My Services

Whether you're protecting your first invention, building a strategic patent portfolio, managing existing IP rights, or just looking for advice about patents – for example, to support investment activity – I can provide flexible, personalised support that is tailored to your business needs.

I specialise in patents relating to Cyber, Intelligent (AI/ML) and Autonomous Technologies - including computer hardware and software, networking, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and machine learning, robotics and drones, the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart devices.

Strategy

My approach to patents centres on Strategy, which guides three core activities: Discover, Protect, and Leverage.

For me, patents aren't just about legal protection; they're a strategic business tool. Ensuring that your patent strategy supports your commercial objectives is the key to making patents genuinely valuable.

Operating through my own firm, as a sole practitioner, allows me to take the time to gain a deep understanding of every client’s technologies and their broader commercial context, enabling me to devise a patent strategy that is aligned with your business objectives and to adapt it over time as your priorities and market environment evolve – effectively acting as outsourced fractional patent counsel for your business.

The patent strategy in turn guides every decision – from what to protect and how to defend it through to which opportunities to pursue and which risks to address.

I aim to make the patent system clear and easy for my clients to understand. I will be on hand to guide you through every step of your patent journey and can provide IP training for your team, if needed, to improve their understanding of the patent system and how it might affect their day-to-day work.

Discover

A key activity is discovering and understanding your IP situation. This means looking both inwardly to uncover the intellectual property you already have or might develop and outwardly to understand third-party rights and how they might impact your business.

I can help with:

IP audits - identifying existing IP and assessing its protection and value;

Invention mining and patentability analysis - uncovering protectable innovations your team has developed;

Prior art searching - evaluating whether innovations are truly novel and worth protecting;

Patent landscape analysis - mapping competitive IP positioning in your technology area;

Patent watching services - monitoring competitor patent activity relevant to your business;

Patent infringement and/or validity opinions - assessing third-party patents that may pose risks;

Freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis - identifying patents that could affect your products or services; and

Patent portfolio analysis – evaluating a patent portfolio (either your own or another’s) to identify strengths and weaknesses and, optionally, performing due diligence to support an acquisition, sale or investment.

Protect

Protecting your position means both acquiring and defending the rights to your own innovations and managing risks from competitors' patents.

I can help with:

Patent Drafting & Prosecution -

drafting, filing, and prosecuting patent applications in the UK, Europe, and international (PCT) patent applications;

managing the filing and prosecution of foreign patent applications via local attorneys;

instructing translation and validation of European patents; and

instructing payment of patent renewal fees.

Contentious Proceedings & Appeals -

defending patents against revocation, invalidity and/or opposition proceedings;

challenging third-party patents through revocation, invalidity and/or opposition proceedings, or filing of third-party observations; and

filing and prosecuting both ex parte and inter partes appeals from decisions of the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) or the European Patent Office (EPO).

Strategic IP Advice -

evaluating design-around options to navigate third-party patent rights; and

advising on other ways to protect your commercial position, such as through the use of trade secrets, defensive publications or other IP rights such as trade marks.

Leverage

Patents are business assets, and their real value lies in how they are used. Some benefits may arise passively – a strong patent portfolio can deter competitors and attract investors. In other cases, a more active approach may be needed to enforce your rights or to fully realise the commercial value of your intellectual property.

I can help with:

patent commercialisation strategies - advising on different ways in which your patent portfolio could be commercially leveraged, such as through licensing;

patent claim mapping – analysing the alignment of a product or service with a patent’s claims;

patent infringement opinions – providing an opinion as to whether a third-party product or service infringes the claims of a patent; and

patent portfolio optimization and pruning – identifying which patents to maintain or abandon.

Working Together

Every business's IP needs are different. I provide a flexible, personalised service that can adapt to suit your business - whether that means:

Acting as your fractional patent counsel - an independent trusted advisor available whenever IP questions arise; and/or

Providing Project-based support - handling specific matters as they emerge, such as the filing and prosecution of a specific patent application.

Ready to Talk?

Book a no-cost, no-obligation introductory call to discuss your needs and how I can help your business.

Arrange a Call

Not Ready for a Call?

Send me a message via my contact form and I'll respond promptly. In the meantime, explore my resources library to find out more about patents and the patent system.