Annabel Beacham

Background

Annabel is a qualified UK and European Patent Attorney and is a partner in the firm. She joined Dehns in 1994 having graduated from the University of Oxford with a First Class Honours Degree in Chemistry and having subsequently been awarded a Doctorate from the University of Oxford for research in the field of carbohydrate chemistry. Annabel became a partner in 2002.

Type of clients and client work

Annabel acts for a range of clients, including a number of US corporates. The majority of her practice involves prosecution and opposition work before the European Patent Office. She also handles applications for Supplementary Protection Certificates and provides strategic advice regarding the infringement and validity of UK and EP patents.

Expertise

Annabel handles patent work in all areas of chemistry, including pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, blood products, oil field services, cosmetics and personal care products.

Qualifications and Memberships

• Authorised Representative before the Unified Patent Court (UPC) 2023
• UK Chartered Patent Attorney, 1999
• European Patent Attorney, 1998
• Certificate in Intellectual Property Law, Queen Mary College, University of London, 1996
• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys
• Member of the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (epi)
• Foreign member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
• Member of the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI)

Higher Education

DPhil, Oxford University, “Studies in Higher Sugars”, 1994

MA, Oxford University, Natural Sciences (Chemistry), 1991

Other

Annabel is the partner with responsibility for the firm’s formalities and records departments.

Annabel has recently been recognised in the 2024 edition of the IAM Patent 1000, where it was commented that she “is a key member of the chemical group and stands out for her prosecution and opposition skill at the EPO. Her ability to craft logical arguments and present them convincingly at oral proceedings sees her regularly bring in favourable results.”

Annabel was recognised as an “IP Star” in Managing Intellectual Property’s IP Stars 2018 legal directory and as a “Patent Star” in the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions of the directory.

She was mentioned in the 2020 edition of The Legal 500 as a “key lawyer” of the firm.