D Young & Co
Firm overview:
Scale, technical diversity and a heavy flow of prosecution and opposition work continue to set D Young & Co apart in the UK patent market. Acting for more than 1,100 active patent clients, the firm has seen growth across life sciences, engineering and advanced technologies, while maintaining long-standing relationships with major clients such as Sony. The team is known for handling complex European Patent Office (EPO) proceedings, and is increasingly appearing for clients before the Unified Patent Court (UPC) and UK courts. The firm fields multidisciplinary teams and focuses on advocacy training to meet its clients’ increasingly complex needs.
Team overview:
D Young & Co has one of Europe’s largest patent attorney teams, the scale of which allows it to combine specialist technical advice with sophisticated European prosecution, opposition and freedom-to-operate strategy.
Tom Pagdin brings a background in immunology and molecular genetics to his work with biotechnology and life sciences clients. His practice covers drafting, prosecution and opposition work, with a focus on building commercially valuable patent portfolios around advanced scientific developments.
Alan Boyd is widely recognised for his work on computer-implemented inventions, particularly in software and digital technologies. He combines strong technical understanding with commercially focused prosecution advice, helping clients turn complex innovations into durable patent protection.
Kit Wong is well regarded for chemistry and pharmaceutical patent work, including prosecution strategy and contentious EPO proceedings. Her technical precision and practical commercial judgement continue to attract recognition across the life sciences sector.
Key matters:
- Novo Nordisk: EPO patent oppositions and prosecution for semaglutide portfolio
As part of its longstanding relationship with the Danish pharmaceutical giant, D Young & Co defended key European patents for Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide products, including Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus, and continues to lead EPO prosecution, opposition and appeal strategy for one of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical portfolios.
- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries: EPO oppositions and freedom-to-operate strategy
D Young & Co secured a series of important EPO Board of Appeal victories for Teva, revoking patents covering major pharmaceutical products including Otezla, Rytary, rifaximin, Ibrance and Evrenzo, supporting generic market entry and helping avoid multi-jurisdictional litigation.
- Arm: Strategic European patent appeal
The firm overturned an adverse EPO appeal decision for Arm, securing protection for a strategically important processor architecture invention after resolving objections relating to sufficiency of disclosure.
Clients:
Airspan Communications, Arm, Asahi Kasei, BioNTech, BlueScope Steel, CERN, Cosmetic Warriors (Lush), GKN Aerospace, Intuit, Novo Nordisk, Oracle, Sony Group, The Francis Crick Institute, Toyota Motor, University College London (UCL) / UCL Business (UCLB)
