Potter Clarkson has secured prominent placing in IAM Patent 1000: The World's Leading Patent Professionals 2022 - a prestigious guide that identifies the top patent professionals in key jurisdictions around the globe, following a rigorous research process.
PROSECUTION (ENGLAND)
Firm: Gold
Recommended individuals:
- Richard Bassett, Peter Finnie, Fiona Law (Highly Recommended)
- Craig Brownlie, Charlotte Crowhurst, Ian Dee, Saiful Khan, Caroline Marshall, Stephen McNeeney, Rob Pugh, Ray Charig, Stephanie Pilkington (Recommended)
LITIGATION (ENGLAND)
Firm: Bronze
Recommended individuals:
- Oliver Laing, Richard Roberts (Recommended)
TRANSACTIONS (ENGLAND)
Firm: Recommended
Recommended individuals:
- Oliver Laing, Mark Snelgrove (Recommended)
EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE
Firm: Bronze
Recommended individuals:
- Peter Finnie (Recommended)
The guide states: Though best known for its patent prosecution practice, Potter Clarkson presents a 360-degree offering to the UK market, with its combined team of patent attorneys and solicitors capable of tackling virtually any IP-related challenge. EPO oppositions are a particular strength, and 2021 has continued to see the outfit appear regularly before the Board of Appeal, with an impressive success rate. “Potter Clarkson is dedicated and committed to finding solutions to business problems. Its team is knowledgeable, transparent and available."
The publication went on the describe the calibre of the firm's experts: The group continues to reap the rewards of hiring Peter Finnie and Fiona Law in 2020, a pair of experts in creating effective European patent strategies. Finnie is a telecommunications, software and electronics ace, known for working with a huge number of European start-ups, while Law has a diverse knowledge base but is at her best in pharmaceuticals and knows her way around SPCs. “Fiona has a great ability to see opportunities to bolster our patent portfolio and mitigate against any apparent weaknesses. She has been critical to the growth of the company and has assisted us not only in terms of developing our IP strategy but also provides invaluable insight when we are evaluating other products for acquisition. She is great to work with, is able to readily simplify concepts, and is not just a patent expert, but understands the commercial aspects of the biopharma and biotech industries well.”
Also working within the life sciences are Richard Bassett, Stephanie Pilkington, Rob Pugh, Charlotte Crowhurst, Ian Dee and Stephen McNeeney. Bassett has fought in many an EPO opposition across his 40-year career and was most recently seen acting for innovative Danish biotechnology company Novozymes, while molecular biologist Pilkington brings forth an impressive knowledge of SPC issues as well as hands-on experience working as a research biochemist within Fisons Pharmaceuticals. Before joining the firm in 2003, Pugh’s early career saw him work as a research fellow at Imperial College London. Chemical and healthcare expert Crowhurst is a big help to large Korean and Chinese companies, while pharmaceuticals pro Dee has handled more than 150 oppositions across his career - both have 25 years’ experience. McNeeney, on the other hand, has been building worldwide patent portfolios for almost 30 years, as well as advising patrons on litigation before US courts.
On the electronics side, the firm is armed with Saiful Khan, Craig Brownlie, and Ray Charig - Khan has called the firm his home for 20 years, before which he worked in-house at Nokia, and nanotechnology boffin Brownlie puts his PhD to use through his complex drafting work. Charig is now a consultant, having spent three decades with Potter Clarkson, before which he spent time in industry.
The designs and engineering group is home to Caroline Marshall, who bests EPO oppositions, while the solicitors on deck include Oliver Laing, Mark Snelgrove and Richard Roberts. Laing heads up the licensing team and maintains the group’s business in Scandinavia; Snelgrove has been negotiating agreements for 30 years but also steps in on disputes; and Roberts is litigation focused and benefits from a background in chemistry.
