James Devine-Stoneman

James joined the Chemistry team at Carpmaels & Ransford in 2021 and qualified as a European Patent Attorney in 2025. With a focus on materials, much of James’ work lies at the interface between chemistry and Engineering.

James’s portfolio of work encompasses a broad range of materials-related work, in medical devices, battery technology, polymers and polymer processing, composites, alloys, aerogels, textiles, foams, packaging, materials for CO₂ capture and storage, and contact lenses. This has included European and global patent prosecution for multinational companies as well as working with SMEs and developing drafts with inventors.

Prior to joining Carpmaels, James read Natural Sciences at St John’s College, University of Cambridge, specialising in Materials Science. In his third and fourth years of study he was awarded the Armourers and Brasiers’ Prize and the Goldsmiths’ Prize for outstanding performance. Being awarded an honorary Vice-Chancellor’s Award for postgraduate research, he continued at Cambridge for a PhD in the Materials Science department. His doctoral research focused on the development of superconducting devices containing ferromagnetic layers, aimed at controlling spin phenomena in the superconducting state for computing applications. While writing up his thesis, James started working for a spinout from the University of Manchester, on the application of graphene to fuel cell and electrolyser membranes.

James is a keen competitive quizzer, having captained the winning St John’s Cambridge team for the 2017/18 season of University Challenge. He currently plays for a first-division team in the Quiz League of London. A rock music fan, he can sometimes be found working on his electric guitar chops.