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Gold - Firms
Gold - Firms: prosecution
Boult Wade Tennant continues to maintain its reputation as one of the United Kingdom’s strongest patent prosecution offices. A particular standout of the firm’s practice is the deftness, technical sophistication and tenacity with which its practitioners handle oppositions at the EPO. The Cambridge-based Matthew Spencer is an expert in biotech and pharma work. A skilled drafter, Spencer also routinely supports his clients with keen-sighted due diligence and freedom-to-operate advice. One recent commercialisation project was for Abcam plc, which Spencer assisted in a NASDAQ listing last year. Another life sciences specialist in Edward Ronan. He regularly teams up with Nina White, head of the outfit’s biotechnology and life science group, including managing patent portfolios and strategy for iTeos Therapeutics and Almac Discovery. White is regularly called upon by pharmaceutical companies to handle their tricky EPO opposition and appeal work. Chemical and materials group head Adrian Hayes is also an experienced EPO advocate. Hayes typically attends over 20 oppositions every year. Other key members of the chemical group are Daniel Weston and Oliver Rutt. A member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Rutt has deep technical insight and achieves spectacular successes on behalf of his following. Weston, who supports patrons in a range of fields, has teamed up on a few occasions with Rohan Setna. The two led a successful opposition in food and beverage chemistry for Mondelez Global, defended their client Intercontinental Great Brands against an opposition launched by Nestlé and revoked a patent in appeal for Aktiebolaget SKF AB. Setna, a material science specialist who is confident working in a range of technical fields, is well connected and well respected across the UK patent landscape, and a dab hand when it comes to complex EPO work. Setna and James Short co-wrote the chapter on EPO oppositions and appeals for the fourth edition of The Patent Litigation Law Review. Short has a PhD in computer science and a background in engineering, making him a strong choice for players across a range of technologies. Dr Jonathan Palmer heads up the high-tech and electrical group. Other members of the high-tech and electrical group include Simon Kahn, Daryl Penny and Jason Pelly. Palmer, supported by Kahn and others, leads the outfit’s relationship with the UK’s Science and Technologies Facilities Council, based at Rutherford Appleton Laboratories. The group is closely involved in liaising with inventors, drafting patent applications and providing strategic advice in connection with the research institute. Pelly joins the list this year on the basis of strong customer feedback: “Jason’s detailed input feeds directly into our overall strategy. His docket management skills are superb. His guidance is always grounded in a deep understanding of the client’s business and goals, and informed by a deep knowledge of patent procedure, law and practice.” Boult Wade also boasts a flourishing designs offering. Tessa Bucks is head of engineering and designs and, like others at the group, is a skilled and accomplished handler of complex EPO opposition work. Tony Pluckrose works on the full range of intellectual property, including trademarks, and has advised numerous patrons on design and patent work, especially those involving a mixture of mechanical and electrical/electronic engineering.
We are a leading European IP, patent, design and trademark firm recognised throughout the IP world for its commercial awareness and commitment to clients. Our clients operate across a wide range of industries and are based both in Europe and elsewhere. We act for a variety of clients, from individuals and small start-up companies through to academic institutions and multinational enterprises.
We have been established in the United Kingdom since 1894, but now benefit from having multiple offices across Spain and Germany. Our teams in our UK, German and Spanish offices work together both closely and collaboratively and our strong presence across jurisdictions both inside and outside of the European Union means we are able to handle work at a national, European regional and international level.
Our skilled IP professionals have earned a reputation for pragmatic and commercial advice, delivered by people who are thoroughly down to earth. We file national patents in the United Kingdom and Germany, as well as regional and international patents at the European Patent Office and World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). We also file national trademarks and designs in the United Kingdom and Germany, EU trademarks and designs through our German and Spanish offices, as well as various international registrations through the Madrid and Hague Agreements.
The patent team
Our European, UK and German patent attorneys advise on the creation, exploitation and enforcement of IP rights across a wide range of industries. We combine our scientific and commercial knowledge with legal expertise to provide high-quality advice with outstanding client service. Boult, with offices in Germany and the United Kingdom, is perfectly positioned to provide the full range of services relating to unitary patents, as well as European patents and applications.
The trademark team
The Boult trademark team has market-leading experience before the Trademark Registry of the UK Intellectual Property Office, the European Union Intellectual Property Office, WIPO and foreign registries, in overcoming objections, successfully prosecuting and defending oppositions and appeals, and in revocation and invalidity work. The team has years of experience acting before the German Patent and Trademark Office, the German courts, the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office, the Spanish civil and commercial courts and, similarly, at the General Court of the Court of Justice of the European Union. A large part of the team’s work is in the field of dispute avoidance and dispute resolution. Our trademark professionals are highly skilled and experienced negotiators in trademark law and trademark registration, obtaining excellent outcomes for our clients. We have particular expertise in the management of large portfolios; searching and watching; domain name recovery; and trading standards and customs work. We understand that a business strategy may include expanding into new territories overseas and a client may require a local representative. In addition to our offices in the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain, we have developed strong relationships with local IP firms throughout the world.
The design team
Our European design attorneys and UK design attorneys advise clients on the creation, exploitation and enforcement of IP rights relating to designs. We combine our commercial knowledge with legal expertise to provide high-quality advice with outstanding client service. Designs is an area of IP law which overlaps with both trademarks and patents, and our team is drawn from both specialisms, enabling us to advise clients across a wide range of industries on matters of design law and practice. Moreover, understanding when to pursue design protection in addition – or as an alternative – to filings for patents or trademarks is critical. We seek to advise our clients on the best possible filing strategy for their innovations.
The plant breeders’ rights team
We have a growing practice and specialist expertise in supporting major horticultural and biopharma clients in relation to plant breeders’ rights and national listings. The team has significant experience in UK plant breeders' rights and is equipped to assist clients in obtaining rights across Europe. We also offer expert advice on the potential infringement risks associated with plant variety rights held by third parties.
Jurisdiction