10th August 2010

New CIPA Fellows

Congratulations to Mark Abthorpe, Matthew Georgiou and David Holland who have been elected as Fellows of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA). All three can now practise as Chartered Patent Attorneys. David’s election also marks the end of his trainee period at the firm and his promotion to Associate.

The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys is the professional body representing Patent Attorneys in the UK. CIPA was founded in 1882 and incorporated by Royal Charter in 1891.

26th July 2010

Advising the Japanese Patent Office

Carpmaels & Ransford partners, Huw Hallybone and John Brunner, assisted by trainee, Paul Bettridge, recently played a significant role in advising the Japanese Patent Office (JPO) as it seeks to change Japanese patent law concerning the recordal of ownership of patent rights.  AIPPI-Japan, which represents many IP experts in Japan, and which had been commissioned by the JPO to provide recommendations for changes to the law, approached Huw and John who then advised on this complex area of law from a UK perspective. 

The final recommendations from AIPPI-Japan were recently presented to the JPO in a report naming Carpmaels & Ransford.  The Japanese-language report can be found here, and AIPPI-Japan’s English-language summary can be found here.

11th July 2010

Carpmaels & Ransford in the ASICS British 10K London Run

Sunday 11th July 2010 was a big day for sport: Spain won the FIFA World cup; Mark Webber won the British Grand Prix; and Team C&R took to the streets of London to take part in the 10th ASICS British 10k London run.

After months of preparation and training (or at least thinking about training), finally the big day had arrived and the 37 members of Team C&R were faced with the one thing which we had not expected – a very hot summer day in the UK! There was an air of anticipation in the queue as we were entertained by a military marching band and a band on horseback, waiting for the starting cannon to be fired. Team members clutched their bottles of water/energy drinks as if their life depended on it, clearly trying to weigh up how much water it was sensible to drink when stuck in a long queue with very limited facilities. After the national anthem had been sung, a cannon was fired and the race finally started. The members of Team C&R showed their mettle and, despite the soaring temperatures, all were successful in completing the run. Some people even managed to keep a smile on their face throughout!

This year, Team C&R were raising money for the Evelina Children’s Hospital Renal Unit, part of Guy’s & St. Thomas’s, where long standing employee Jo Chandler’s daughter, Alexandra, spent a large part of her life. In part, the money raised will be spent on new dialysis equipment, whilst the remainder will go towards making the children and parents as comfortable as possible during their, often extended, stays. As ever there was plenty of competitive banter in the run-up to and on the day of the event. However, we were all committed to the main goal of raising as much money as possible for our chosen charity. At the moment, we are on course to significantly exceed £5000.

23rd June 2010

Top tier ranking by MIP 2010

Carpmaels & Ransford received another top tier ranking by Managing Intellectual Property World IP Survey 2010.

“With 60 IP practitioners in its standalone London office, Carpmaels & Ransford runs a tight operation. Its patent prosecution practice, which received a top ranking again this year, is streamlined into four teams, all of which performed well during 2009. Of particular note are the biotechnology and pharmaceutical teams which acted in EPO proceedings for Novartis Vaccines, Novartis Pharma and Johnson & Johnson. Its mechanical engineering team has strengthened to a similar level in recent years, winning instructions from the likes of Boeing and Nissan.”

“In terms of leading attorneys, biotechnology expert Cameron Marshall was described by a competitor as "fabulous, he knows his area well and is very hard working". He also received client praise for his commercial approach: "He has a unique ability for an external counsel to appreciate the business and strategic effects of his work. He really understands the business drivers of his work.”

1st November 2009

Top ranked by Chambers UK 2010

Carpmaels & Ransford has once again been ranked in tier one of the Chambers & Partners guide to Patent and Trade Mark Agents across the UK.

"The attorneys at this firm cover all areas of IP and draw special praise for their patent work. The life sciences group impresses commentators with its broad knowledge of a range of scientific subjects, and advises the likes of Novartis and Johnson & Johnson".

For Novartis, the team defended European patents on extended-release fluvastatin (Lescol XL). Sources Say: "When Carpmaels & Ransford takes a case, you can be assured that it will be done to the highest possible standards." "Its excellent patent strategists always know their cases inside-out." Keith Howick is the firm’s senior partner.

1st September 2009

Top recommendations from Legal 500 UK 2009

Carpmaels & Ransford has been praised in the latest edition of the Legal 500, receiving the highest ranking available for our Patent work.

"The oldest patent attorney firm in the UK, Carpmaels & Ransford has 'an excellent reputation' in life sciences. Recent highlights include the successful defence of Novartis' European patent anti-viral drug Fluvastatin, and the company's patent for a non-toxic vaccine component mucosal adjuvant against two oppositions. James Warner, who specialises in medicinal chemistry, is 'excellent' and biotechnology partner Cameron Marshall is 'very bright'. John Brunner is a 'rising star' and Huw Hallybone 'doesn't give opponents an easy ride'. Glyn Truscott joined the firm from Gill Jennings & Every LLP as an associate in 2008."

The directory has also recommended our Trade Mark practice, ranking us as one of the top ten firms in London.

"Carpmaels & Ransford successfully cancelled Helen Rubenstein's Botocyl and Botolist trade marks on behalf of Allergan, which owns Botox. The practice continues to represent the Belron Group's trade mark portfolio, including Carglass and Autoglass."

1st June 2009

Highly recommended by MIP

The 2009 Managing Intellectual Property (MIP) Handbook has ranked Carpmaels for both patent prosecution and trademark prosecution in the UK.  Our patents practice has received particular acclamation and has been positioned within the top tier of firms. The handbook states:

"Based in one London office, the firm has 31 patent and six trade mark attorneys. Carpmaels' strengths are in the areas of chemistry and biotechnology and this is reflected in its client list which includes Johnson & Johnson and Novartis.

Biotech partner Cameron Marshall was held in particularly high esteem by his clients with one saying: "Cameron has the ability to see patents as business assets and shape things around that." Last year the firm helped Novartis to defend the European patent of its fluvastin product before the EPO Opposition Division and is now dealing with the appeal. The firm has also helped in the defence of the company's influenza vaccine portfolio in various EPO oppositions."

1st April 2009

Recognised as leading patent law practitioners

The 2009 Expert Guide to the World's Leading Patent Law Practitioners gave special mention to both Carpmaels & Ransford and to Huw Hallybone, biotechnology partner.

"Huw Hallybone of Carpmaels & Ransford is highly respected for the level of expertise he brings to chemical and biotechnology matters. Hallybone is also very experienced with European Patent Office matters, boasting many clients from the US and Asia. "We turn to Huw for advice on all European Patent Law. We use him for all patent applications and appeals to the EPO," says one US pharmaceutical company director."