Edward Oates

Ranked in “Band 1” (Chambers, 2025/2026), as a “Thought Leader” (Lexology Index, 2025), a “Leading Partner” (Legal 500, 2025/2026) and a “renowned patent attorney… great for EPO oppositions” (JUVE, 2025), Ed’s focus is healthcare, and he has “significant experience handling high-value cases before the EPO” (Legal 500, 2025/2026), leading the key patent defences on some of the world’s most valuable medicines of recent times. Ed built his “excellent record” (Chambers, 2025/2026) on some of the most difficult and complex cases in the life sciences sphere, including the longest life sciences opposition hearing ever (eight days attacking EP 2 188 302 on behalf of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC) and some of the most heavily opposed life sciences patents ever (22 opponents on EP 2 478 907 and 15 opponents on its parent EP 2 061 561 on behalf of Janssen Oncology, and 14 opponents on EP 2 292 219 on behalf of Novartis AG). Complementing Ed’s advocacy before the EPO, Ed is “an original thinker” (Who’s Who Legal: Patents) with exceptional experience in patent lifecycle management, and a “powerful intellect with great SPC knowledge” (Who’s Who Legal: Patents). He delivers “very good advice in SPC cases” (JUVE, 2025), also advising clients on paediatric extensions and related regulatory exclusivities. Chambers 2025/2026 noted that “His knowledge of SPCs is impressive” and that he has a “deep understanding of the Unified Patent Court”. He undertook lead advocacy before the UPC on the first ever case to involve an SPC.

Ed has worked on some of the seminal European SPC cases of recent years, and is regarded as “the firm’s expert for SPC issues” (JUVE), consequently being invited on a number of occasions to address the annual meeting of pan-EU SPC examiners. Along with his “terrific prosecution and SPC experience” (Managing IP), Ed “operates at the forefront of the market” (JUVE) and has acted before the Court of Justice of the European Union, the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, the High Court of England and Wales and the UK Intellectual Property Office, and has managed litigations in many jurisdictions with “an amazing understanding of European litigation and SPC strategy” (Legal 500, 2025/2026). When not engaged in contentious work or prosecuting cases, Ed uses his “very impressive … breadth of pharmaceuticals knowledge” (IAM Patent 1000), coupled with his experience on big-ticket cases, to provide his clients with practical advice in relation to IP matters. This includes freedom-to-operate advice, transactional support, such as due diligence, and counselling relating to the UPC. Prior to joining Carpmaels & Ransford in 2003, Ed graduated with a first-class degree in chemistry from the University of Oxford where he was awarded an academic scholarship. After becoming a European and UK patent attorney, Ed qualified as a Patent Attorney Litigator, receiving the Hogarth Prize as the highest-ranked patent attorney in his year. Spurred by the advent of the UPC and his dual EU nationality, Ed more recently obtained the Milan European Patent Litigator qualification.

“Edward Oates is a pleasure to work with. He has a rare and valuable ability to translate scientific insights into effective legal strategies. Edward is always willing to go the extra mile for clients” – Legal 500, 2025/2026