Deborah Owen

Background

Deborah is a qualified UK and European patent attorney. She joined Dehns in 1996 having graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1992 with an Honours Degree in Natural Sciences (Zoology) and subsequently carrying out post-graduate research in the field of molecular and cell biology of breast cancer at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now CRC-UK) in London, leading to the award of a PhD by University College London. Deborah became a Partner of the firm in 2009.

Type of clients and client work

Deborah’s clients include Universities (and their associated spin out companies) and small- to medium-sized companies, including new start-up companies, all the way through to multinational corporations.

Deborah prides herself on developing a close and interactive working relationship with all her clients to achieve the best possible patent (and other IP) strategy. She always strives to give clear and commercially focussed advice which is tailored to the individual needs of clients depending on the challenges they are facing.

Deborah’s practice in particular focuses on small and medium sized technology companies for whom their patent portfolios are one of their major assets. Deborah understands the commercial importance of a global IP strategy and building a strong IP portfolio, and is experienced in guiding companies through this process. Deborah appreciates the difficulties which can be faced by early stage companies in trying to establish an IP portfolio and provides valuable support and IP education, including IP advice clinics, to small and medium sized technology companies based in technology incubators.

A major proportion of Deborah’s work is original patent drafting and advice work. She provides a range of services including patentability assessments, drafting, filing and prosecuting patent applications in multiple jurisdictions worldwide, and defending and opposing granted patents. Deborah also advises clients in a number of other relevant areas including infringement and validity, freedom to operate, evaluating patent portfolios and due diligence.

Expertise

Deborah handles patent work in many areas of biotechnology and biochemistry, including genomics, proteomics, recombinant nucleic acid and protein products, research tools, screening methods, biofuels, transgenic plants, diagnostic and molecular assays, microbiology and probiotics, virology and vaccines, with particular experience in areas of cell biology, immunology and antibody technology. She also drafts and files new patent applications in these areas.

Deborah is regularly named in all leading legal and IP directories, including recent editions of Chambers, Legal 500 and IP Stars.

Qualifications and Memberships

• Authorised Representative before the Unified Patent Court (UPC) (2023)
• European Patent Attorney, 2001
• UK Registered Patent Attorney, 2001
• Certificate in IP Law, University of London, 1998
• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys

Higher Education

PhD University of London (research carried out at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, London), “In vitro morphogenesis of human mammary epithelial cells”, 1996

MA, Cambridge University, Natural Sciences (Zoology), 1992

Other

Deborah was recommended in the 2020 edition of The Legal 500 directory and received the following client testimonial in the commentary: “Deborah Owen is undoubtedly a leader in her field. She is highly responsive and has huge attention to detail. She is a subject matter expert for antibody therapeutics and highly effectively leads our patent strategy, helping us to identify problems and find solutions. An exceptional talent.’”

Publications:

“Patent Issues Relating to Therapeutic Antibodies”, Handbook of Therapeutic Antibodies (second edition, published 2014)

‘Enforcement of screening method patents: the MedImmune case’, Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice, January 2012

‘The potential power of method claims’, Intellectual Property Magazine, November 2011