Professional Qualifications
European Patent Attorney
Chartered Patent Attorney
Diploma on Patent Litigation in Europe
Matthew has a CEIPI Diploma on Patent Litigation in Europe from the University of Strasbourg, one of only a handful of UK-based attorneys to have received that qualification that provided the skills needed to handle cases before European Unitary Patent Court.
Academic Qualifications
MChem, University of Oxford
Ph.D. Chemistry, University of Bristol
Scientific Background
Matthew’s masters research and subsequent PhD in organic chemistry focused on natural product synthesis. During his Ph.D. he worked on developing new synthetic routes to neurologically-active target compounds from carbohydrate starting materials. During his time at university, he gained experience working in the laboratories of a pharmaceutical company and as a process chemist with a substantial UK biotech company. He is a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Experience
Matthew joined Abel + Imray in 2002, and is based in the Bath Office. He handles patent matter for clients in the chemical fields ranging from start-up to multinational corporations. Matthew’s 20+ years of experience as as a patent attorney includes a substantial secondment to an in-house IP department and a particular focus on handling oppositions and appeals before the European Patent Office.
Key subject areas for Matthew include:
- Polymeric materials
- Pharmaceuticals
- Consumer products
Polymeric materials
Polymeric materials can present a particular challenge to patent as they can often only be defined as the product of the monomers used in their production. Matthew has extensive experience in handling inventions relating to radiation-cured materials, ranging from UV-curable inks and coatings, foamed materials, adhesives, silicone-containing materials, hydrogels, thermoplastics and crosslinked polymers.
Pharmaceuticals
Building on his training in pharmaceutical chemistry, Matthew has developed a particular expertise in small chemical entities, drug formulations, biochemistry and consumer healthcare. Matthew is experienced in drafting and prosecuting applications directed to Markush formulae, peptide sequences and functionally-defined formulations. Freedom to operate in the life sciences sectors also constitutes a major part of his practice with Matthew regularly advising clients in the risks involved in launching generic versions of existing drug products.
Consumer products
Consumer products require different patent strategies to products that can take many years to bring to the market. Matthew provides clients with strategic advice on how the patent system can serve clients seeking to protect innovation relating to fast-moving goods such as cosmetics, nutraceuticals and sportswear.
In-house experience
Matthew has gained invaluable experience in industry working for a substantial period on secondment to the in-house patent department of a major pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare company. This gives him an insight into the demand place on in house attorney and how their outside counsel can make their life easier. Matthew often works as an extension of an in-house department stepping in to work directly with scientists to identify inventions and provide input into patent strategy.
Contentious Matters
Matthew has handled numerous cases before the European Patent Office’s Opposition Divisions and Board of Appeal. He is comfortable with representing clients both in-person and online hearings. He both handles his own cases and comes alongside colleagues to advise them on strategy and procedural matters. Matthew also has experience of running litigation alongside proceedings before the EPO and making use of alternative means of settling disputes, such as using the UK IPO’s opinions service.
