Tim is a UK and European patent attorney with experience in dealing with patents across the chemical field, with a particular focus on pharmaceuticals and biochemistry. He has spent over 2 years on a part-time secondment to the in-house department of one of the largest multinational pharmaceutical companies and is consequently well versed in clients’ commercial considerations and the requirements of in-house counsel. Tim also works closely with start-ups in the pharmaceutical space, where he is able to offer this in-house perspective to smaller enterprises, and to provide guidance on how to optimise IP practices in order to attract investment and maximise exit value. Tim has also worked on cases relating to agrichemicals, food products and ingredients, polymers, industrial processes, materials, medical devices and mechanical inventions.
Tim has significant experience in drafting patent applications and prosecuting them at EPO, JPO and USPTO. Tim also often provides advice to clients on freedom to operate and in due diligence matters. He also typically files several oppositions each year and regularly appears before the EPO at oral hearings (both as patentee and opponent). During qualification as a patent attorney, Tim was awarded the Gill prize for the highest mark in the UK patent attorney qualifying examinations 2012, and the Drafting prize for the highest mark in the UK drafting finals paper. He also achieved amongst the highest marks in the opposition and law papers for the European qualifying examination and regularly provides tutorials to trainees in the profession.
Tim graduated with a first class masters degree in Chemistry from the University of Oxford. During his degree, he spent a year researching quantum cascade laser spectroscopy and the potential to use highly tuneable QCLs to achieve selective excitation in organic syntheses.
Experience
- Regularly attends EPO oral hearings and has significant experience of contentious matters.
- Significant experience in EPO oppositions and general opinion work (including validity and FTO).
- Worked on a range of pharmaceutical portfolios including those of GSK, Wellcome Trust, Genentech, Spirogen, Biota and Novacta.
- Experience in patents relating to food products and ingredients (Premier Foods and Tate & Lyle) and polymer chemistry (Mitsui Chemicals and Toray Industries).
Recent work
- Drafting new patent applications for GSK, Tate&Lyle and Nanosys, amongst others
- Advisory work in the area of mRNA vaccines
- Defensive oppositions for HP Inc. and GSK, and several strawman offensive oppositions. Also, significant due diligence and FTO project for GSK.
Published articles
- November 2023
EE Times Europe, Filing Patents Is Important For Green Energy Development (link) - September 2022
EIP Updates , Significant inventions that have gone under the mainstream radar (link) - July 2022
EIP Updates, Internet video evidence as prior art? The EPO Boards of Appeal have views... (link) - June 2022
Newsflash, What is the likely timing of the UPC and UP coming into being? (link) - June 2022
Newsflash, What are the options if you want to be able to use the UPC? (link) - June 2022
Newsflash, How does the opt-out work in the transitional period of the UPC Agreement? (link) - June 2022
Newsflash, What is the Unitary Patent, and how do I get one? (link) - June 2022
Newsflash, What are the options if you want to avoid the UPC? (link) - 14 July 2017
JIPLP, Another SPC referral from the UK: High Court asks CJEU for ‘more’ guidance … (link) - 23 January 2015
JIPLP, Rage against the (translation) machine (link)
Education
-
2006 — 2010
MSc Chemistry, University of Oxford
Career history
- 2022 — present
Partner, EIP - 2020 — 2022
Managing Associate, EIP - 2014 — 2019
Senior Associate, EIP - 2014
Associate, EIP - 2010 — 2014
Technical Assistant, Mewburn Ellis
Awards and recognition
- Ranked as 'Notable Practitioner' IP Stars 2024 (link)
- Ranked as a 'Notable Practitioner', IP Stars 2023
- Ranked as 'Notable practitioner', IP Stars 2022 (link)
- Ranked as "Rising Star", IP Stars 2021 (link)
- Ranked as "Rising Star", IP Stars 2020
- Ranked as "Rising Star", IP Stars 2019
- Ranked as "Rising Star", IP Stars 2018
- Gill Prize 2012 - awarded for achieving the highest mark in the UK patent attorney qualifying examinations.
- Drafting Prize 2012 - awarded for achieving the highest mark in the drafting paper in the UK patent attorney qualifying examinations.
Languages spoken
- French (Basic)
Specialisms
Digital
- Medical imaging
- Semiconductors
Elements
- Food & flavour ingredients
- Materials science
- Petrochemicals
- Pharmaceuticals
- Polymers
- Semiconductors
HealthTech
- Medical devices
- Medical imaging
- Surgical tools and implants
Life
- Agritech
- Pharmaceuticals