Ben Willows

Partner, UK and European Patent Attorney, Design Attorney, UPC Representative
Bath

Ben Willows

Ben joined EIP from the IP department at Dyson where he was responsible for managing patent portfolios in the fields of motors and power systems, automotive powertrain, and automotive electrical engineering. At Dyson Ben’s role included creating and implementing global patent filing strategies, conducting freedom-to-operate reviews and drafting and prosecution of patent applications worldwide. He also gained further experience in opposition and appeal proceedings, the monitoring of third-party rights, and registered designs.

Since joining EIP, Ben has dealt with inventions in a wide range of technology areas, and his work spans several of EIP’s practice groups. Particular areas of experience and interest for Ben include consumer electronics, aerospace, power electronics, autonomous vehicles, image processing systems, and computer systems and software. Recently Ben has carried out extensive drafting to further enhance the patent portfolios of several clients, as well as successfully representing clients in Examination Division and Opposition Division oral proceedings at the EPO, and hearings at the UKIPO. Ben takes an active role in EIP’s training program, providing tutorials and training assistance for several trainee attorneys.

Ben also has previous private practice experience, where he worked for clients in technology areas including medical and healthcare devices, construction, and LED lighting systems.

Published articles

  • November 2023
    Sifted, Thinking about applying for a patent? Here’s what founders need to know first (link)

Education

  • Certificate in Intellectual Property Litigation, 2017
  • 2008 — 2012
    MSci (Hons) Natural Sciences, University of Durham

Career history

  • 2022 — present
    Managing Associate, EIP
  • 2020 — 2022
    Senior Associate, EIP
  • 2019 — 2020
    Associate, EIP
  • 2017 — 2019
    Patent Attorney, Dyson Technology Limited
  • 2012 — 2017
    Associate, Adamson Jones IP

Awards and recognition

  • Recommended patent attorney, Legal 500 2025 (link)
  • Legal 500, 2024 (link)
  • Legal 500, 2022. (link)

Specialisms

Digital

  • Additive manufacturing
  • AI
  • Automotive electronics
  • Consumer electronics
  • Electrical engineering
  • Electromechanical systems
  • Robotics

Dynamics

  • Additive manufacturing
  • Electrical engineering
  • Electromechanical systems
  • Mechanics
  • Robotics

Energy

  • Cells
  • Geothermal
  • Hydro
  • Packs

HealthTech

  • Additive manufacturing