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, Partner
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.
Ean Davies, Partner
BSc(Hons) MEng MIET CPA EPA
Before entering the patent profession, Ean spent several years working as a design engineer for Marconi and Motorola. This real-life commercial experience was invaluable and gives Ean an insight into some of the challenges faced by clients.
Ean works with leading clients in the defence and telecoms sector, handling patent filing and prosecution work, in a range of technologies, as well as advising on freedom to operate and infringement issues. He also jointly manages our work in the Higher Education sector, dealing with several leading universities in the UK and abroad.
James Myatt, Partner
PGDip MChem PhD MRSC EPA CPA
James is a UK and European patent attorney who handles a diverse portfolio of international patent applications for SME clients in the chemistry and materials fields.
Before joining Appleyard Lees, James worked in pharmaceuticals research for six years, gaining expertise in organic synthesis and drug design and was a named inventor on several patent applications resulting from this work.
James is also part of several teams providing intellectual property (IP) services to our multi-national corporate clients.
He provides freedom-to-operate analysis, patentability assessments and patent drafting, and manages the prosecution of patent applications through to grant.
David Jasiewicz, Associate
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.
Ali Dumigan, Associate
MPhys PhD CPA EPA
Ali’s strong physics background and experience with a broad range of clients enables him to deliver high-quality work in a manner adapted to client requirements. He enjoys tackling complex patent issues and providing clear advice.
Ali has experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications in a range of technologies including computer implemented inventions, mechanical inventions, electronics, printing, aerospace, and photonic integrated circuits.
Ali has significant experience of addressing non-technical subject matter related objections at the EPO, and of representing clients at oral proceedings in front of EPO examining divisions.
Amelia Foster, 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.
Ashley Wragg, 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.
Emily Bevan-Smith, 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.
Jordan Tinkler, European Patent Attorney
BSc MPhys PhD
Jordan takes a friendly and pragmatic approach in helping our clients protect their innovations and IP.
Jordan’s interdisciplinary background has given him an appreciation of the challenges involved with inventions crossing multiple fields of technology. Jordan provides tailored assistance to start-ups and SMEs to maximise the value of their IP portfolios. Jordan specialises in engineering/physics-based inventions and has a special interest in renewables and space-related technologies.
Jordan joined the profession in 2021 after completing a BSc, MPhys in Physics, and a PhD in Molecular and Nanoscale Physics at the University of Leeds.
Jordan holds first class honours bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics from the University of Leeds.
Jordan is a student member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) and regularly attends CIPA Informals events in the Yorkshire and Cambridge regions.
Kealan Fallon, European 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.
Under the guidance of experienced patent attorneys, Kealan is looking forward to training towards qualification and expanding his remit of working with universities and spin-out companies to assisting SMEs and large multinational corporations.
Tegan Wollaston, Trainee Patent Attorney
MEng
Tegan’s academic experience is supported by a year working as a design assurance engineer within the military and aerospace sector.
Tegan’s work broadened her ability to understand regulation and procedure as well as processing of literature. From this work in industry, Tegan is able to better aid clients, understand their priorities, and ascertain how best to achieve their goals within the parameters and context of their organisation.
Tegan was awarded a first class BEng degree in medical engineering with a year in industry at Cardiff University. Her final year project assessed the use of wearable sensors and machine learning to monitor industrial fatigue and was awarded the school award for the best project among Mechanical, Integrated and Medical Engineers.
Holly Redman, Trainee Patent Attorney
PhD
Holly’s broad experience in academic and industrial research, spanning chemistry and biophysics, helps her to understand and protect her client’s innovations.
Holly has a particular interest in renewable energy and sustainable technologies.
Holly is training towards qualification under the supervision of experienced patent attorneys. She is looking forward to working with a broad range of clients, and assisting universities, spin-outs, SMEs and multinationals.
Holly holds a masters in chemistry from the University of Sheffield, during which time she spent a year working in industry for a large agrochemical company in Germany. Following this, Holly completed a PhD in Molecular Biomimetics at Uppsala University, Sweden, specialising in bioinspired molecular electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution, contributing to 12 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Before joining Appleyard Lees, Holly worked in a med-tech start-up developing methods of analysing compounds on breath.
Oliver Manners, Trainee Patent Attorney
MSci, BA
Oliver is a trainee patent attorney, working in the Manchester chemistry team. His interdisciplinary background helps him to understand the challenges and rewards of working at the interfaces between traditional disciplines.
Oliver is training to draft and prosecute patent applications for chemical inventions, with a particular interest in bioinorganic chemistry, catalysis and supramolecular chemistry.
Always keen to learn about cutting-edge scientific advances, he is excited to hear about clients’ innovations and to help protect them.
Oliver Rigg, Trainee Patent Attorney
MPhys
Oliver’s background in physics and his experience working in science communication and education enables him to offer straightforward and pragmatic patent advice to clients regardless of their level of familiarity with intellectual property.
Whilst he specialises in engineering, electronics, and physics-based inventions, Oliver is experienced in obtaining patent protection for medical devices, consumer electronics, artificial intelligence and telecommunications. He has a particular interest in renewable energy and audio technologies.
As a trainee patent attorney, Oliver enjoys getting to work with a wide range of people and technologies while putting his problem-solving skills and precise nature to good use.
Jack Braithwaite, Trainee Patent Attorney
BSc (Hons) PhD
Jack’s academic and industrial research experience enables him to understand the broad range of clients’ patent protection needs in the biotechnology and life sciences sector.
As a trainee, Jack is working towards his UK and European patent examinations. As well as this, he is involved in the drafting and prosecution of patent applications for microbiome-modifying compounds.
Jack holds a first-class Biochemistry BSc and a PhD from the University of Nottingham. His PhD work focused on studying the mechanisms that underpin CRISPR immunity in bacteria. He also spent time working in industry developing novel high-throughput genetic screening techniques. Jack has gained a wide variety of experience during his time in research, including microbiology, molecular biology, DNA recombination and gene editing techniques.