Background
Neil is a European and UK Chartered Patent Attorney. He graduated with a First Class Honours Degree from the University of Oxford, in Natural Sciences (Chemistry). His degree included a year of research in sugar chemistry. He joined Dehns in 1995, was made a Partner in 2003, and handles patent work in a wide range of chemical fields.
Type of clients and client work
Neil handles patent work for a variety of clients, from sole-inventors and small start-up companies to large multinational corporations. He provides patent drafting, filing, international prosecution and strategic IP portfolio advice. He is also a regular traveller to Munich and the Hague where he represents his clients before the opposition division and appeal board at the EPO. Neil regularly handles 10 to 15 such hearings every year.
Expertise
Neil handles work in various technical fields, with particular expertise in Polymer Chemistry, especially in polyethylene and polypropylene manufacture and formulation. He also has considerable experience in the drafting and prosecution of pharmaceutical patents. Other fields in which Neil works include: marine paints, chewing gum, graphene and nutraceuticals.
Qualifications and Memberships
- Authorised Representative before the Unified Patent Court (UPC) 2024
- UK Chartered Patent Attorney, 1999
- European Patent Attorney, 1999
- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys
- Member of the European Patent Institute
Higher Education
BA (First Class) University of Oxford, Natural Sciences (Chemistry), 1995
Certificate in IP Law, University of London, 1996
Other
Neil was recognised as a “Patent Star” in the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions of Managing Intellectual Property’s IP Stars directory.
Departments
chemical, dispute resolution