Partner & Head of Life Sciences Team
Richard heads our Life Science group and specialises in biotech and pharmaceutical patent matters and has particular experience in areas such as genetic engineering, recombinant proteins, antibodies, methods of gene sequencing and genetic analysis, GeneChip® Technology, contraceptive pills, pharmaceutical formulations and medical devices. Richard’s practice focuses on “difficult” contentious and non-contentious cases before the European Patent Office (EPO) where he also handles numerous opposition and appeal cases and appears regularly at oral proceedings.
In a recent high profile case Richard acted for the patentee in relation to the referral to the EPO Enlarged Board of Appeal (G2/04) of questions relating to free transferability of opponent / appellant status. He has acted for patentee or opponent in many contentious EPO proceedings on behalf of major US and European Corporations.
Richard read natural sciences at Oxford and then took a PhD at the University of Wales. He continued in scientific research as a post-doc at a Government Research Station until 1989, working in the field of protein purification, liposomes and antibody-based assays for receptor proteins.
Richard entered the profession in 1989 and qualified in private practice. In 1995 he joined the life sciences team of a major firm where he was a partner for many years. Richard joined HGF in 2005. He was awarded an LLM in Intellectual Property Litigation from Nottingham Law School in 2005. Pro bono activities include lecturing at the University of Surrey and participation in a scheme assisting litigants in person before the Patents County Court.
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