Richard Bassett
Richard is a highly experienced and successful advocate at the European Patent Office (EPO), including before the Boards of Appeal, having conducted more than 250 hearings.
After 45 years in the profession, Richard is now semi-retired but continues to advise and represent clients in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.
He worked in both private practice and the intellectual property (IP) department of a major pharmaceutical company before joining Potter Clarkson in 1986 to establish the firm’s biotechnology department.
In 2019, Richard was selected as an expert witness on EPO prosecution procedures in the Pfizer v Roche UK High Court litigation concerning Avastin®.
He has lectured on European patent law at the Universities of London and Strasbourg, and he is responsible for the chapter on biological inventions in the European Patents Handbook (edited by the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) and published by Sweet & Maxwell).
- Achieving a success rate of 81% for patentees and 100% (for opponents) at the EPO Boards of Appeal since 2010
- Securing the revocation on appeal of a DSM patent that had been upheld by an Opposition Division of the EPO and enforced against client Novozymes A/S in Germany, France and the Netherlands, including the reversal of a 28-country cross-border injunction granted by a court in the Netherlands
Industries
- UK and European Patent Attorney
- Patent Attorney Litigator
- Unitary Patent Court (UPC) Representative
- MA (Cantab)
Richard Bassett is pragmatic and takes a step back to work out what is needed commercially rather than automatically aiming for an academically/theoretically perfect solution.
The prosecution division consists of an all-star line-up of patent attorneys, including Richard Bassett, Stephen McNeeney and Ian Dee, all of whom all have vast experience in oppositions and appeals before the EPO.
Richard Bassett has built a team, is a master of his art, from client support to patent filing and prosecution to opposition practises. Absolute attention to detail and commercial focus.
- Chambers and Partners
- IAM Global Leaders
- IAM Patent 1000: Prosecution
- MIP IP STARS: IP Star
- Who’s Who Legal: IP: Patent Agents & Attorneys
About Richard
Experience
Areas of expertise
Qualifications
Testimonials
Awards
How We Live Our Values: Excellence
Potter Clarkson's insistence on high standards in both technical knowledge and professional practice is key to our success. I enjoy presenting cases based on a deep understanding of the technology, the law and the client’s needs.
In My Own Words
I entered the profession to combine law and science, and I haven’t looked back. It’s been a blast. I particularly enjoy winning a case at the EPO and delivering the result the client needs.
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