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Sector » Materials

Materials

Areas of focus:

    Advanced materials
    Composite materials
    Metallurgy and alloys
    Nanotechnology

As industries advance, there is a need for new materials having particular improved characteristics, such as specific physical, chemical and/or electronic properties. Innovation in the materials sector lies not only in the development of such new materials but also in new material processing and characterisation methods, as well as novel uses of known materials. 

The materials team
The materials team brings together technical expertise across a broad range of specialisms, including materials science, metallurgy, solid-state chemistry, inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry. Our materials clients range in size from university start-ups and SMEs to major industrial companies. Because of the highly multidisciplinary nature of patent work in the materials field, we frequently draw upon the experience of our colleagues working in the electronics and engineering sectors to provide a complete service for our clients.

Many of our staff have direct industry experience with clients, having completed secondments with major manufacturers. This experience is invaluable in ensuring that we have a deep understanding of how businesses within the sector operate and that the commercial needs of our clients are always at the forefront of our advice.

“Above all, we’re inquisitive and curious, and fully immersed in our clients’ work.”

Dr Oliver Rutt
PARTNER
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As industries advance, there is a need for new materials having particular improved characteristics, such as specific physical, chemical and/or electronic properties. Innovation in the materials sector lies not only in the development of such new materials but also in new material processing and characterisation methods, as well as novel uses of known materials. 

The materials team
The materials team brings together technical expertise across a broad range of specialisms, including materials science, metallurgy, solid-state chemistry, inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry. Our materials clients range in size from university start-ups and SMEs to major industrial companies. Because of the highly multidisciplinary nature of patent work in the materials field, we frequently draw upon the experience of our colleagues working in the electronics and engineering sectors to provide a complete service for our clients.

Many of our staff have direct industry experience with clients, having completed secondments with major manufacturers. This experience is invaluable in ensuring that we have a deep understanding of how businesses within the sector operate and that the commercial needs of our clients are always at the forefront of our advice.

What sets us apart
We are collaborative in the way we work, meaning that we always put the best teams together for each individual matter entrusted to us by our clients. The depth and breadth of our technical expertise is critical to achieving success for our clients in the materials sector, in which patents can stand or fall based on the quality of the data that is included and the way in which it is presented.

As well as drafting robust, well thought out patent specifications and taking them through to grant, we excel at providing high-level strategic advice. We have particular experience in opposition and appeal proceedings before the EPO, with an enviable track record. We typically undertake 50 to 70 patent hearings a year within the materials team. We also contribute annually to the Patent Litigation Law Review, where we author a chapter on Oppositions and Appeals at the EPO.

Recent highlights

  • Managing the global patent portfolio of a large multinational corporation that develops materials and components for use in the electronics industry. Members of the Boult materials team draft a significant number of patent specifications each year, liaising with multiple research groups in different countries. 
  • Drafting and filing a large number of new patent applications for a UK company that develops and delivers game-changing, commercial-quality, graphene-based electronic devices. Developing its portfolio has been a key driver for investment.
  • Undertaking the prosecution and portfolio management for an international company that develops, manufactures and distributes specialty chemicals for the surface finishing industry. 
  • Providing a secondee to a multinational company involved with automotive catalysis and materials. Our support included portfolio management, invention capture and challenging third party patents. 
Recent highlights
  • Managing the global patent portfolio of a large multinational corporation that develops materials and components for use in the electronics industry. Members of the Boult materials team draft a significant number of patent specifications each year, liaising with multiple research groups in different countries. 
  • Drafting and filing a large number of new patent applications for a UK company that develops and delivers game-changing, commercial-quality, graphene-based electronic devices. Developing its portfolio has been a key driver for investment.
  • Undertaking the prosecution and portfolio management for an international company that develops, manufactures and distributes specialty chemicals for the surface finishing industry. 
  • Providing a secondee to a multinational company involved with automotive catalysis and materials. Our support included portfolio management, invention capture and challenging third party patents. 

Recent highlights
  • Managing the global patent portfolio of a large multinational corporation that develops materials and components for use in the electronics industry. Members of the Boult materials team draft a significant number of patent specifications each year, liaising with multiple research groups in different countries. 
  • Drafting and filing a large number of new patent applications for a UK company that develops and delivers game-changing, commercial-quality, graphene-based electronic devices. Developing its portfolio has been a key driver for investment.
  • Undertaking the prosecution and portfolio management for an international company that develops, manufactures and distributes specialty chemicals for the surface finishing industry. 
  • Providing a secondee to a multinational company involved with automotive catalysis and materials. Our support included portfolio management, invention capture and challenging third party patents. 

Materials team

Partners

Martyn Draper
Partner London
Henning Erb
Partner Frankfurt
Dr Susi Fish
Partner Reading
Dr Jonathan Palmer
Partner Reading
Dr Jo Pelly
Partner Reading
Tony Pluckrose
Consultant London
Dr Michelle Pratt
Partner London
Dr Oliver Rutt
Partner London
Dr Rohan Setna
Senior Partner London
Marcus Sims
Partner London
Dr Nigel Tucker
Partner Reading
Daniel Weston
Partner London
Dr Nick Widdowson
Partner Cambridge

Senior associates

Dr Olga Bohuszewicz
Senior Associate Cambridge
Dr Adam Capewell
Senior Associate Reading
Sarah Le Mesurier
Senior Associate London
Christopher Jones
Senior Associate London
Dr Robert Waddingham
Senior Associate Cambridge
Dr Jordan Waters
Senior Associate London
Jade Watt
Senior Associate Reading

Attorneys

Dr Lucy Cunningham
Patent Attorney Cambridge
Olivia Murray
Patent Attorney London
David Smitten
European Patent Attorney Reading

Assistants and trainees

Claudia Bustamante
Patent Attorney London
Anna Jones
Patent Assistant London
Dr Michael Newsome
Patent Assistant London

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