People

Professional Background:
Keith joined the patent profession in 1992 and since then has acquired much experience in both private practice and industry (AstraZeneca). He joined Fry Heath Spence in 2001, subsequently becoming a partner of the firm in September 2002.

Keith continues to practice in all aspects of IP, including patents, registered and unregistered designs, trade marks, copyright and licensing. His specialisms include patent drafting and prosecution (particularly in the fields of physical sciences, electronics, computing and software) and third-party patent matters.

Keith represents his clients before the UK Intellectual Property Office and European Patent Office as well as the World Intellectual Property Organisation and has extensive experience in ex parte and inter partes hearings before the opposition and appeal boards of the European Patent Office.

Professional Background:
Michael has worked in the IP profession since 1991, joining the firm in 1994. He qualified as both a UK Chartered Patent Attorney and as a European Patent Attorney in 1995, and became a partner in 1996. In 2000, the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys awarded Michael one of the first Patent Litigator Certificates, enabling him to bring cases in the High Court on behalf of clients.

He provides a patent drafting, prosecution and enforcement service in a wide range of technologies spanning mechanical, electrical, and communications, as well as general advice on all IP related matters. He has practised before the UK Intellectual Property Office and European Patent Office, the World Intellectual Property Organisation and the UK County Courts, High Court and Court of Appeal. He also has experience of entitlement disputes before the UK Intellectual Property Office, and opposition & appeal proceedings before the European Patent Office. He has represented his clients at ex parte and inter partes hearings before the UK Intellectual Property Office and European Patent Office and the County Court.

Michael takes a particular interest in the area of inherent patentability - i.e the boundaries of the statutory exclusions from patentability relating to computer software, business methods, mathematical methods etc.

Michael has also acted in a number of registered design and design right cases - in particular those relating to the distinction between aesthetic and functional designs, defending clients against attempts to use registered designs to control the use of commonplace or functional design features.

Michael is a Member of the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys, and assists clients in the clearance, registration and enforcement of their trade marks.

Professional Background:
Graham joined the IP profession as a graduate in 1993, having completed his BSc in biochemistry including special modules in molecular genetics, pharmacology, physiology and chemistry and a research thesis on the potassium channel of intact mitochondria. After spending five years in a large London practice, Graham joined the in-house patent department of Nestle at their corporate headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland where he took responsibility for all aspects of the company's infant nutrition, performance nutrition and clinical nutrition patent portfolios. In 2000, already a European Patent Attorney and UK Chartered Patent Attorney, Graham moved back to the UK and joined Fry Heath Spence where he now heads the firm's developing biotechnology practice. Graham became a partner of the firm in 2002.

As well as patent matters, Graham handles copyright, design and trade mark work and also plant variety rights and supplementary protection certificates. On the patents side Graham specialises in cases in the fields of chemistry, pharmacology, microbiology, genetic engineering, medical devices, biochemistry, dairy technology, nutrition, food engineering and simple mechanical engineering.
Graham has substantial experience of licence negotiations, drafting and prosecuting patents and trade mark applications and filing and defending oppositions before the European Patent Office.

Professional Background:
Ben joined the IP profession as a graduate in 1996. He joined Fry Heath Spence in 2005 from international law firm Clifford Chance, where he trained and qualified as a UK and European Trade Mark Attorney.

He provides the full range of contentious and non-contentious trade mark specific services, including filing, prosecution, opposition, maintenance, search and clearance, and advises clients on infringement, enforcement and strategic issues. He has represented clients before the UK Trade Marks Registry and European Community Trade Marks Office (as an authorised representative) in inter partes and ex parte proceedings.

He tutors advanced level students on behalf of the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys. Ben also advises on design clearance and registration matters.

Professional Background:
Steve is a graduate of Selwyn College, Cambridge. He began his training as a Patent Attorney within a private practice in London. On qualifying as a UK Chartered Patent Attorney in 1983 he moved to Oxford to work for the Rover Group Patent Department where he dealt with all aspects of automotive technology and related IP (including the MG trade mark). Steve was one of the first to qualify as a European Patent Attorney by examination in 1984. Subsequently, he worked for the patent department of Johnson Matthey, dealing with a wide range of precious metal technology. In 1987 Steve founded the practice of S.G.Unwin & Co based in the Oxford region. Following expansion of the business, S.G.Unwin & Co merged with Fry Heath Spence in 1998 to form the basis of our Oxford office and since that time Steve has overseen the expansion of the Oxford office to keep pace with the growing demands of his clients.

Steve is closely involved in the development, maintenance and enforcement of extensive IP portfolios for several long-standing clients, dealing with subject matter ranging from mechanical inventions to opto-electronics for use in the telecommunications industry. He deals with patent, trade mark and design registrations in a wide range of countries all around the world and is actively involved in enforcement proceedings in several different countries, particularly the USA and Australia. He has experience with clients who have grown from relatively small companies to international businesses and has advised clients who have been acquired by major multi-nationals and who have launched on the UK stock market.

Steve represents his clients before the UK Intellectual Property Office and European Patent Office as well as the World Intellectual Property Organisation and OHIM, including in ex parte and inter partes hearings on both patent and trade mark matters.

Professional Background:
Claire qualified as a UK Chartered Patent Attorney and a European Patent Attorney in 2001. She qualified as a UK and European Trade Mark Attorney in 2009. She joined the firm in 2005. She has more than 15 years experience in IP, having worked in London for two well known firms of patent and trade mark attorneys, rising to partnership level in one of those firms in 2003.

Claire practices in all areas of IP, including patents, trade marks and registered and unregistered designs.

Throughout her career, Claire has provided a patent drafting and prosecution service in a wide range of technologies, spanning the mechanical, chemical and biotechnological fields including building products, pharmaceuticals, materials handling apparatus, laminate flooring, powder coatings and water treatment apparatus.

Since joining Fry Heath Spence, Claire has developed an extensive trade mark practice and provides a range of services including searching, filing, opposition and enforcement.

She has represented her clients at hearings before the European Patent Office and UK Intellectual Property Office, and in proceedings before the Community Trade Marks Office.

Professional Background:
Michèle gained industrial experience in R & D with SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals during the course of her degree. She started her professional career in private practice in London where she qualified as a UK Trade Mark Attorney in 1991 and as a UK Chartered Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney in 1992. During this period, Michèle handled patent work in the mechanical and chemical areas, including a patent infringement/invalidity case before the UK Patents County Court, copyright, design and trade mark work. After spending eight years in private practice, Michèle joined the in-house patent department of a major pharmaceutical company at its European headquarters in Germany where she handled patent work in the areas of vaccines and infectious diseases, oncology, neuroscience, cardiovascular/metabolic and inflammatory diseases. After spending six years with the company, Michèle set up her own consultancy in the UK to provide advice on all aspects of patents in the pharmaceutical area to clients in India.

Michèle has experience of oral proceedings before the examining divisions, opposition divisions and boards of appeal at the European Patent Office. She also has experience in the drafting and negotiation of licence agreements.

She has substantial experience of preparing patentability, validity and infringement opinions and additionally in advising on strategic approaches to maximise the economic benefit of an invention.