Chris Mason, Partner
MSci(Hons) LLM MRSC CPA EPA
Chris is an experienced patent attorney operating over a wide range of fields including chemistry, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and medical devices. Chris is particularly experienced working directly with companies to design and implement patent filing strategies that align with the commercial objectives of the business.
Chris often comes across green innovation in the little things. It may be a reduction in the energy required for a manufacturing process, innovations that allow for a greater use of recycled feedstock, or a new material with improved degradability. Regulatory pressures are a significant driver in many of these green developments, and there is now also a clear focus amongst many companies toward product life cycle sustainability. Outside of the iterative improvements, Chris is also working with clients striving to establish whole new green industries, with the promise of radical changes to come.
David Walsh, Partner
BSc PhD CChem CSci MRSC CPA EPA MITMA
David is a partner at Appleyard Lees and has been in the patent profession for nearly thirty years. Much of that time has been spent drafting, prosecuting, and advising clients in relation to patents for chemical innovations. He has extensive experience in FTO reviews, patentability advice, IP agreements and patent oppositions at the EPO. His experience in green technology has included non-toxic marine coatings, carbon capture technology and non-fossil fuel-based monomer routes.
David's interest in green technology and the environment began at University where his PhD work included identifying potential carbonaceous absorbents for chlorofluorocarbons which were in the process of being phased out due to the discovery of the growing hole in the ozone layer. Since qualifying as a patent attorney in 1997 he has worked with leading clients on a range of replacement technologies which address specific environmental problems such as the impact of tin compounds on marine organisms, lower energy monomer production, bio-based monomers, polymers and compositions that remove carbon dioxide, biodegradable materials and fuel cell improvements.
Adam Tindall, Partner
BEng(Hons) PhD CPA EPA
Prior to entering the intellectual property (IP) profession, Adam completed his PhD on combustion in spark ignition engines at the University of Leeds.
Having previously worked with Rolls-Royce plc, the Ford Motor Company, Harland and Wolff and Shell Research UK, Adam’s expertise lies in the understanding of engineering, the way engineering companies operate and how engineers like to work.
Adam now provides IP services to multi-national engineering companies which produce a large range of high technology products such as power systems, medical equipment and manufacturing equipment.
Paul Beynon, Senior Associate
MEng CPA EPA
Paul’s strong engineering background and in-house experience makes him well-positioned to offer clients commercially sensible, tailored support. Paul works with a range of start-ups and SMEs to maximise the value of their IP.
Paul handles many inventions related to green technology, including improved engines, thermodynamic cycles, environmental innovations and the like. Green technology is one of Paul’s passions and he thoroughly enjoys being able to work with innovative companies in this field.
Sarah Gibbs, Senior Associate
BSc PhD EPA CPA MRSC
Sarah helps clients protect their inventions in both the chemical and biochemical fields. As a result of working with a wide variety of clients in these sectors, she has experience and understanding of the challenges faced by different companies.
Sarah’s work includes providing patentability advice, drafting patent applications, prosecuting patent applications in the UK, Europe and worldwide and handing large international portfolios. Sarah also has experience in conducting and providing freedom to operate advice as well as advising on patent infringement and validity matters.
She has experience in handling cases for a wide variety of corporate clients and also represents number of universities.
Sarah has particular experience in polymer chemistry, coatings, plastics and catalysis as well as pharmaceuticals, APIs, molecular diagnostics, medical devices and biotechnology due to her background in both chemistry and biochemistry.
Ashley Wragg, European Patent Attorney
MChem PhD EPA
Ashley works with a range of clients from across the world and has extensive experience in drafting and prosecution of patent applications covering a broad range of subject matters in chemistry and materials, and life sciences.
His main areas of specialism include polymers and coatings, industrial catalyses and processes, agrochemicals, and green chemistry.
Ashley also has an avid interest in the environment and therefore any related green and sustainable technologies. Whether that be incremental improvements of processes, new materials or greener alternatives such as plant-based meats.
He has obtained a first-class degree in Chemistry and completed his PhD in a joint project between the University of Sheffield and the A* STAR Institute of Materials Research and Engineering in Singapore. Ashley has a diverse background including in bio-inorganic chemistry, cancer therapeutics and material chemistry.
Amelia Barton, European Patent Attorney
MChem EPA
Graduating with a first class masters degree in medicinal chemistry from the University of Leeds, her work has included a project focused on manipulating a proteins intracellular localisation using a small chemically synthesised compound.
Since joining the intellectual property (IP) profession, Amelia has gained experience in all areas of patenting. She reviews the patentability of inventions, as well as drafts, files and prosecutes patent applications.
David Jasiewicz, Patent Attorney
MChem AMRSC
David spent three years as a technical assistant in a Japanese patent law firm prior to joining Appleyard Lees. This experience, alongside a solid grasp of French and German, allows David to assist clients with international aspects of their intellectual property as well as their domestic needs.
David works with clients including large and small chemical manufacturers, universities, and start-ups. He has a particular interest in the field of novel materials, coatings, and pharmaceuticals.
David is involved with patent prosecution from inception through to post-grant proceedings. In particular, David has experience drafting new patent applications for clients and assisting with contentious issues such as oppositions before the European Patent Office.
David graduated with a Masters in Chemistry from Durham University which included a six month research project on molecular magnets at the University of Tokyo.
Tom Gregory, European Patent Attorney
MPhys EPA
Tom’s work is primarily focused on the mechanics and electronics sectors. He also has valuable experience in computer-implemented inventions and software. Tom currently assists clients working in the fields of autonomous vehicles, defence and aerospace, and university research departments across various fields of innovation.
His daily practice involves patent drafting, prosecution and opposition work. Since joining the patent profession in 2017, Tom has drafted over 80 patent specifications. Tom has also passed exams in European and UK patent law and prosecution. Tom enjoys meetings and video calls with clients, and regularly conducts new client enquires.
Tom graduated with a first class master’s degree in Physics from the University of Manchester. In his final year project, he worked to characterise electron transport in solar cells, making use of a patented photoresist material. He particularly enjoyed modules covering semiconductor and solid-state physics. He has also completed a number of courses in C++ programming and Machine Learning.
Kealan Fallon, Trainee Patent Attorney
MSci PhD MRSC
With a background spanning chemistry, physics, and engineering, Kealan has a deep appreciation of the challenges and opportunities within interdisciplinary research environments. His broad experience helps him to understand and protect his client’s innovations.
Kealan works over a wide range of subject matter in the chemical and electronics industries, from polymers and speciality chemicals to scientific equipment and photonic technologies.
Emily Bevan-Smith, Trainee Patent Attorney
MChem AMRSC
Emily works with a range of clients in the chemical and medical industries to secure and maintain protection of their IP. Emily is experienced in assessing patentability, as well as drafting and prosecuting patent applications.
Emily graduated with a first class Master of Chemistry degree with Honours from Cardiff University. Emily’s studies gave her a broad insight into various chemical processes and technologies. Her research included developing synthetic models of the oxygen-evolving metal cluster found in green plants and subsequently developing routes toward them. Emily also carried out research to develop tunable routes to psuedoguaianolide terpenoid natural products and their analogues as an intern at the University of Florida.
Emily’s experience both within the intellectual property profession and academia has afforded her to understand and accommodate clients’ needs, enabling her to provide a dynamic and adaptable service.