Our People

BSc (Hons), LLM, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, European Patent Attorney, Registered UK and European Trademark Attorney, Patent Agent Litigator, Member of AIPPI and FICPI.

Tim Powell graduated in engineering from Southampton University in 1986 following four years' concurrent industrial sponsorship by a multi-national packaging company.

In 2005 Tim graduated with commendation in the LLM in Intellectual Property Litigation from Nottingham Law School and also obtained a postgraduate certificate in intellectual property litigation from the same university.

After ten years practising in London, Tim joined Eric Potter Clarkson (now Potter Clarkson LLP) in 1995, became a partner in 1997 and joined the firm's Board of Management in 2006. He represents clients active mainly in oilfield equipment, metallurgy, consumer goods, electronic component and optics technologies.

Tim has travelled extensively on business, especially in Asia and the USA. He regularly presents papers on aspects of intellectual property to universities and to international audiences in the USA, China, Korea and elsewhere. Tim has also for many years contributed to the "Inside Careers" Guide to Chartered Patent Agents, and has published numerous papers on intellectual property subjects.

Tim was for ten years a Council Member of the European Patents Institute. He remains active on committees of that Institute and of the UK's Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys. He is also a Member of the Patent Agent Litigators' Society.

BSc (Hons), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, European Patent Attorney, Member of the Licensing Executives Society and FICPI.

Ray read physics at Southampton University. He worked a number of years for a major electronics company in research and development of semiconductor devices and integrated circuits, before joining Potter Clarkson in 1990. He became a partner in 1998.

While in industrial research and development, Ray also gained considerable experience in computer-aided manufacturing systems and has maintained a particular interest in computer technology, information systems and software applied in a wide range of technical fields such as telecommunication systems, networks, medical physics and automation of business processes. He has also acted for a number of successful start-up companies to define and develop patenting strategies and new patent portfolios.

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.

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), MBA, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA), European Patent Attorney, Registered UK and European Trademark Attorney.

After returning to university and gaining an MBA with distinction from Leeds University, Helen took up the position of Deputy Head of the Patents Department in a multinational company before joining Potter Clarkson in January 2001.

Since joining Potter Clarkson, Helen has continued to specialise in the mechanical, electro-optical and electro-mechanical areas, and medical devices. Helen also specialises in the design field, dealing with all aspects of design protection, both registered and unregistered. In addition, Helen represents clients at hearings before the European Patent Office and has been involved in litigation before the UK Intellectual Property Office. She also has extensive experience of working with academic institutions and associated technology transfer departments. Helen became a partner in 2007.

Helen is a Council Member and Education Committee Member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys.

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.

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

Andrew read molecular biology and biochemistry at Durham University and obtained a DPhil from Oxford University in the area of signal transduction and molecular biology, before moving into patent law. Andrew joined the patent profession in 1998 and worked in private practice before joining Potter Clarkson in 2000. Andrew became a partner in 2008.

Andrew handles a variety of biological and chemical technologies, with particular experience in biotechnology, including genetic engineering, industrial microbiological processes, antibody-based technologies, therapeutic and other medical inventions. He advises on all aspects of patent matters, including the preparation of applications, co ordination of multinational prosecution strategies, European opposition procedures and freedom to operate exercises.

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

Jane read genetics at the University of Wales, Swansea, choosing to specialise in the areas of human disease genetics and gene therapy technologies. As part of her undergraduate project, Jane conducted a bioinformatics study into individual DNA repair genes and their relationship to the incidences of particular cancer types. Jane was also awarded the Genetics prize for the highest finals examination marks. Prior to realising that her career path lay in the patent profession, Jane spent two years studying medicine at Oxford University.

Jane joined Potter Clarkson in October 2001 and has continued to work in the field of biotechnology. She deals with subjects including recombinant technology, antibody therapies, drug screening assays and gene therapy technologies. Jane is involved with an initiative to distribute funds to innovative business ideas arising out of East Midlands Universities. Jane has also been on the judging panel for the final of the Biotechnology YES competition in recent years.

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

Darren read engineering at Kings College, Cambridge, before completing a degree in Industrial Design Engineering at Brunel University. Throughout his studies Darren was sponsored by a multi-national packaging company. While at Brunel, Darren won the University Prize for the highest overall mark in final year examinations and the Runnymede Prize for outstanding achievement in his final year project.

Prior to joining the Designs and Engineering Group at Potter Clarkson in 2002, Darren was a design engineer with a leading product design consultancy in London. Since joining the firm, Darren has continued to work in the engineering and design fields, as well as handling electrical and textile matters.

BSc (Hons), MSc, Chartered Engineer, Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Student Member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys.

David read mechanical engineering at the University of Reading and has since worked in the mechanical engineering field for a number of government agencies and, most recently, a large multi-national corporation.

David obtained an MSc in Lubricant Technology from De Montfort University in 2004 and he joined the Designs and Engineering Group of Potter Clarkson in 2007.