Matthew Walsh
From industrial biotechnology to therapeutics and complex molecular biology, Matthew works with clients of all sizes to identify intellectual property (IP) opportunities and to develop strategies to protect and defend that IP, so it delivers commercial value.
Matthew works with clients from start-ups to large corporates to achieve their commercial IP goals. For some, that involves developing IP strategies that attract investment; for others, it means securing freedom to operate (FTO), including through challenges to third-party patents. He is an also an experienced advocate at the European Patent Office (EPO), with over 25 cases before the Opposition Divisions and Boards of Appeal.
Before becoming a patent attorney, Matthew worked in academia for many years, developing a strong background in biotechnology, particularly molecular genetics, biochemistry and cellular biology. That experience gives him a technical eye for detail and allows him to quickly understand the scientific and legal issues in a case.
- Written and oral advocacy before EPO Opposition Divisions and Boards of Appeal
- Working on patent litigation cases, in particular by providing technical and expert witness support
- Innovation capture and drafting patent applications for complex biotechnology inventions
- Prosecuting patents before the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) and the European Patent Office (EPO)
- Directing IP strategy across multiple territories worldwide
EPO oppostion highlights
- EP1753297 Novozymes A/S vs DuPont Nutrition BioSciences ApS – successful defence of a patent (maintained as granted) relating to the production of lactobionic acid in the context of dairy products.
- EP3091073 Novozymes A/S vs BASF SE – successful defence of a patent (maintained as amended) relating to the production and use of xylanase enzymes.
- EP3230427 and EP3230443 Novozymes A/S vs Henkel AG & Co. KGaA – successful oppositions (complete revocation) to two patents relating to the use of amylase and protease enzymes in laundry and cleaning compositions.
- EP2486139, EP2917354, and EP2917359 Novozymes A/S vs DSM IP Assets B.V. (then subsequently Versalis S.p.A.) – successful oppositions (complete revocation) to three patents relating to enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic material in the context of bioethanol production.
- EP3310917, EP3502253 and EP3470519 Strawman Limited vs Broad Institute and others – successful oppositions to three patents relating to CRISPR gene-editing technology and the Cpf1 endonuclease.
- EP3283625 Strawman Limited vs Wageningen Universitet (T 0386/23) – successful opposition (complete revocation) of a patent relating to CRISPR gene-editing technology and the Cpf1 endonuclease.
- EP3134521 Novozymes A/S vs BASF SE – successful opposition (complete revocation) to a patent relating to the production and use of amylase enzyme variants in the context of cleaning detergents.
- UK and European Patent Attorney
- PhD, Molecular Biology, University of Sheffield
- BSc, Genetics, University of Sheffield
About Matthew
Experience
Areas of expertise
Qualifications
Testimonials
Awards
How We Live Our Values: Collaboration
I love science, and it has always been at the centre of my academic and professional life. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t asking questions about how things work or why things are the way they are. Every day as a patent attorney gives me the opportunity to keep asking those questions and use the answers to support my clients. That collaborative interaction with scientists and technical experts is central to my role, and I value the fact that in every case I either learn something new or apply what I know in a different, creative way.
In My Own Words
I have always asked questions about the world: why does this work, how does it work, how can it be improved. That curiosity led me to academia and the study of biology and the complexity of living systems. I loved the process of discovery, starting with the unknown and steadily bringing more light to it. For me, science has never been just about facts; it is about the questions that drive them.
That same inquisitive mindset drew me to patent law. As a patent attorney, I still ask questions - many of them. I dig into the details of new inventions, challenge assumptions, and help clients articulate what makes their technology inventive and valuable. The analytical skills I developed in research, together with the ability to explain complex ideas clearly, are tools I use every day to help innovators protect and commercialise their technology.
I enjoy acting as a bridge between my clients’ scientific, legal and strategic considerations. My role is to understand their ideas deeply enough to ask the right questions and guide them through the IP landscape. It is a different kind of problem-solving to academia, but it is still driven by curiosity, which is what makes it so rewarding.
