Robert Stephen

Practice Areas

Robert is a UK Chartered Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney with over 20 years' experience, and is qualified to act before the European Patent Office and the Unified Patent Court. He focusses on the biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and digital health spaces, and is ranked in band 1 in the Chambers legal directory in the UK. Robert is well known for his opposition and appeal practice at the EPO, and also as the co-founder of the SPC Blog, which leads the debate on issues relating to patent term extension in Europe. Robert has a first class degree in biochemistry and a D.Phil. in molecular genetics from Oxford University.

The patent attorney team, which Robert leads, has a focus on helping clients develop and exploit their IP to maximise commercial value. The team provides a complete range of services, including patent drafting and prosecution, licensing, strategic counselling, pan-European litigation and EPO opposition and appeal work. The team also advises on patent term extensions/SPCs, orphan exclusivity and data exclusivity.

Robert has experience in drafting, filing and prosecuting patent applications before the UK and EPO, patent licensing, global patent strategy, patent term extensions and portfolio management. He has been involved in over 50 EPO oppositions and appeals. Robert has a particular interest and expertise in inventions made in the fields of medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biochemistry, biotechnology, cell biology, genetics and immunology, including protein- and peptide-based medicines, vaccines, antibodies, nucleic acid-based medicines, diagnostic methods and diagnostic apparatus.

Work Highlights

Kymab on their EPO prosecution, opposition and appeals against Regeneron, in the field of mouse genetics and antibodies.

Vectura on managing its patent portfolio concerning inhaled glycopyrrolate, with multiple patents opposed by Teva.

Progyny on managing its patent portfolio concerning IVF treatments, with multiple patents opposed by Unisense .

Insmed on managing its patent portfolio concerning inhaled antibiotic treatments, with multiple patents opposed by Mylan.

3 major international pharmaceutical companies on EPO opposition and appeal proceedings.

BP on managing aspects of its patent portfolio before the European patent office.

The Wellcome Trust on work originating from the Sanger centre in the UK.

GlaxoSmithKline on the management of its vaccine portfolio, in particular vaccines for cervical cancer and influenza.

Education