Our People

BSc (Hons), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, European Patent Attorney, Council Member of AIPPI, Member of AIPLA.

Colin studied chemistry at the University of Bristol. On leaving university, he joined a research team in a large international corporation as a metabolism chemist before training to become a patent attorney.

Colin joined the patent profession in 1986 and has gained widespread professional experience from working both in industry (Ministry of Defence and then a large international corporation) and private practice. Colin joined Potter Clarkson in 1997, and became a partner in 1999.

Colin has particular experience of proceedings before the European Patent Office Opposition Division and Boards of Appeal, having handled over 100 cases. He has lectured for CEIPI and The European Patent Office on the patenting of chemical inventions.

BSc (Hons), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, European Patent Attorney.

Ian studied chemistry at Leicester University. He began his career in research for a large multinational chemical corporation before moving into their patents department where he handled a wide range of chemical subject matters.

Ian joined Potter Clarkson in 1997 and became a partner in 1999.

Having handled well over 150 cases, Ian has extensive experience of opposition and appeal proceedings before the Opposition Divisions and Boards of Appeal of the European Patent Office. He also has wide experience of patent litigation in several territories around the world.

BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, European Patent Attorney.

Steve studied chemistry at the University of Manchester before obtaining a doctorate in organic chemistry from the same university. He worked in the research department of a large UK chemical company before joining the patent department of an international pharmaceutical company.

He joined Potter Clarkson in 1996 and became a partner in 1999. Steve won the Moss Prize in 1996, having obtained the highest overall mark the previous year in examinations relating to UK and overseas patent law.

Steve specialises in pharmaceutical industry-related inventions, in particular medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical formulations. He acts for a wide range of clients from Big Pharma, through SME drug discovery and drug development companies, to start-ups and University spin-outs, many of which are based outside the UK, especially in Scandinavia.

MA (Oxon), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, European Patent Attorney, Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Ian read chemistry at Oxford University, after which he worked in the research department of a large multinational company as a synthetic organic chemist. Ian entered the patent profession in 1990 and worked in private practice before joining Potter Clarkson in 1999. He became a partner in 2000.

Ian has been involved in tutoring candidates for the European qualifying examinations through EPI. Having handled well over 100 cases, Ian has extensive experience of handling oppositions and appeals before the European Patent Office. His current areas of special interest include biochemistry, catalysis, enzymes, fats and oils, formulations, nutrition, bulk chemicals, pharmacology and polymer chemistry.

BSc (Hons), PhD, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, European Patent Attorney, Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Member of the Society of Chemical Industry.

Gareth obtained a double degree in chemistry and organic chemistry at Southampton University before obtaining a doctorate in organic chemistry from the same university. He then worked as a synthetic chemist in industry for a few years before joining the patent profession in 1999.

Gareth won the CIPA Gill Prize in 2002 for passing all of the advanced UK patent qualifying examinations with the highest overall mark the previous year. After working in private practice for firms in London, he joined Potter Clarkson in 2004 as a senior associate and became a partner in 2007.

Gareth specialises in medical and chemical inventions and has substantial experience of advocacy before the Examining and Opposition Divisions of the European Patent Office and its Boards of Appeal. He has a particular interest in working with Universities and their spin-out companies.

BSc (Hons), PhD, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys and European Patent Attorney, Member of AIPLA, China Britain Business Council, The Research & Development Society and the Intellectual Property Institute. Past tutor in the EPI training programme for the European Qualifying Examinations.

Charlotte read chemistry at University College London and obtained a PhD in organometallic chemistry from Cambridge University. She joined the patent profession in 1994 and worked in private practice in London before joining Potter Clarkson in 2000.

Charlotte currently deals with a wide range of chemical and healthcare inventions such as chemical processes, pharmaceutical formulations, catalysts and medical apparatus.

In addition to extensive experience in drafting and prosecuting patent applications, Charlotte also has experience of oral proceedings before the European Patent Office including opposition proceedings and has been involved with due diligence exercises for financing procedures. She works with businesses of various sizes from small and medium sized firms to large multinational companies.

Charlotte is heavily involved with developing business relations in China and has lectured to Chinese companies on European and UK patent law and strategies for protecting inventions in Europe. She acts for several Chinese pharmaceutical companies and Universities.

Charlotte is also an advisor on European patent matters to the Chongqing IP Bureau.

MA (Oxon), DPhil, Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, European Patent Attorney.

Mike read chemistry at Oxford University before obtaining a DPhil in biomimetic co-ordination chemistry from the same university. After spending a year at the Max-Planck Institut für Strahlenchemie, as a post-doctoral researcher funded by the Royal Society, he then worked as a researcher in the fuel cells group of a large precious metals company.

Mike joined Potter Clarkson in 1998 and has particular experience in handling pharmaceutical and chemical inventions for both UK-based and international clients.

BSc (Hons), PhD, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, European Patent Attorney.

Mark read chemistry at Sheffield University. He was awarded the Ede and Ravenscroft prize and the Haworth medal for Chemistry for the highest overall marks in his examinations. After completing his studies at Sheffield he went to Cambridge University where he was sponsored by a large pharmaceutical company and obtained a PhD in organic chemistry. Some of his PhD work has been published.

Mark joined Potter Clarkson in May 2000. He works in the general chemical field, including catalysts, medical delivery devices, food products, pharmaceuticals and cosmetic compositions.

BSc (Hons), PhD, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, European Patent Attorney.

Rob read chemistry at the University of Bristol before obtaining a PhD in organometallic chemistry from the same university. He then spent three years as a post-doctoral scientist at a multinational petrochemical company in The Netherlands and at Imperial College, London. He is an author and inventor of several papers and patents and has contributed to a textbook in the fields of homogenous and polymerisation catalysis.

Rob joined Potter Clarkson in 2003 and handles patent work in the fields of medical and chemical technology, including oppositions and appeals before the European Patent Office.

MChem (Oxon), MSc, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, European Patent Attorney.

Sarah read chemistry at the University of Oxford where she obtained an MChem. After completing her studies at Oxford, Sarah obtained an MSc in the Management of Intellectual Property from Queen Mary College, University of London.

Sarah joined Potter Clarkson in September 2004 and works in the general chemical field, including catalysts, food products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetic compositions and medical delivery devices.

BSc (Hons), PhD, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, European Patent Attorney.

Savroop studied chemistry and French at the University of Manchester. He obtained a PhD, sponsored by an international pharmaceutical company, in synthetic organic chemistry from the same university.

Since joining Potter Clarkson in September 2003, Savroop has worked in the field of chemistry, specialising in all areas of pharmaceutical chemistry.

BSc (Hons), PhD, MRSC, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, European Patent Attorney.

James read chemistry with medicinal chemistry at Glasgow University and gained the highest overall marks in his examinations. He then obtained a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry from Cambridge University, where a large multinational pharmaceutical company sponsored his research. After spending eighteen months as a postdoctoral research associate at Columbia University, he then joined a large multinational pharmaceutical company as a medicinal chemist.

James joined Potter Clarkson in 2005 and specialises mainly in chemical and pharmaceutical inventions.

MChem (Hons), Student Member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys.

Joanna has obtained a Masters degree in chemistry with medicinal chemistry from St Andrews University. She obtained two prizes in her final year: one was the Organon prize for best dissertation and the other was the Gray essay prize. Joanna completed an industrial year placement with Reckitt Benckiser working within the healthcare formulation department.

Joanna joined Potter Clarkson in 2007 and works with clients in the chemical field.

BSc (Hons), PhD, Student Member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Tony read chemistry with biosciences at Cardiff University, before completing his doctorate in synthetic organic chemistry at the same institution. His research was funded by a multi-national agrochemicals company and his final year presentation was awarded their first prize. His research focused on heterocyclic synthesis and has been the subject of several patents and academic papers.

Following this, Tony undertook a period of postdoctoral research at the University of Nottingham (funded by Cancer Research UK) before joining Potter Clarkson in 2007.

Tony specialises in biotechnology and biomedical patenting matters.

MSci (Hons), PhD, Student Member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

David read chemistry at the University of Nottingham and continued to complete his doctorate in bioinorganic chemistry at the same institution. His research focussed on the synthesis and characterisation of analogues of molybdenum-containing enzymes, and he was awarded the Turner prize for the most outstanding inorganic chemistry thesis of his year. He subsequently undertook a period of postdoctoral research in collaboration with a multinational chemical company.

Following this, David spent two years working in regulatory affairs for a large contract research organisation, specialising in chemicals and biocidal substances.

David joined Potter Clarkson in 2008 and works with clients in the chemical and pharmaceutical fields.

BSc (Hons), Associate Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Student Member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys.

Louise read Medicinal and Pharmaceutical chemistry at Loughborough University, winning the AstraZeneca, Charnwood Molecular and University prizes for the highest marks in organic chemistry, the final year research project and best in year, before completing her doctorate in synthetic organic chemistry at the University of East Anglia. Her research focused on the application of asymmetric epoxidation in natural product synthesis and she is an author of several papers.

Louise joined Potter Clarkson in 2008 and handles patent work in the chemical field.