Invention Harvesting and IP Management

We can help you develop your strategy and the associated standard operating procedures that will set out how you capture and assess new ideas.

If you are starting out in business, we can help you get to know the basics of the IP system so that you understand the levers available to you.  As you scale, we can help embed a culture of valuing and protecting IP, and for corporates we can provide our support and creativity to in-house counsel to help you streamline your operations and demonstrate a return on investment.

European Patents

We are a European Patent Attorney firm, acting before the EPO to secure European Patents and Unitary Patents.

We also have experience in conducting opposition and appeal proceedings at the European Patent Office. The opposition procedure is a powerful weapon for centrally revoking a European Patent, because the decision of the EPO is binding on each of the national countries where the European Patent has been validated. We provide strategic guidance at each stage and always have an eye on pragmatic approaches for successful outcomes.

As well as first-filings, we can also file EPO “direct” filings based on first-filings made elsewhere and European PCT regional phase applications.  The PCT regional phase deadline before the EPO is 31 months measured from the earliest relevant priority date.

UK Patents

We act before the UKIPO to secure UK patents.  The UK is an attractive venue for a first filing, because it offers the option of making a filing and securing “patent pending” status (and a valid priority foundation) with zero official fees, while even if paying fees the total fees for most applications are a cost-effective GBP 405 and a first-filing can be made with a request for a search or a combined search and examination in order to get early official feedback on an invention’s patentability prospects before deciding upon further investment.

As well as first-filings, we can also file UK “direct” filings based on first-filings made elsewhere and UK PCT national phase applications.  The PCT national phase deadline in the UK is 31 months measured from the earliest relevant priority date.

An International Focus

We have experience of patent laws and procedures in many countries, which informs your protection strategy from an early stage.

We maintain an active network of global counsel who provide local representation and advice on the fine details of local procedures in each territory.

In particular, we have an in-depth knowledge of law and practice in the USA. This is particularly relevant when it comes to the field of computer implemented inventions, where the law and practice is evolving rapidly. Many of our local clients take a “US first” approach and we are well placed to provide local support and international connections to make such a strategy work.

The Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court

The European patent system changed in 2023, as the new Unitary Patent (UP) and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) came into being.

The Unitary Patent is administered by the EPO, and so as European Patent Attorneys we are ideally placed to obtain these important rights.  Our team also has several UPC representatives.

Unitary Patents have been proving to be very popular with our client base, although we of course take care to discuss all the various options with clients before deciding on the best course of action to suit your business needs.