Background
Phillip is a European Patent Attorney and a UK Chartered Patent Attorney. He joined Dehns in 2006 after graduating from the University of Oxford with a Masters degree in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. Phillip handles a diverse range of work in the biotechnology and life sciences fields and was made a Partner in 2023.
Type of clients and client work
The majority of Phillip’s clients are small/medium sized companies and technology transfer offices. He appreciates that his clients require clear advice that is genuinely relevant to their particular commercial situation. He advises on all aspects of the patent process and actively manages global patent portfolios.
He has particular experience in developing IPR portfolios and IP strategies from scratch. This initially involves working closely with each client to identify their patentable inventions. He enjoys drafting and guiding patent applications through examination to secure robust, useful patent protection in the markets of interest to his clients.
Phillip also handles freedom to operate issues, monitors and challenges competitor patents, advises on patent infringement and enforcement issues and handles post-grant proceedings at the EPO.
He works with both R&D-based companies and scientific service providers with innovative technologies. His clients include companies in both the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors. Phillip represents a number of SMEs whose income streams depend heavily on the licensing of patent-protected technologies, so he appreciates the commercial importance of obtaining high-quality patents.
Expertise
Phillip handles a diverse range of inventions in the biotechnology field, from a variety of human and animal therapies to transgenic microorganisms and industrial biotech processes. Areas of particular experience include biomaterials, biologics, drug discovery assays, diagnostics, blue biotech, oncology, glycobiology and synthetic biology. He also works with a number of innovative companies in the fields of cosmetics, nutraceuticals and human and animal nutrition.
Qualifications and Memberships
Higher Education
MBioch, Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 2006, University of Oxford
Other
Phillip was recognised as a “Notable Practitioner” in the 2023 and 2022 edition of Managing Intellectual Property’s IP Stars publication. Phillip has previously been recognised as a “Rising Star” in the 2018, 2019 and 2020 editions of the publication.
Many of Phillip’s clients are based in Scandinavia. He is a frequent visitor to Aleap, Norway Healthtech and the Oslo Cancer Cluster.
Phillip is a regular contributor of articles to the Dehns website. See below for his articles on a wide range of IP and biotechnology topics and issues.