engineering areas including analogue electronics, medical technology, telecommunications, and semiconductor process development.
Education & background
Steffi holds a Postgraduate Certificate in IP law from Queen Mary University, London. Steffi also holds a doctorate in Electronic and Electrical Engineering (PhD from University of Southampton), specialising in application of nanotechnology for thin film photovoltaics – she has published several papers as the lead author in peer-reviewed journals. During university, Steffi was the student secretary for the UK division of the International Solar Energy Society.
Steffi has won several national and international awards for her research into the applications of nanotechnology, including the Best Electronic Engineering Student in Europe from the Institute of Engineering and Technology in the UK. Steffi was also awarded a fellowship by Japanese Society for Promotion of Science to work in Tsukuba Japan, collaborating with a group of scientists at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology for fabrication of Plasmonic Microcrystalline Solar Cells.
Before joining the patent profession, Steffi worked as a Process Architect in a leading multinational telecommunications company where she led a team of technicians, developed fabrication lines and gained hands-on experience in design and fabrication of optoelectronic devices.
Phoebe Withnall
Phoebe joined Withers & Rogers in January 2019 and is based in our Leamington Spa office. She has experience in patent drafting, prosecution and opposition, and has worked for clients in the automotive, aerospace, and medical device sectors.
Education & background
Phoebe graduated in 2017 from the University of Cambridge with a masters degree in Natural Sciences. She spent her final two years specialising in Materials Science and Metallurgy. During her time at University, Phoebe completed a research project into the design and testing of hydrogen embrittlement resistant bearing steels; and also spent time at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich developing room temperature CO2 sensors based on poly(ionic liquid)/alumina composites.
Prior to starting University, Phoebe worked for a mould making and casting company in London, and therefore has a particular interest in casting materials and technology for displays.
Talia Sullens
Since joining Withers & Rogers in 2018, Talia has gained experience in patent prosecution and opposition in a variety of sectors including oil & gas and aerospace & defence. Specifically, Talia has worked on a range of downhole drilling technologies and aircraft landing gear assemblies.
Education & background
Talia graduated from the University of Exeter with a Master’s degree in Physics in 2018. In her final year, Talia worked on a recently developed fluorescent microscopy technique which allows for high resolution imaging of biological samples.
During her time at university, Talia also worked on a project aimed at adapting light microscopy techniques for use with electron microscopes.
These projects have given Talia an understanding of a variety of sensing techniques as well as the physical concepts underlying biological systems.
Josh Miller
Since joining Withers & Rogers, Josh has gained experience in drafting and prosecuting UK, European and International patent applications. He also assists with Freedom to Operate (FTO) advice. Josh has worked with clients from a broad range of engineering sectors including medical devices, agricultural, automotive, aerospace, space and satellite sector, and materials science.
Education & background
Josh graduated from the University of Birmingham with a Bachelors in Materials Engineering. Subsequently he continued at Birmingham to study a PhD funded by the European and German Space Agencies as part of the MICAST Project. The research focussed on casting and analysing aluminium alloys in three-dimensions using a computerised tomography machine. The work also incorporated the design and commissioning of a lightweight furnace for Earth and rocket based castings.
He is lead author on a number of conference papers and his work was presented at an invited plenary talk at a solidification conference in Hungary.
Philippa Roberts
Philippa has interest in, and experience with, a wide range of chemical inventions. She has drafted and prosecuted applications in fields as diverse as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, oil & gas, foodstuffs, and agriculture for clients ranging from small SMEs to universities and multinationals.
She has experience handling patent applications at the European Patent Office and the UK Intellectual Property Office in addition to managing patent filing and prosecution in Japan, the US, China, and Korea. Philippa also enjoys providing commercially relevant advice on freedom to operate issues.
Education & background
Philippa graduated from Oxford University with a first class chemistry degree. Her fourth year was spent researching heterogeneous catalysts and was awarded the Inorganic Chemistry thesis prize. She then moved to the University of Cambridge where she was awarded a PhD in Biochemistry for research into the proton pumping mechanism of mitochondrial complex I. During her PhD, Philippa presented her research at numerous conferences and symposia, and published in the Journal of Biochemistry.
Philippa entered the profession in 2014, qualifying as a European Patent Attorney in 2017 and a Chartered Patent Attorney in 2018. She joined Withers & Rogers in 2018 having previously worked at another private practice firm in the UK.
Dan Tough
Since joining Withers & Rogers, Dan has gained experience in prosecuting patents in a wide range of subject areas, including heavy machinery, medical devices, aerospace and automotive systems. As part of the automotive group, Dan regularly takes part in events run by industry organisations such as the MIA.
Education & background
Dan graduated from the University of Warwick with a First-Class Honours in Mechanical Engineering. This included a dissertation on researching the effective of energy harvesting devices for use in gas flows. Other modules taken focussed primarily on fluid dynamics, design and automotive technologies.
Dan has previously taken work placements in a wide range of sectors, from boat manufacture for the disabled to heavy machinery development to state of the art CAD/CAM technology. The latter involved modelling and prototyping work for a proposed Buddha statue in India
Daniel Varley
Since joining Withers & Rogers, Daniel has gained experience in drafting and prosecuting patent applications in the UK, Europe and worldwide. He also assists with design prosecution and Freedom to Operate (FTO) advice. Daniel has worked with clients from a broad range of engineering sectors including medical devices, robotics, marine, aerospace and automotive systems.
Education & background
Daniel graduated from the University of Cambridge with a Master’s degree in Natural Sciences, specialising in Materials Science. His final year project involved developing nanocomposite coatings for micro electro-mechanical systems.
Daniel also completed a research placement at the Max Planck Institute for Iron Research in Düsseldorf. He was awarded a prize by the Armourers and Brasiers Company for his published work on polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cells.
Sheri Jeyakumar
Sheri has experience in drafting and prosecuting patent applications in both UK and European patent practices, as well as global IP strategy. Sheri has a background in mechanical engineering with a specialism in medical devices. She has experience with surgical equipment and medical machinery, such as MRI and CT machines.
Sheri has worked for clients in a broad range of sectors, with an express interest in medical technology and in the aerospace and defence sectors. She has experience in prosecution patents to grant, IP strategy for companies, as well as drafting applications.
Education & background
Sheri graduated from Cardiff University with a First-Class Honours in Medical Engineering. She has also worked at a leading medical device company and has also completed research projects alongside top researchers at Cardiff University; this has given Sheri the opportunity to gain insight and work alongside those at the forefront of their fields, as well as developing her specialist knowledge along the way.
Heather West
Since joining Withers & Rogers, Heather has gained experience in drafting and prosecuting UK and European patent applications relating to a wide variety of technologies in the life science and chemical sectors.
Education & background
Heather graduated from the University of Oxford with a Master’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. In her final year, Heather specialised in immunology and joined a lab group where she purified and tested novel vaccine candidates to protect against Malaria.
Heather continued her study at University College London and gained her PhD in Immunology. Her research focused on characterising the immune disruption within the skin following haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for the treatment of leukaemia. She has authored and co-authored several papers in peer-reviewed journals and presented her research at an international conference in New York.
Kate Manson
Since joining Withers & Rogers in September 2018, Kate has gained experience in prosecuting and drafting patent applications in a variety of sectors including prosthetics, medical devices, oil and gas, software and space.
Education & background
Kate graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2018 with a first class Masters degree in Physics and Astrophysics. She spent the third year of her degree studying abroad at Monash University, Melbourne in Australia. Her Masters project involved analysing the quality of statistics related to binary star systems. In her final year, she was awarded the Sheffield Association of University Women Winifred Moulds Prize for her overall performance.
Francesca Quacquarelli
Francesca has experience in drafting and prosecution of German and European patent applications in the areas of mechanical engineering, bio-technology, and image analysis.
She has specialist knowledge in the fields of whole cleared transgenic mouse light-sheet imaging of entire nervous system and blood vessels and scanning-probe microscopy in closed-cycle cryostat; low temperature AFM studies. As well as super-resolution microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and single-molecule and single quantum dots studies and manipulation
Education & background
Francesca gained her PhD at the University of Sheffield with focus on single molecule microscopy and spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and nanotechnology
She studied her Master degree in physics at the Università degli Studi di Bari Italy with focus on phase synchronization of biological signals
Francesca also gained experience as a postdoctoral scientist at ISD (Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research) in Munich. As a Research & Development Engineer in the Innovation Department, Attocube systems AG, Munich and as a Postdoctoral Scientist at the Dept. of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Sheffield, UK. Francesca’s experience also includes several years of work experience with various imaging techniques.
Ernst-Ulrich Wittmann
Uli handles both German and European patent applications in the fields of mechanical, process and chemical engineering.
Uli has represented clients also before German courts in matters concerning infringement, cancellation and nullity proceeding and employee inventions. He also has significant experience of drafting licensing agreements.
Uli is a member of multiple organisations including the German Patent Attorney Association, FICPI, INTA, AIPPI, European Patent Litigators Association (EPLIT) Munich paper manufacturers association (Vereinigter Papapierfachverband München e.V. (VPM)), the Association of Chemical Pulp and Paper Chemists and Engineers (Verein der Zellstoff- und Papier-Chemiker und -Ingenieure) and the Academic Association of paper engineers at the Dresden Technical University (Akademischer Papieringenieurverein an der Technischen Universität Dresden e.V.).
Education & background
While studying for his Dr.-Ing. at the University of Dresden, in corporation with the University of Applied Science in Munich, Uli focussed his thesis on biological/enzymatical processes to prepare and bleach recycled fibres. He then went on to gain a special qualification in paper technology before spending several years working in mechanical engineering and process technology areas.
Uli trained at Wallinger & Partners, Munich, the German Patent and Trademark Office as well as the Bundespatentgericht (Federal Patent Court of Germany) and spent 14 years as a partner at Fleuchaus & Gallo PartmbB in Munich.
Chris Hambley
As part of the Advanced Engineering group Chris has worked with clients from a diverse range of sectors such as aerospace & defence, automotive engineering, oil & gas, packaging, medical devices, construction and heavy industrial machinery. He assists with filing and prosecution of design and patent applications in the UK, Europe and worldwide. He recently assisted with three opposition appeals in the oil and gas sector at the EPO, in which all three patents were successfully revoked.
Education & Background
Chris graduated from the University of Sheffield with a MEng in Systems & Control Engineering in 2014. This involved a year working in industry which was split between the aerospace firm ITP Aero and the Phillips 66 Humber oil refinery.
He went on to study for a PhD in the Rolls-Royce Control, Monitoring & Systems Engineering University Technology Centre at the University of Sheffield, finishing in 2018. His PhD research focused on improving methods of designing complex engineered systems, such as gas turbine engines and nuclear reactors. He has authored numerous scientific papers and presented his research at international conferences.
Ben Palmer
Ben is interested in all aspects of advanced engineering and is experienced in advising clients on a broad range of technology areas, including in the aerospace, automotive, robotics, electric motor, renewable energy, medical equipment, micro valve, oil & gas, and construction equipment sectors.
Ben works with a variety of clients from SMEs to multi-national corporations and his practice involves drafting and prosecuting patent applications and advising on commercial issues, such as obtaining the most useful scope of protection and reducing the risk of infringement of competitors’ patent portfolios. He also has a successful track record in defending clients’ patents at appeal proceedings before the European Patent Office.
Education & Background
Ben graduated top of his class at Leeds University with a First Class Master’s degree in Engineering. During his studies, he worked alongside engineers at Bentley Motors as part of a small team to scope, design and source an optimised rear suspension component.
Following graduation, Ben worked for Toyota as a chassis design engineer at their European HQ in Brussels where he was responsible for the development and manufacture of various chassis components.
Ben entered the patent profession in 2008 and qualified as a UK and European patent attorney in 2012, obtaining the second highest mark in the country for the UK infringement and validity exam. He joined Withers & Rogers in 2018 to become part of the rapidly growing Advanced Engineering team in London.
Abbie Fisher
Abbie has experience of drafting and prosecuting patent applications relating to a wide variety of technologies in the life science, medical device and chemical sectors. Abbie has particular expertise in molecular biology, immunology, pharmacology and microbiology. She is also a member of the firm’s cell and gene therapy, higher education and pharmaceutical subgroups.
Education & background
Abbie graduated with a first class honours degree and PhD from the University of Leicester and was awarded the AstraZeneca Physiology and Pharmacology prize for her undergraduate dissertation relating to the characterisation of ischaemic injury in neonates by electron microscopy.
During her PhD she published widely in the field of clinical mycology and respiratory medicine, working towards the development of diagnostic biomarkers of airway colonisation in relation to the clinical characteristics of asthma and COPD. She regularly presented her research nationally and internationally, and was the recipient of a number of awards for academic and research excellence. Postdoctoral research in oncology focused on the development of liquid biopsies for tracking progression of malignant melanoma using next-generation sequencing and digital PCR.
Greg Stepney
Greg is interested in all aspects of chemistry and has worked with the full spectrum of chemical inventions over the course of his career. Some of the diverse fields in which he has helped clients include industrial-scale fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, oil & gas, halocarbons, polymers, food and drink, agriculture, printing methods and inks, nonwoven materials, detergents, photochemistry, materials chemistry and batteries.
The majority of Greg’s work is conducted at the European Patent Office, where he has a long and successful track record defending and attacking patents in opposition and opposition-appeal proceedings. Away from the EPO, Greg conducts patent prosecution and portfolio management in upwards of 70 countries, drafts new applications and provides advice relating to patent validity and infringement.
Education & background
Greg graduated from Loughborough University with a first class chemistry degree. He was then awarded a PhD in chemistry by the University of Nottingham for a thesis titled “Nitroalkenes as Latent Nucleophiles for the Nitro-Mannich Reaction”. He has also conducted research with GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and Pfizer.
Greg entered the profession in 2007 and qualified as a patent attorney in 2012. He qualified as a European patent attorney with the 15th highest exam mark in Europe and his legal paper answer was selected by the EPO as that year’s model answer. He joined Withers & Rogers in 2017, having previously worked with other top patent firms in Germany and the UK.
Adam Hirst
Adam has experience drafting and prosecuting UK and European patent applications covering a range of technologies, primarily related to telecommunications, consumer electronics, and lone-worker systems.
Education & background
Adam completed his interdisciplinary PhD at the University of York in 2016, where his research involved developing a new method to treat prostate cancer using cold plasmas, sat at the interface between physics and biology. He then continued to lead and develop the project further during a short postdoctoral stint before joining the patent profession.
He presented his research at UK and overseas conferences, winning awards for his conference presentations.
Adam published four scientific publications in highly regarded journals, the most recent of which was a comprehensive review of how the emerging field of low temperature plasmas could revolutionise cancer treatment. He was also interviewed on live BBC radio about his research.
During his time at University Adam spoke at many outreach events. He was also a finalist in the 3-Minute Thesis competition, where speakers were required to explain their research to a general audience in under three minutes.
Prior to his PhD Adam completed an MSc degree in Fusion Energy and has a keen interest in sustainable technologies and the environment. He also holds an undergraduate masters (MPhys) in experimental physics.
Georgios Margelis
Georgios has experience in drafting and prosecuting UK and European patent applications primarily related to technology in the electronics and aerospace sectors. He is a member of our Robotics and Autonomous Systems special practice group.
Education & background
Prior to joining Withers & Rogers’ ECP group, Georgios obtained an M.Sc in Microelectronics and Electronic Physics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki followed by a PhD related to physical layer security of the Internet Of Things from the University of Bristol.
He has presented his work in leading conferences around the world, including IEEE’s Globecom and IEEE’s International Conference on Communications and reviewed papers for leading journals in the field of telecommunications, like IEEE’s Communications Magazine and Elsevier’s Ad Hoc Networks Journal.
His published papers examine a range of communication security topics including secret key generation for secure password creation and distribution among network devices as well as game theoretical approaches to network security.
Theo Worsley
Since joining Withers & Rogers as a trainee, Theo has experience drafting and prosecuting UK and European patent applications across Europe and North America. Theo’s experience and interests are primarily related to technology in the electrical, electronic, and robotics technology sectors. He has worked closely with SMEs and Start-ups around Bristol, and understands the benefits and importance of capturing early stage innovations to help them to secure valuable patent protection for their inventions.
Education & background
Having attained a Masters’ degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering with First Class Honours from the University of Bristol, Theo is well equipped to understand the latest technology. In his final year Theo focused on Radio and Optical Communications, and Power Electronic Systems; this gave him the opportunity to work on a range of technologies, developing industrial and commercial interests along the way.
During his final year Theo also developed and tested a low cost, energy efficient and portable air quality monitoring system for smart cities. This project combined his enthusiasm for communications, power electronics and clean technology. Theo’s work was recognised and awarded a prize for best overall final year project.
Harry Strange
Harry has experience drafting and prosecuting UK and European patent applications covering a range of technologies, with a particular interest in computer related inventions. He has expertise in the areas of artificial intelligence & machine learning, cyber security, complex software systems, and distributed ledger technologies.
Education & background
After obtaining his BEng in Software Engineering and PhD in Machine Learning from the University of Wales, Harry spent a number of years conducting post-doctoral research within the field of medical image analysis and machine learning. During that time, he published various papers relating to the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence to biomedical image analysis problems. He has presented his work at numerous national and international conferences and workshops.
Prior to joining Withers & Rogers, Harry worked for the Department of Computer Science at University College London. During his time there, he set up innovative interdisciplinary courses on neural computation, machine learning, and systems engineering. Whilst at UCL, Harry also held an honorary research position at Birmingham Children’s Hospital where he helped to develop protocols related to predicting the aesthetic outcome of cleft lip and palate surgery.
In 2016, and again in 2017, Harry was awarded the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award for his contributions to Microsoft’s data platform work.
Shu Yang
Shu has experience in drafting and prosecuting applications in a wide variety of technical fields, including MEMS fabrication, photonics, 2D and 3D displays, analog and digital electronics, scientific instrumentation, mobile applications, computer-implemented inventions and consumer products.
Her practice spans from multinational companies to individual inventors and start-ups, and she always aims to understand her clients’ commercial and strategic goals in order to tailor her advice accordingly.
Shu has also helped clients with managing their IP portfolios in the UK and Europe as well as overseas. She has particular experience working with inventors from China and Taiwan, often travelling to visit them and is familiar with patent practices in East Asia. Shu is also a Mandarin speaker and is happy to converse with clients in Mandarin.
Shu is one of a few UK practitioners to have successfully overcome an excluded subject matter objection at a hearing before the UKIPO and go on to obtain a granted patent for her client. She has also represented clients before the EPO at both Examining Division and Opposition Division hearings.
Education & background
Shu graduated from the University of Cambridge with a Masters Degree in Engineering, and specialising in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Her Masters project involved designing, fabricating and testing Film Bulk Acoustic Resonator-based biosensors at the Centre for Advanced Photonics and Electronics in Cambridge.
Shu trained and qualified as a European and UK patent attorney at another leading private practice firm in London prior to joining Withers & Rogers in 2017. Shu also holds the Certificate in Intellectual Property Law (with Distinction) from Queen Mary, University of London.
Alexander Ford
He has comprehensive experience in drafting and prosecution of patent applications before the European Patent Office.
Alexander’s work has included the drafting and handling of oppositions as well as giving non-infringement and invalidity opinions and freedom-to-operate advice.
Alexander has worked for clients in a broad range of technical fields, with particular experience of oilfield services, aerospace and renewable energy.
Education & background
Alexander studied Engineering at Cambridge University, covering aspects of mechanical, civil and electrical engineering and graduated with a Master’s degree specialising in fluid dynamics, in particular the aerodynamics of road haulage vehicles in 2014.
After graduation, Alexander worked for a private practice IP firm in London and Munich, gaining experience in all aspects of European patent practice. He also obtained a post-graduate qualification in Intellectual Property from Queen Mary University of London before joining Withers & Rogers in 2017.
David Stanier
Since joining Withers & Rogers, David has gained experience of both UK and European patent practices, as well as global IP strategy.
David has worked for clients in a broad range of sectors, with particular emphasis on advanced materials, automotive technology, and the aerospace and defence sectors. This work includes drafting applications and seeing them through to grant, as well as providing advice relating IP strategy, invalidity opinions, opposition of patents, and freedom-to-operate advice.
Education & background
Having attained a PhD in Advanced Composites from the University of Bristol, and an Aerospace Engineering degree from the University of Liverpool, David is well equipped to understand the latest technological advances. His PhD research involved developing multifunctional composites for high performance applications; and this gave him the opportunity to work alongside a number of leading industry companies and academic institutes, developing interests and specialist knowledge along the way.
George Karkera
George has experience working in a variety of sectors within Physics, Engineering, Electronics and Computing, but has a particular interest in higher education and research institutions, the surfing and extreme sports industry and space and satellite technology.
Education & background
George graduated from the University of Exeter in 2015 with a first class master’s degree in Physics. His master’s research involved fabricating and testing nanomaterial-based optoelectronic devices, which he developed further during a year of postgraduate research. During his time at university, George co-authored a paper on flexible, graphene-based lighting devices. He has completed a postgraduate course in intellectual property at Bournemouth University, covering patents, trade marks and copyright, and has passed the European pre-examination. George has practical experience drafting and prosecuting UK and European patent applications.
George is a committee member of IP&ME, the black and minority ethnic sub-group of IP Inclusive, and has founded a South West IP&ME committee. He is an advocate of diversity and is passionate about increasing the representation and support of minority groups in the IP profession.
Rajan Chauhan
Since joining Withers & Rogers, Raj has gained experience in prosecuting and drafting UK and European patent applications within a range of technologies, including those in the electronic, software and mechanical fields. He has a keen interest in Space and Blockchain technologies, and is a member of these technology groups.
Education & background
Raj graduated from Imperial College London in 2016 with a 1st class Masters degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering. His Masters project involved the full design and build of a reverberation enhancement system, utilising real-time implementations of fast convolution techniques, FFTs, filter banks and adaptive notch filters on embedded processors, for adaptive howling cancellation and reverberation synthesis. He was awarded the Ivor Tupper prize in recognition of his excellence in signal processing, broadcast and video technology.
Georgia Mann
Georgia has experience with a wide variety of chemical inventions. She has particular expertise in the areas of electrochemistry, polymers, food chemistry, and formulation chemistry.
Since joining the profession, Georgia has worked with a wide range of clients, including large multi-national companies, SMEs, lone inventors and local universities.
Education & background
Georgia has a first class MChem degree and a PhD from the University of Sheffield. Her postdoctoral research focused on the use of dendrimers, hyperbranched polymers and other polymeric systems as vehicles for encapsulation and delivery, and the use of dendrimers to study and inhibit protein-protein binding. Georgia has co-authored numerous scientific papers and presented her research at the World Polymer Congress in 2012.
Before joining Withers & Rogers, Georgia worked in Switzerland for a scientific publishing company. She liaised closely with authors and editors during article preparation. As such, she has a wealth of experience working with academic professionals and has working proficiency in French.
Philip Horler
Philip specialises in analog and digital electronic circuitry and semiconductor design, fabrication and operation. He also has a wide-range of experience in other technology areas including: telecommunication systems; scientific instruments; automotive engineering and control technologies.
Additionally, Philip regularly advises clients on the patentability of software and business methods in the UK and Europe and has significant experience with computer implemented inventions, including encryption and blockchain related technologies.
Philip has worked with a diverse range of clients in the UK, the US and Japan, from large multinationals with substantial patent portfolios to small and medium sized entities. He has also advised a number of start-ups at various stages of growth.
Education & background
Philip has a Masters degree in Engineering from the University of Cambridge where he studied a variety of engineering disciplines, from thermodynamics to systems and control. His specialisation was in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, with a particular focus on semiconductor device fabrication and operation. His Masters level research focussed on the optimisation of high power SOI MOSFETs in the forward blocking mode. He went on to enter the patent profession in 2008.
Alex Harvey
Having joined Withers & Rogers as a trainee in 2016, Alex has significant experience in drafting and prosecuting UK and European patent applications, primarily relating to technology in the materials and engineering sectors.
Alex has previously worked for global technology companies as well as academic institutes, and has a particular interest in the fields of composites, Titanium and Steel metallurgy and conductive polymer research. His experience in research has afforded him the ability to gain an intimate understanding of inventions in these fields, and this enables him to provide clients with commercially relevant IP protection.
Education & background
Alex graduated from the University of Sheffield in July 2015 with a first class Masters degree in Aerospace Materials, his thesis focussing upon the life cycle analysis of materials used in global stainless steel production. He also received the 2015 Armourer’s and Braziers Prize during his course of study, as well as an SMEA award in 2014, in recognition of his research in the field of conductive polymers.
Gemma McGeough
Gemma works with businesses and individuals to effectively protect inventions across a wide range of technology fields, including packaging, engineering materials, consumer appliances and medical devices. With a background in Chemistry and Mathematics, Gemma has a broad technical knowledge which has enabled her to work in a variety of technical sectors, including those requiring interdisciplinary skills.
Gemma advises a diverse range of clients including multinational companies, SMEs, start-ups and universities.
Education & background
Gemma graduated from the University of Durham in 2005 with a master’s degree in Chemistry and Mathematics. She worked as an analyst in the field of sensor systems for a global R&D company before training as a patent attorney. Gemma qualified as both a UK and European patent attorney in 2013.
Prior to joining Withers & Rogers, Gemma worked for a leading firm of patent and trade mark attorneys in London. Gemma has also spent time working as part of the in-house patent team of a global R&D company, gaining a valuable understanding of the management of IP and the commercial considerations involved in obtaining IP protection from an in-house perspective.
Matthew Pennington
Matthew has experience drafting and prosecuting UK and European patent applications covering a large range of technologies, with a particular focus on physics, electronics and software based inventions. His interests lie predominantly in the automotive and aerospace sectors, particularly when the inventions arising in these fields have a physics or electronics spin to them. He has worked closely with global clients, helping them to secure valuable patent protection for their inventions.
Beyond patent drafting and prosecution, Matthew has experience in other aspects of patent practice such as freedom to operate work; infringement and validity opinions and European Patent Office Oppositions.
Education & background
Before joining Withers & Rogers LLP in 2015, Matthew obtained a first class Master’s degree from Durham University in Physics and Astronomy. His final year project involved writing a detailed report on a NASA-style space mission of his own design, which involved considering scientific, economic and social factors to determine the feasibility of the mission.
Alexandra Orrin
Ally has helped companies and inventors protect their inventions in a range of engineering fields, in particular materials innovation and mechanical systems.
By successfully presenting technical and legal arguments, she has helped clients obtain granted patents and oppose competitor IP. She has advised on patent and registered design international filing strategies, and provided freedom to operate advice.
Her experience also includes patent litigation before the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court and the High Court.
Education & background
Ally earnt a first class MEng degree in Materials Science and Engineering at Imperial College London. During her time at Imperial she was Dean’s listed twice, awarded the Governor’s MEng Prize in Materials, and the national IOM3 R H Craven Award.
She also completed several research placements, including developing a nanoparticle carrier for use in medical treatments with a biomaterials research group at Imperial College London, and a placement at the University of Nottingham researching the ability of enzymes to degrade polymers.
James Richardson-Bullock
James has experience of drafting and prosecuting patent applications for a range of clients over a wide variety of technologies, including telecoms, audiovisual devices, automotive systems and software. To date he has worked for clients including multinational electronics companies, SMEs and Universities.
Education & background
Before joining Withers & Rogers, James completed a Doctorate in Physics at the University of Warwick, during which he conducted research in cryogenics and semiconductor microelectronics for space-based applications.
As part of his PhD, James has worked in facilities across the continent and has presented his research throughout Europe and China.
As well as having his research published in international journals, James has also acted as a reviewer for a number of academic publishers and has contributed to textbooks in the fields of solid-state physics and nanotechnology.
John-Paul Rooney
John-Paul has particular experience and expertise in the electronics and software fields. This includes mobile telecommunications devices, computing devices, signal coding, particularly video coding, autonomous vehicles, Internet of Things, lone worker systems, and instrumentation and measurement devices.
He leads our China Desk focussing our relationships with Chinese attorneys and businesses, and has delivered presentations on intellectual property law issues internationally for various organisations, including the UK Intellectual Property Office, UKTI, and the China-Britain Business Council. He has written for or contributed to articles in several national and international publications, including the Telegraph and the Guardian.
Education & background
John-Paul holds a PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from the University of Leeds, and joined Withers & Rogers in 2003 in London after a spell in industry designing electrical distribution systems in hazardous areas. He rejoined us in 2011 to develop the Electronics, Computing and Physics group in the North of England after spending 5 years at another firm in Yorkshire. Unusually, John-Paul completed a trade apprenticeship in instrumentation and electrical engineering at AstraZeneca prior to joining the patent profession.
John-Paul has knowledge and experience of working with Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) in the United Kingdom and in compatible territories overseas, such as in Europe, Australia and New Zealand and is familiar with telecommunications technology including coded orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation techniques from his PhD studies. John-Paul works with MPEG standards, such as MPEG-2 video, MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding (AVC) commonly referred to a H.264, and MPEG-5 HEVC. John-Paul also works with non-MPEG technologies in video coding and broadcast. In addition, John-Paul has successfully prosecuted many difficult graphical user interface (GUI) patents before the European Patent Office and has knowledge of aspects of various audio codecs (such as ALAC, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, FLAC, MPEG-4 ALS, MLP, etc.).
Mark Sugden
Mark supports a wide range of clients in the filing and prosecution of patent applications in the UK, European and worldwide. He supports a variety of clients including universities, individual inventors, start-ups, small & medium size businesses and multinational corporations including Europe’s leading construction and agricultural equipment manufacturer.
Mark has gained experience in working with clients in a range of different areas such as packaging and dispensing systems, automotive engineering, construction machinery, aerodynamics, 3D printing and materials engineering. As head of the firm’s Housing and Construction group, Mark also has particular experience in advising clients across the construction industry.
Mark has particular experience in assisting clients from a range of technology areas with global registered design application filing programmes along with prosecution of these applications to effectively protect the appearance of their products.
Education & background
Mark graduated from the University of Sheffield with a BSc in Physics & Astronomy. Following graduation, Mark went on to study for a PhD in nanomaterials engineering at the University of Sheffield, focusing on synthesis, deposition and characterisation of nanomaterials, graduating in 2011.
Following completion of his PhD, Mark worked as a Research Associate at Loughborough University focusing on the development and utilisation of novel micro and nanomaterials for use in manufacturing. This research resulted in the filing of a patent application for his invention, which introduced Mark to the patent attorney profession.
Mark joined the patent attorney profession at Withers & Rogers in 2013, and qualified as a European patent attorney in 2017 and as a UK Patent attorney in 2019.
Andrew Hey
Andrew assists clients ranging from multinational electronics companies to higher education institutions and local SMEs, over a wide variety of different technological sectors falling under the electronic, computing and physics umbrella. He has experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications, including representing clients at hearings before the European Patent Office, as well as providing freedom to operate opinions. For example, his work has related to inventions in the software, telecommunications, clean technology, aeronautical, remote sensing, and financial services sectors.
Andrew has worked extensively in the field of computing devices and software, with a particular emphasis on touch sensitive input technologies, graphical user interfaces, and user interaction techniques. His experience in this sector also extends to networking systems, media content management and editing, data synchronisation techniques, image analysis. In light of this experience, Andrew is particularly well-placed to advise clients on the requirements for gaining patent protection for computer implemented inventions in Europe.
Following research into photovoltaic devices during his Doctorate, Andrew has retained an active interest in renewable technologies, and has been involved in drafting and prosecuting patent applications in the wind turbine sector.
In addition to the above, Andrew also has experience of hardware and driving techniques for visual displays, actuation and monitoring systems in the aeronautical sector, various detection and sensing technologies (including spectroscopic and optical devices), and point of sale systems.
Education & background
Andrew joined Withers & Rogers in 2013 shortly after completing a Doctorate in Condensed Matter Physics at the University of Oxford. Andrew’s research focussed on optoelectronic devices fabricated from solution-processable materials, in particular organic and hybrid solar cells. Prior to this, Andrew obtained a first class Masters degree in Physics, also from the University of Oxford.
Russell Edson
In addition to his broad experience in private practice dealing with patent and design prosecution and Freedom to Operate (FTO) advice, Russell also gained in-house experience on a year-long part-time secondment to a multinational consumer product company based in Geneva.
Russell has particular experience in mechanical technology areas including oil exploration and extraction, medical instruments, automotive, aerospace, packaging and manufacturing technology, as well as computer implemented control systems and graphical user interfaces.
Education & background
Russell studied Manufacturing Engineering and Management with French at the University of Bath, including a year in industry working for Delphi Automotive Systems in Paris, France, and completing a research project at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Electricité et de Mécanique (ENSEM) in Nancy, France, where he developed digital imaging analysis tools to analyse turbulent mixing flows for the modelling of the dispersion of pollutants in cities. He graduated in 2002 with a Master’s degree in Engineering.
Following graduation, Russell trained in Broadcast Engineering Project Management at the BBC, gaining the BBC Eng qualification and managing a key part of the first UK public service High Definition TV channel, launched in 2006.
Russell joined the patent profession in 2007 and qualified as a European patent attorney in 2011 and as a Chartered British Patent Attorney in 2013. Russell joined Withers & Rogers in 2013.
Stuart Latham
Stuart Latham is a patent attorney in our Electronics, Computing & Physics group. He has a Mechatronics engineering background and heads up the firm’s Robotics & Autonomous Systems sector group. He is also a prominent member of our Oil & Gas sector group.
Stuart’s experience extends to patent drafting and prosecution, invention harvesting, competitor intelligence and advising on patent and design infringement matters. He has experience of dealing with inventions across a broad range of technologies, ranging from high-tech electronics and telecommunications inventions to complex electromechanical and mechanical devices. In particular, Stuart has expertise in the fields of aircraft landing gear, downhole oil & gas technologies, haptic feedback devices, mobile robotics and plasma processing and curing systems.
He works with a variety of multinational companies in the aerospace, oil & gas, computing, home appliance and packaging industries. He also works with SMEs, individuals and major UK universities.
Stuart has successfully defended a number of European Patents during EPO opposition and appeal proceedings, including the maintenance of a patent without change in a case where the EPO continued with an opposition of its own motion.
Russell Barton
Russell specialises in drafting and prosecuting patent applications relating to both physics and computing, with a particular emphasis on software.
Russell has regularly given talks on the EPO’s approach to computer implemented inventions, and provided an analysis of decisions of different Boards of Appeal on the patentability of user interfaces.
In relation to physics he has handled applications relating to topics including photonics, spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, medical imaging and focusing of X-rays, optical antennas, LEDs and lasers.
Russell has worked on behalf of a variety of global consumer electronics and computing companies, UK based start-ups, and UK and US based universities.
Russell has also been helping to coordinate the firm’s understanding of, and response to, the changes that will be bought by the forthcoming Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court. He has also aided formulation of strategic advice for our clients regarding options that they may wish to take before and after the changes.
Education & background
Russell graduated from Oxford University in 2000 with a degree in Physics. He then joined Withers & Rogers LLP in February 2001. He qualified as both UK Patent Attorney and as a European Patent Attorney in 2004 and was awarded the Michael Jones prize for the highest mark for patent amendment.
Richard Worthington
Richard’s patent experience lies mainly in the fields of mechanical and electrical engineering ,with a particular emphasis on aerospace and defence, automotive, clean energy, packaging and medical device technologies.
Richard works extensively on a wide range of aircraft technologies, including flight control surfaces and systems, composites design and manufacturing, aircraft structures, fuel systems and UAVs. In the automotive sector he has particular experience of IC engines, turbochargers, vehicle air-conditioners, caravans, smart toll charging systems and off-highway vehicles. He also has patent experience in the wind energy sector of blade control systems, turbine construction and condition monitoring.
He supports a wide range of clients including universities, start-ups and multinational corporations such as Europe’s leading commercial aircraft manufacturer.
As head of the firm’s Designs group, Richard advises clients mainly in the cosmetics, fashion, furniture and medical device industries. His clients use design rights to supplement other forms of IP protection, such as patents and trade marks, and as a stand-alone backbone of their IP strategy. Richard often combines his keen eye for design aesthetics with his engineering background to great effect in scoping out design registrations for functional items.
Richard has a wealth of experience in all aspects of patent practice. In addition to patent drafting and prosecution work around the world he is experienced in portfolio management, invention harvesting, litigation and European Patent Office Opposition and Appeal proceedings, IP ownership in collaborative projects, licensing and entitlement dispute resolution, and freedom to operate, validity and infringement opinions.
Career highlights to date include the successful resolution of a complex IP ownership dispute and a commercial due diligence exercise, both for global clients where the outcome was strategically important to their business.
Education & background
Richard graduated with a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Imperial College, London. He entered the profession in 2002, qualifying as a European and UK Patent Attorney in 2007. Richard joined Withers & Rogers in 2008.
Paul Foot
Paul’s practice focuses on the packaging, automotive and construction sectors. He has particular expertise in providing FTO searching and advice in relation to aftermarket products in the automotive sector, and for both patents and designs for products in the packaging sector.
Paul’s particular areas of technical expertise include truck driveline and braking systems, construction machinery, modular building systems and paperboard packaging in the food-to-go and beverage markets.
Latterly, Paul has assisted a number of clients from SMEs to large corporates in benefiting from Patent Box tax relief by securing early grant of applications with coverage tailored to maximise the corporation tax savings.
Paul is a regular speaker at in-house and external seminars in relation to patenting and freedom to operate strategies.
Education & background
Paul graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering and German from Loughborough University. He then went on to become an examiner at the UKIPO. Paul then entered the profession in 1999 and qualified as a patent attorney in 2005. He joined Withers & Rogers in 2001.
Paul is also co-founder and Managing Partner of our Sheffield office.
Nicholas Jones
Nicholas handles work in the fields of medicinal chemistry and drug design, synthetic organic chemistry, formulation, new medical indications, radiopharmaceuticals, advanced drug delivery, biopharmaceuticals, biosensors, drug delivery devices, coatings, agrochemicals, and chemical processes for the mining industry. He also advises on Supplementary Protection Certificates for medicinal products and plant protection products.
Nicholas works with a number of domestic and overseas clients. He has worked for many years with companies in the Takeda Pharmaceutical Group, both in Japan and in Europe. He is a regular visitor to Japan, where he also works with a number of other pharmaceutical and chemical clients, including companies in the Sumitomo Group. He works with the Portuguese pharmaceutical company BIAL – Portela & Ca. SA., the Swedish biosensor manufacturer Attana AB and the Norwegian pharmaceutical company BerGenBio ASA. In the US, he works with Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals and the radiopharmaceuticals producer Curium (Mallinckrodt Nuclear Medicine), as well as a number of companies in the Koch Industries Group. He also works closely with UCL Business Ltd (the technology transfer business of University College London).
Prior to entering the patents profession, he gained experience in pharmaceutical research and development, particularly formulation technology and analytical research, with companies in the Glaxo Group.
Education & background
Nicholas is a qualified pharmacist with substantial expertise across all areas of pharmaceutical research and development. He has Bachelor of Pharmacy (First Class Honours) and PhD degrees from the University of Nottingham. He was the recipient of numerous university and industry awards throughout his first degree, both for academic excellence and original research. His PhD research was in the field of gene therapy.
Nicholas joined Withers & Rogers in 1999, qualified as a Chartered Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney in 2003 and became a Partner in 2006.
Nick Wallin
Nick Wallin is the lead partner for our Electronics, Computing & Physics group, the largest practice group in the firm. He is also an experienced patent litigator who has handled cases before the UK Court of Appeal and High Court, and the EPO Boards of Appeal. Nick works for a wide range of clients, in fields ranging from geospatial data processing to electro-surgical instruments and medical imaging, through to sensors for defence purposes and the oil and gas industry.
With a technical background in electronics, software, and communications, Nick spent time working at BT labs in the fields of speech synthesis and video-conferencing before joining the patent profession in 1997. After qualifying as a European Patent Attorney he then returned to BT for a period as in-house patent counsel before joining Withers & Rogers in 2004. Nick became a partner in the firm in 2006, and in 2008 handled the Symbian v Comptroller-General of Patents case concerning the patentability of computer operating systems, which was successful in confirming the patentability of operating systems for computers. Since that time Nick has specialized in developing and executing cost-effective IP procurement and development strategies for his clients, combining his in-house and private practice experience together to provide an “outsourced in-house” IP counsel service for his clients.
Education & background
Nick holds Master’s degrees in Electronics Systems Engineering (MEng, York) and Intellectual Property Litigation (LLM, Nottingham Trent) achieving first class honours in his MEng, and a Distinction in his LLM.
Michael Jaeger
Michael’s patent work has covered the fields of telecoms, telephony, encryption, video transmission, memory devices, display screens, copiers and detectors, as well as mechanical inventions such as FMCG. His clients currently cover the fields of Voice over IP, video transmission, satellite technologies, tracking devices and prosthetics.
Michael has worked on a number of cases relating to computer implemented inventions (software) and notably was able to achieve a successful outcome in this area for one of his clients at a UK Patent Office Hearing.
Michael has worked for a number of clients who operate within the television domain. His experience covers hardware design, such as plasma and LED screens, as well as video transmission system design. Michael’s practice has encompassed set top box design and manufacture, conditional access systems and content selection and delivery algorithms. He has prosecuted dozens of patent applications in this field and continues to regularly represent clients at oral proceedings before the European Patent Office.
He has a keen interest with start-ups and has worked with a number of such companies to secure patent protection for their innovative products. Michael has a great familiarity with the UK’s Patent Box tax incentive scheme and has run seminars and advised many clients in this area.
Michael has extensive experience working with direct clients where he has been involved in design, patent and copyright litigation as well as restorations, a central limitation at the European Patent Office and due diligence exercises for complex corporate transactions.
Michael heads the firm’s Space group. Michael is a member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys’ (CIPA) Professional Development Working Group, which organises educational events for CIPA’s members, and is often found chairing webinars. Michael is also a member of the Licencing Executives Society and the American Intellectual Property Law Association, whose events he regularly attends.
Education & background
He trained with a central London firm of Patent Attorneys and qualified as a European Patent Attorney in 2006 and as a Chartered Patent Attorney in 2008. Michael has a degree in Engineering Sciences from the University of Cambridge and a postgraduate diploma in Communications Engineering from Birmingham University. He then went on to gain valuable industrial experience in both development and commercial roles in the field of telecommunications with Marconi before entering the patent profession in 2002.
Matthew Gillard
Matthew’s clients include world-leading companies in the telecommunications, electronics and computing sectors and several leading UK universities.
Matthew has succeeded in obtaining broad patent protection for highly mathematical, algorithmic inventions on behalf of a range of clients. In one particular hearing, Matthew’s thorough grasp of the mathematical technology at issue enabled him to eliminate objections to the grant of a patent through the unusual step of arguing that an alleged earlier design was inoperative (i.e. by arguing insufficiency).
Education & background
Matthew graduated from Oxford University in 1993 with a degree in Physics.
He joined Withers & Rogers in 1998 following three years as a Patent Examiner at the UKIPO and became a partner in 2005.
Karl Barnfather
Karl’s experience includes software (especially user interface, financial instruments and web-based systems, and AI), aerospace, photonics and telecommunications, among many others. His creative approach means he is particularly adept at taking on difficult software and computer implemented inventions.
Karl is passionate to ensure innovative companies maximise their potential benefits from the IP system not least through use of an IP strategy commensurate with their own business goals. Karl founded an interactive workshop approach to IP Strategy to enable innovators better to understand how IP fits within a product/service lifecycle, Karl is the Chair of the LES IP Strategy committee and speaks at international conferences on this subject. He has recently extended the interactive workshop approach to engage innovators in the use of IP to protect artificial intelligence systems.
Karl has represented companies ranging from high-tech university spin-outs to multinational companies, across many technology sectors. Karl seeks to ensure the most appropriate IP protection is obtained to meet the client’s expectations and needs.
Karl has enjoyed success before the Opposition Boards and Appeal Boards of the European Patent Office, revelling in the efficient, inquisitorial style of the proceedings, and has led cases in technologies ranging from magneto-optics to financial instruments. He has been invited to speak at many international and domestic conferences such as PraxisUnico and IET. He has chaired panel sessions at ABA and LES conferences, and continues to speak at various meetings especially on the thorny software patents issue.
Education & background
Karl has undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Physics from the University of Warwick. His doctorate was carried out in part in Grenoble, France and used magnetic resonance and neutron scattering techniques to investigate hydrogen fuel cell technology. The benefit of a modern Physics degree covering much electronics, computing and robotics, as well as traditional subjects such as optics and wave theory, and other theoretical aspects of Physics gives Karl an excellent base on which to practice as a patent attorney. He recently enjoyed completing the Oxford University “Fintech Programme” run by the Said Business School to consider disruption and future trends in fintech, regtech and proptech.
Karl began in IP licensing electronics technology in the corporate sector. Karl is a qualified Chartered Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney. He became a Partner with us in 1997 and has held the lead Partner role of each of our Marketing, Midlands, and Electronics teams. He was unanimously elected Chair of Withers & Rogers LLP commencing April 2012.
Karl has the Université de Strasbourg (CEIPI) Diploma in European Patent Litigation and is qualified to practice before the Unified Patent Court. He is also recognised as a leading IP Strategist as one of the IAM 300 IP Strategists and Chair of the LES GB&I IP Strategy Committee.
Justin Wilson
Justin primarily works on drafting and prosecuting patent applications in the UK, Europe and around the world, and devising appropriate patenting strategies to protect his clients’ technologies to the greatest extent possible. He has also handled a number of oppositions and appeals before the European Patent Office and has been involved in several due diligence projects, including in relation to stock market listings and potential acquisitions.
Justin has particular expertise in gene and cell therapies and as a result heads up Withers & Rogers’ cell & gene therapy specialist practice group.
More broadly, Justin also has experience across a range of technologies in the life sciences, in particular in biochemistry, immunology and pharmacology. Some of the specific areas he has worked on with clients include: new active pharmaceutical ingredients; formulations of pharmaceuticals; drug delivery systems; screening and diagnostic methods using genetic and/or protein markers; therapeutic antibodies; vaccines; RNA therapeutics; gene therapies; therapeutic T-cells; diagnostic kits; bacteria and methods for genetically engineering bacteria, and biofuels. Justin also has experience in Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs).
Justin works with a range of different clients so he is comfortable adapting and tailoring his advice to suit their needs. He does work for a number of academic institutions, both in the UK and Europe. He also works with small and medium size companies, as well as large multinational organisations.
Education & background
Justin has a Master’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Oxford, covering all aspects of molecular and cellular biochemistry as well as organic chemistry. His final year specialisation was in immunology and neuropharmacology. Justin also spent time conducting research in the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, Oxford, both as part of his degree and also afterwards as a research assistant. He joined Withers & Rogers in 2005.
Joanna Thurston
Joanna handles chemical inventions across the entire range of this field from biochemistry to physical chemistry. She has particular expertise in the areas of clean technology (in particular where it utilises electrochemistry), nanomaterials, textiles and in formulation chemistry.
Joanna advises clients of all sizes, and specialises in the provision of advice to the Higher Education sector and to the chemical industry. In particular, Joanna has worked with some of the world’s largest FMCG companies, handling work in the confectionery and personal care sectors. In addition, Joanna works with clients who are innovating in the areas of textiles, non-woven materials including paper and board, electrochemistry, petrochemicals, display technologies, recycling, print, paint and coating technology and nanotechnology among others.
Joanna is a general chemist and a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Society of Chemical Industry and the Society of Dyers and Colourists. She is an active member of our Higher Education team, working with many UK, US and Japanese universities and is a regular attendee at AUTM and Praxis Auril events.
Joanna is regularly invited to give talks on the subject of Intellectual Property at external seminars.
Education & background
Joanna obtained a first class degree from the University of Exeter, graduating top of her year. She then obtained a PhD in electrochemistry before entering the profession in 2002, where she trained in the chemical team of a private practice firm. Joanna qualified as a patent attorney in 2005, joining Withers & Rogers in 2008. In 2009 she spent a valuable year working as a technology transfer professional in the Technology Transfer Office of a major local university.
During her training Joanna won two prizes, each for passing UK examination papers with the highest mark.
Jim Ribeiro
Jim has experience in a variety of sectors, including metrology in the semiconductor fabrication industry, wind turbines, electronics, computing, telecommunications, aerospace and defence, medical devices and scientific instruments.
Jim has acted for clients in the aircraft, scanning probe microscopy, medical imaging and submersible vehicle sectors. He has advised a variety of clients, ranging from start-ups and universities to larger companies based in Europe, the US and Japan.
Notable achievements include a number of successful oppositions, acting both for the opponent and the patent owner. Jim has also assisted in the development of patent portfolios for a number of companies which were subsequently purchased by large corporates on the strength of their patent portfolios.
Jim’s breadth of technical experience gives him the ability to deal with a wide range of technologies.
Education & Background
Jim has a first class honours degree in Physics from Bristol University. He trained at a firm of patent attorneys in London from 1992 to 1998, where he qualified as a UK Patent Agent and European Patent Attorney. He then worked in New Zealand until 2004, returning home in November 2004 to join Withers & Rogers’ where he became a partner in 2006.
James Gray
James has worked with businesses and individuals involved in a wide range of innovative technologies. These include petrochemical distribution and handling, motorsport fire safety and suppression, peripheral vascular and neuro vascular medical devices, commercial vehicle air management systems and high speed watercraft.
At W&R James works with a range of clients extending from individual inventors, through SMEs to global multinationals.
James has had multiple successes for clients before EPO Opposition and Appeal Boards.
Education & background
James has an Engineering degree from the University of Strathclyde and entered the patent attorney profession in 1994 with a firm based in Scotland. He joined Withers & Rogers in 1997 and entered the Partnership in 2005.
Jack Whitfield
After starting out in Sheffield, he moved to the firm’s Munich office in 2017 to help further increase Withers & Rogers’ presence in mainland Europe.
Since joining Withers & Rogers, Jack has gained experience in a variety of areas. He has particular expertise in automotive inventions; food packaging, such as for ice cream and sandwiches; industrial equipment, such as drying apparatus; and kitchen apparatus, such as food dispensers.
Jack has worked with a wide range of clients, from helping to manage the portfolio of large corporations to interacting directly with SMEs and individual inventors.
Education & background
Jack graduated from Newcastle University with a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He joined Withers & Rogers in 2012 and qualified as a UK Patent Attorney and as a European Patent Attorney in 2017.
Howard Wright
Howard has extensive experience in patenting inventions in a broad range of technologies. These include medical apparatus, computer-related inventions, mechanical inventions and semiconductor devices.
Howard has worked with many multinational, medium-sized and smaller companies, as well as with individuals. Much of his work is with SMEs for whom patents can play a huge part in their success. He also works closely with many patent attorneys overseas. His clients include Thorn Security Limited. Howard often travels to Taiwan to visit a number of the firm’s clients there.
Howard has successfully represented both applicants and opponents in oral proceedings at the European Patent Office (EPO). He represented one US company in a group of oppositions and appeals against a large German corporation.
His client experience includes writing a patent attorney’s report for a client that formed part of its prospectus when it was listed on the London Stock Exchange. He has also advised on the validity of patents and on the risk of infringement. Another client required a positive opinion as to the validity of their patents as part of a round of fund-raising, and with Howard’s help, they were able to make some straightforward post-grant amendments to put the patents’ validity virtually beyond question.
For another client, Howard advised in modifying the design of their prototype product so as to avoid risk of infringement of a competitor’s product. Although the modifications were costly as a result of the need to retool, the final design was nearly 15% more efficient than the original design.
Education & background
Howard holds a degree in physics with solid state electronics from Exeter University. He joined Withers & Rogers in 1992 and became a partner in our London office in 1999.
Helen Henderson
Helen has extensive experience of drafting, filing and managing international patent portfolios for a range of UK and overseas clients, with a focus on the UK and US Higher Education sectors and start-ups.
Helen has a particular interest in biotechnology patents, working with inventions encompassing molecular biology, cell culture, regenerative medicine, antibodies, gene therapies, cancer immunology, generation and use of recombinant proteins, and genome engineering. Due to her background in neuroscience Helen has drafted and filed a number of applications relating to the delivery of therapeutic agents directly into the brain.
Helen also has several years of experience working with a client in the respiratory sector, drafting and prosecuting patent applications for pharmaceutical formulations with a focus on novel drug formulations and dosage forms.
As part of her work with the Higher Education sector Helen is an active member of AUTM, PraxisAuril and LES.
Education & background
Helen graduated from Bristol University with a first class degree in Equine Science. She went on to complete a PhD in neuroendocrinology, writing her thesis on the molecular, cellular and endocrine mechanisms underlying the intrapituitary control of fertility in sheep and horses. Helen has presented her research at international conferences and has published several papers in peer-reviewed journals.
Helen entered the profession in 2005. She qualified as a patent attorney in 2010 before joining Withers & Rogers in 2011.
Elizabeth Swan
Elizabeth is fascinated by science in general, and has experience spanning a range of different areas within the chemistry arena. She has particular expertise in fast moving consumer goods such as cosmetic and personal case compositions, firelighters, firelogs, and sanitary products, as well as in the medical sector, including pharmaceuticals and medical devices, particularly medical devices for IVF. Elizabeth also works with inventions in the Oil & Gas sector.
Elizabeth has worked with a wide range of clients. Locally, these include businesses of all sizes as well as universities and NHS trusts. A significant part of Elizabeth’s work is with direct UK and overseas clients, particularly from Scandinavia. Elizabeth also works with overseas attorneys from all around the world.
The majority of Elizabeth’s work is at the European Patent Office, where she enjoys the cut and thrust of oppositions and appeals. Elizabeth regularly advises clients on freedom to operate issues. As well as having excellent attention to detail, she always provides a commercial focus for clients.
Education & background
After being awarded a first class Honors degree in Chemistry from Durham University, Elizabeth completed an internship in research and development within the fast moving consumer goods industry.
Elizabeth entered the profession in 2002 and trained with a London firm where she qualified as a patent attorney in 2006 before joining Withers & Rogers in 2009.
Diego Black
Diego works across a wide range of technologies and specialises in computer implemented inventions. His wider experience covers the automotive industry as well as the design and manufacture of devices and sensors.
Diego’s experience in the computing area includes user interfaces, operating systems, display system technology, encryption protocols, logistics, application software, consumer devices, computer modelling, speech recognition, online content delivery systems and security. He specialises in software patentability issues where he has written papers and presented talks on the issue.
In addition Diego has experience in automotive based inventions both in software and vehicle components, optics and display technologies, as well as the design and manufacture of detectors.
Diego has worked with a wide range of clients, from major multinational consumer electronics, software and personal device and detection device manufacturers, universities to SME and start-ups.
Education & background
Diego qualified as a patent attorney is 2012. Prior to this he graduated with a Master’s in Science in Physics with Astrophysics from the University of Bristol. He then completed his PhD in Astrophysics at Liverpool John Moores on the “Properties of Classical Novae”. He is also a fluent French speaker.
David Nicholls
David has practical experience of working in the fields of electron microscopy, opto-electronic devices and nanotechnology. He has a wide experience of techniques used for developing semiconductor materials and devices, as well as the processes for fabricating and characterising them.
David has been involved in the prosecution of a wide range of technologies working on cases for a range of clients from small UK start-ups to global consumer electronics companies.
David’s experience of both academic and commercial research has given him an excellent grounding in the technology sector as well as an insightful understanding of the perspective of an inventor.
Education & background
Before joining Withers & Rogers in 2011, David worked as a research scientist in the Advanced Opto-electronic Devices group at Sharp Laboratories of Europe Ltd, where, amongst other things, he researched solid state light sources for use in applications such as display technologies. Prior to this he obtained a First Class degree in Physics with study in continental Europe (2003) and a PhD relating to the determination of structural and optical properties of nanostructures (2007), both from the University of Bristol.
David McWilliams
With twenty years of experience in the world of patents, David has worked with a wide range of clients across many traditional engineering disciplines – with a practice focused primarily on his considerable expertise in the Oil & Gas, Construction and Automotive sectors.
David is a specialist in most ‘upstream’ Oil & Gas technologies. He proudly manages a team handling a large portfolio of ‘North Sea’ patent applications for a major oilfield service company, including direct filings at the UKIPO and EPO, as well in Norway and Germany. Not surprisingly, David is a regular visitor to the USA, in particular to Texas.
David has a real passion for working in Japan. He has been visiting Japan twice a year for over ten years, continues his Japanese lessons whenever possible, and is extremely pleased to represent a leading Japanese multinational engineering, electrical equipment and electronics company.
David has in-depth expertise in complex automotive technologies, managing a patent portfolio for a leading developer of clutches, dual clutch transmissions and engines for over ten years. An ex-civil engineer, David also represents many clients in the Housing & Construction industries. He also manages a worldwide portfolio of patents, designs and trade marks for a UK-based food services company.
David loves to work closely with his clients, both at management and inventor level. He has considerable expertise in advising senior management on strategic IP issues to benefit business strategy, and is particularly skilled at harvesting valuable invention disclosures from product development teams.
A dynamic communicator, David is a skilled adversary at Opposition Proceedings before the EPO. He also has considerable strength and expertise in patent and design right disputes, both as plaintiff and defendant. As a result, David is often called upon to help businesses design around IP rights in competitor products.
Education & background
David entered the patent profession as an Examiner at the UKIPO in 1998. He moved to private practice in 2000, before joining Withers & Rogers in 2004. David was made a partner in the firm in 2009, and co-founded the Sheffield office shortly after.
David Elsy
David specialises in the fields of recombinant DNA technology, molecular biology, drug discovery, microbial and plant biotechnology and healthcare products.
David has particular expertise in PCR, diagnostic assays (cancer and pregnancy related assays), biosensors, stents and catheters, cleaning, skin and hand care, polymerisation catalysts and processes and waste processing.
Education & background
David has a Biological Science degree and PhD on “The Effects of Gamma Radiation on DNA”. David had a four year spell as a Patent Examiner at the UKIPO, before joining Withers & Rogers in 1994. He qualified as a UK patent attorney and European patent attorney in 2000.
His clients include a number of well-known universities, university spin outs, small, medium and large national and international companies.
He has presented talks across the UK, USA and Middle East.
David is a member of the Royal Society of Biology (MRSB).
Dave Croston
Dave has an active contentious practice, with a track record of cases before the Court of Appeal, the High Court and the Patent County Court (now the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court) as well as in oppositions and appeals at the European Patent Office.
Dave acts for clients in a diverse range of technology sectors such as aircraft propulsion, motorsport, homewares, packaging, medical devices and agricultural engineering to name a few.
Dave ran the successful appeal at the Court of Appeal in Vector Corporation vs. Glatt Air Techniques, Inc., the first successful Court of Appeal case by a Patent Attorney Litigator on appeal from the High Court.
Another of Dave’s notable achievements was securing a rare and substantial cost award at the European Patent Office on behalf of his client, one of the biggest ever granted by that tribunal.
Callum Wardle
Callum’s technological specialism is in electronics, though his broader engineering experience has enabled him to work in other related fields, most notably aerospace components and systems.
Callum’s wide ranging technological and engineering interests have equipped him with the ability to appreciate quickly the fundamental concepts behind new inventions. An easy going nature and common sense approach helps Callum quickly form a strong rapport with his clients.
Education & background
Callum gained a degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering at Nottingham University before beginning his training as a patent attorney with a London firm in 1997. He joined Withers & Rogers in 2001 and became a partner in 2005.
Christopher Range
Christopher handles work in the fields of aerospace, automotive and manufacturing engineering, as well as the medical device sector.
Christopher represents a range of clients, from global businesses to SMEs and individuals working in a diverse range of Engineering Technologies. He is a regular visitor to both China and the United States of America, where he has a number of direct clients.
Christopher is practiced in drafting and prosecuting patent applications through to grant, managing patent and registered design portfolios that include foreign rights, and advising on freedom to operate, competitor monitoring, and due diligence activities. Christopher also handles contentious issues, advising clients in relation to asserting their IP rights and undertaking licencing negotiations.
Education & background
Christopher has a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Bristol.
Before becoming a patent attorney, Christopher was a Manufacturing Engineer at Airbus. There, Christopher worked on wingbox development for a variety of aircraft programmes, and spent time working in both Germany and Spain.
Christopher joined Withers & Rogers in 2011, qualified as a Chartered Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney in 2015 and was promoted to Partner in 2021.
Christopher also has a special interest in Space Technology, and is a member of the firm’s Space Group. He regularly attends industry events and is a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Chris Froud
Chris has a wealth of experience in autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs), particularly for industrial applications, and has knowledge of a variety of navigation methods including line-following, laser target navigation, natural feature and vision guidance. Chris has also worked on a range of dynamic positioning and vessel control systems for the offshore marine market, which are used to accurately control the position of vessels during platform supply, crew transfer, and offshore construction. As part of this work, Chris has developed expertise in a range of radar and lidar position reference sensors. He also has expertise in navigation systems, both general satellite navigation as well as navigation systems for driverless cars.
Chris has helped to protect robots for use in harsh and restricted environments, such as the nuclear industry. He also has a wealth of experience in industrial control systems and instrumentation, where he has worked with a range of equipment in both industrial and scientific settings while working as a patent attorney and also during his time as a PhD student and research scientist working at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.
Overall, Chris has a broad range of interdisciplinary skills covering physics and chemistry, which enables Chris to advise clients who work on the boundary of these disciplines, such as scientific instrument or medical device manufacturers. Much of Chris’ work relates to mobile devices, including displays, antennas, user interfaces, non-volatile memory, batteries and battery charging, and camera technology. In addition, Chris has a wide-range of experience in optics, optical systems and lasers.
He also advises clients on the patentability of computer software and business methods, and is successful at manoeuvring clients around the challenges such inventions face in the UK and Europe.
Chris works with a wide range of clients, from large corporate clients with substantial patent portfolios to small and medium sized businesses where he works directly with the business leaders to identify, protect and exploit their inventions. He also advises a number of start-up businesses, where the patent strategy Chris has devised has been key to obtaining funding and licensing opportunities to propel these businesses forwards.
Education & background
Before joining the patent profession in 2009, Chris worked as a research scientist at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory where he was part of the team that designed and built the Artemis laser facility, which is an ultrafast laser for time-resolved experiments. He holds a PhD from the Optoelectronics Research Centre at the University of Southampton where his research project focused on developing an X-ray laser system for imaging biomolecules and nanomaterials. Prior to this, Chris obtained a Master of Chemistry degree in 2002. As part of his studies, he spent six-months working in the Spectroscopy Products Division of Renishaw plc, researching new techniques for using Raman spectroscopy to study laminated polymers. His placement project was awarded the Unilever prize for best final year project.
Bethan Halliwell
Bethan has experience in drafting and prosecuting patent applications in a wide range of fields and technologies, and has particular experience in sensing technologies such as optical fibre sensing for the oil and gas industry, geospatial data processing and other computer implemented inventions, medical technology such as electrosurgical instruments, injector systems and medical imaging systems, and magnetic generators for use in the aerospace industry.
Bethan works with a range of clients from large international corporations to smaller UK based companies and Higher Education Institutes. In particular, Bethan has experience of working closely with a number of UK based companies to develop cost-effective and strategic IP portfolios based on their commercial needs.
Education & background
Bethan graduated from the University of Warwick in 2012 with Master’s degree in Physics, where she focused her studies on condensed matter, solid state and quantum physics. In July 2014, Bethan completed the Post Graduate Certificate in Intellectual Property at Bournemouth University, passing with Merit. Bethan qualified as a European Patent Attorney in July 2016, and as a UK Patent Attorney in March 2018.
Andrew Thompson
Andrew has extensive experience drafting patent applications relating to a variety of technologies. In particular, he is experienced in mobile telephone, software and defence-related technologies. These include 3G cellular networks for one of the UK’s first 3G network providers, and GPS and mobile phone antenna design for a UK-based designer and manufacturer of antennas.
Andrew has sat on the patent committees of two major UK technology companies, giving him a great deal of insight into patent filing and strategy decisions. The time he spent working in-house with one of the firm’s larger software clients gave Andrew a valuable commercial take on the role of patents in business, and the running of an in-house patent department.
Currently, Andrew provides patent drafting and prosecution services to a UK-based research and development and product design company in the defence sector. As well having a number of UK-based clients, he works closely with a number of companies in the United States and travels there on a regular basis.
Education & background
Andrew’s patent career commenced in London in 2001 and he joined Withers & Rogers in 2006. Prior to this Andrew studied Electrical & Electronic Engineering at the University of Birmingham, gaining a degree. His degree course covered several key fields, including: analogue circuit design, digital systems, power electronics, control systems, telecommunications and computer communications networks.
Adrian Tombling
Adrian has diverse experience and works for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as medical device companies.
He has specific expertise in patent work relating to recombinant DNA technology, recombinant antibodies, gene therapy, diagnostic tests, screening methods and vaccines. Adrian also has experience of working with a major sporting goods company. He has extensive experience of opposition and appeal procedures before the European Patent Office.
Adrian works with a number of universities as well as small and large biotechnology companies.
Adrian also takes a particular interest in Chinese patent law and is a regular visitor to China.
Education & background
Adrian has a degree in Genetics from Aberdeen University. He then went on to qualify as a patent attorney in 1998.
Adrian spent seven years in private practice with another firm of patent attorneys before joining Withers & Rogers in 2000.
Adrian currently heads up our Munich office and is closely involved with the European Patent Office. In particular, he is an associate member of the European Patent Institute biotechnology committee.
Nicola Anderson
Nicola’s experience as a patent attorney lies mostly in the packaging, rail and automotive sectors. She also has experience with mechanical latches, medical devices and energy. She has particular expertise in FTO searching and advice regarding patents and designs for packaging products. Thanks to her earlier career, Nicola has experience in the design of fabrication units for power electronics used in the rail industry.
Nicola’s clients include multi-national companies and SMEs, as well as private inventors.
Education & background
Nicola graduated from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 2006 with a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with honours in Mechanical Engineering. She worked as a mechanical draughtsman at an electrical engineering firm before joining Withers & Rogers as a trainee in 2008, qualifying as a UK patent attorney in 2012 and as a European patent attorney in 2015.
