Professional Qualifications
European Patent Attorney
Chartered Patent Attorney
As a Chartered and European Patent Attorney and European Patent Litigator, Jim is able to represent clients in matters before the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Unified Patent Court (UPC).
Academic Qualifications
B.Sc. Chemistry, University of York
Ph.D. Chemistry, University of York
Scientific Background
Jim’s Ph.D. was sponsored by ICI and involved the synthesis and characterisation of novel fluorine-containing engineering thermoplastics.
Jim joined Abel + Imray in 1997 and is based in the Bath Office. Before joining Abel + Imray, he spent 21 months as a Research Assistant at the University of Durham, where he prepared novel polyether electrolyte materials for Li-ion batteries. Following that, he worked for three years as a Senior Research Chemist for a global chemical manufacturer, focusing on natural polymers, and polymer synthesis, including solution, emulsion, and suspension polymerisation of acrylate polymers, as well as a range of industrial applications of water-borne polymers including paper making, construction, oilfield, water treatment, detergents, and cosmetics. Jim is a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Experience
Jim’s experience includes patent work for a range of clients including US corporations, multinationals, and university spin-outs. Drawing on a background in both academia and the chemical industry Jim works with inventors, managers, and in-house attorneys to draft and prosecute patent applications that protect innovation and align with our client’s commercial strategy. Jim also has a long experience of handling oppositions and appeals at the European Patent Office, either as stand-alone actions or as part of a wider litigation, and leads our Opposition Group of attorneys. Jim also advises on freedom-to-operate and has experience of due diligence work supporting corporate transactions. Jim is also co-secretary of the European Practice Committee of the Intellectual Property Owners Association and has contributed to the drafting of Amicus Briefs and responses to UKIPO consultations.
Key subject areas for Jim include:
- Industrial chemistry
- Oil and gas
- Materials
- Catalysis
- Drug Delivery
- Battery technology
Industrial Chemistry
Jim has deep experience in a range of areas of industrial chemistry including reactor design, process control, materials handling, additive dosing, polymerisation, and product separation including distillation, adsorption, and solvent extraction.
Oil and gas
For many years Jim has worked in this area, including inventions in well-completion, pipelines, and many aspects of petrochemicals relating to the production of hydrocarbon fuels and lubricants, olefins, polyolefins, and other downstream chemical products.
Materials
Jim’s scientific background and patent work include a wide range of polymer and composite materials, as well as films, paper making, powders, coatings, and inks. Jim has a special focus on polymers and all aspects of polymer technology through the whole life cycle from production to recycling.
Catalysis
Many patent applications have been drafted and prosecuted by Jim related to catalysts, particularly molecular sieves, zeolites, and supported organometallic catalysts.
Drug Delivery
Jim has drafted a number of patents relating to drug delivery, particularly formulations and devices for dry powder inhalers.
Battery Technology
Recently, Jim has attended many conferences in the US and UK relating to advanced batteries and the development of the battery supply chain. Jim has drafted and prosecuted patents relating to batteries and has a long-standing interest in the wider battery area.
Jim holds the role of Senior Partner. He regularly travels to the US to visit clients and give presentations on European and UK IP law.
