Matthew Sullivan

Background

Matthew is a European Patent Attorney and a Chartered (UK) Patent Attorney.  He joined Dehns in 2017 after graduating from the University of Cambridge in 2016 with a first-class Master’s degree in Natural Sciences (Chemistry). Prior to joining Dehns, he worked in the Grey Group in Cambridge where his research focused on all-solid-state lithium ion battery development.

Type of clients and client work

Matthew has experience of drafting and global prosecution of large patent portfolios for a number of multinational companies.  He also has experience in EPO oppositions and appeals as well as filing and prosecution of applications for Supplementary Protection Certificates.

As well as working for multinational companies, Matthew enjoys working with SMEs, university spin-outs and technology transfer offices.

Expertise

Matthew’s patent experience spans a range of chemical fields including: agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, new synthetic methods for producing small molecules, polymers and polymer additives, lubricants, fire-retardant compositions, cosmetics, aerosol-generating materials for e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, and antimicrobial compounds and coating technologies..

He has experience of both defensive and offensive oppositions.  Some examples of his opposition work include:

• EP2365017, T1313/22: DuPont Polymers, Inc. and others vs Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation – offensive opposition resulting in revocation of this patent relating to biomass-resource-derived polyesters having particular concentrations of nitrogen and terminal acid groups.
• EP3070118: DDP Specialty Electronic Materials US, LLC vs Kaneka Corporation – offensive opposition resulting in the revocation of this patent relating to extruded polystyrenic foams comprising a flame-retardant composition.
• EP3346861: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. vs Ansell Limited – offensive opposition resulting in limitation of this patent relating to tri-layered chemically resistant polymeric gloves.
• EP3094631: Strawman vs FMC Corporation – defensive opposition resulting in the maintenance of this patent relating to herbicidal compounds in amended form.

Qualifications and Memberships

• Postgraduate Certificate in Intellectual Property Law, Queen Mary University of London, 2018
• Chartered (UK) Patent Attorney, 2021
• European Patent Attorney, 2021
• Authorised Representative before the Unified Patent Court (UPC) 2023
• Intellectual Property Litigation Certificate, 2024
• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys
• Member of European Patent Institute

Higher Education

BA and MSci Natural Sciences (Chemistry), University of Cambridge, 2016

Other

Matthew was awarded the Bill Caro Prize for being the best overall candidate on the 2017/2018 Postgraduate Certificate in Intellectual Property Law course at Queen Mary University of London.