Matthew Hall

Background

Matt is a UK Chartered Patent Attorney and a European Patent Attorney.

Having graduated from the University of Oxford with a BA (Hons) in Metallurgy and Science of Materials, and with an MSc in the Management of Intellectual Property from Queen Mary College, University of London, Matt joined Dehns in 1992 and became a partner in 2007. He handles patent work in a variety of engineering fields and also advises on registered and unregistered design rights for a wide range of client products.

Type of clients and client work

Matt has extensive experience in protecting inventions for private individuals and small enterprises. He has been a regular advisor to startup companies at the Oslo Innovation Centre and has assisted Oxford University with several spin-outs and projects. His practice includes a wide collection of small enterprises, as well as working for a number of large multi-national corporations in a variety of industry sectors. He has extensive experience in drafting and prosecuting patent applications, and is regularly involved in oppositions and appeals. He also regularly advises on infringement and validity situations, is involved in due diligence and freedom to operate analysis and reports during company acquisitions, as well as advising clients in relation to patent and design landscapes. He works with clients who just need a reliable pair of hands for filing and prosecution through to clients who need a fully-involved hands-on approach to developing their IP protection and commercially exploiting their products in active markets.

Expertise

Matt handles a wide range of patent and design work across various engineering sectors including the fields of construction, automotive, oil/gas, robotic warehousing, safety equipment, finance, lighting, entertainment, and medical devices. Much of his work is in the aeronautical industry in relation to gas turbine engines, landing gear, braking systems, fuselage, aircraft control systems actuators, as well as aircraft materials. His expertise in materials includes composite materials and fittings for composite members, nano-particle and graphene based developments, films and surface coatings, laser modified materials, new alloys and thermal barrier coatings. A substantial part of his work also concerns automated warehousing systems and robotic devices for use in the construction industry, gas cut-off valves, medical devices, riser and drilling systems, surface technologies and coatings, land and water-based vehicle developments, laser devices and laser-fabricated products, display systems, as well as linkage and gear systems.

Qualifications and Memberships

• Authorised Representative before the Unified Patent Court (UPC) (2023)
• UK Chartered Patent Attorney, 1997
• European Patent Attorney, 1997
• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys

Higher Education

BA Hons, University of Oxford, Metallurgy and Science of Materials, 1991

MSc, University of London, Management of Intellectual Property, 1992

Other

Matt was mentioned in the 2020 edition of The Legal 500 as a “key lawyer” of the firm.