Qualifications

Chartered Patent Attorney (CPA)
European Patent Attorney (EPA)
Chartered Trade Mark Attorney (CTMA)
UPC Professional Representative
BSc (Hons) Chemistry, University of Bristol
Member of CIPA Council, Patents Committee and International Liaison Committee, Chair of Life Sciences Committee
Member of epi Council, By Laws Committee and EPPC Pharma Group, Chair of Biotechnological Inventions Committee
President of UNION Life Sciences Commission

Experience

EPO Oppositions and Appeals
Life Sciences
Vaccines
Pharmaceuticals
Drug Delivery Technology
CRISPR/Cas9
Fermentation Technology
Nutriceuticals
Gene therapy
Medical Devices
Biofuels
Medical Imaging Technology
Greentech
Plant Technology

Simon is a UK and European Patent Attorney with 35 years’+ experience of patent work, including drafting and filing patent applications throughout the world – in particular, before the European Patent Office (EPO). He handles prosecution, as well as opposition and appeal work, primarily in the life sciences sector.

His technical work has covered vaccines, pharmaceuticals, fermentation technology and  nutraceuticals. He also handles cases on gene therapy, personalised nutrition, biofuels, liposome and drug delivery technology, cancer biomarkers, micro-arrays, stem cells, green-tech and CRISPR technology.

Simon’s clients range from US multinational companies to UK academic organisations and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He has been involved in oppositions and appeals concerning human pheromones, Hoffman-La Roche’s PCR patents, ultrasound contrast agents, medical devices and CRISPR.

Simon was involved in the seminal EPO Board of Appeal Decision T820/92 concerning contraceptive methods involving the administration of luteinising hormone-releasing hormone to women. He also acted as an expert witness, and so gave evidence to, the English High Court in the HGS v Eli Lilly litigation, which led to the first ever Supreme Court decision on a patent matter (concerning industrial applicability).

Simon is a member of the governing Councils for the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA), the Institute of Representatives before the EPO (epi) and UNION. He currently chairs CIPA’s Life Sciences Committee, which organises an annual biotech conference in the UK, as well as the Chair of the epi Biotech Committee and the president of and President of the Life Sciences Committee at UNION. This gives him a valuable insight into future legislative and practice changes, in particular before the EPO, and the opportunity to influence future legislation.

Simon was a contributor to The CIPA Guide to the Patents Acts, 9th edition (the “Black Book”) published in December 2019.

IAM Patent 1000 2023 identifies Simon as a “recommended individual” for his expertise in Biotechnology. Simon is reported to be “an experienced strategist and EPO advocate” and is also considered to “know[s] the life sciences sector inside out – even in niche areas like CRISPR technology”. He is also named as a UK Patent Expert by Expert Guides.

Simon was elected CIPA president in the 2024 Elections. He will be Vice-President from January 2025 and President from January 2026.