Forresters

Firm overview:

Forresters celebrated its 140th anniversary in 2024, a year in which it also won some significant new clients including Dunlop tyres maker Sumitomo Rubber Industries. Attorneys at the firm are trained to deliver their advice in plain terms that clients can easily digest—and won’t sit on the fence when difficult decisions arise.

The European IP firm’s sector strengths include life sciences, medtech, cleantech, and engineering. A client, who works with the firm on non-contentious UK patent matters, says the team’s expertise in medical diagnostics, strategic IP positioning, and commercially grounded advice has been “instrumental to our innovation efforts”. The team has experience in drafting patent applications in Europe and worldwide.

Forresters has a strong opposition and appeals practice before the German and European patent offices, particularly in the life sciences realm where patents protect high-value innovations. Success in landmark patent cases before the UK Supreme Court, as well as a high calibre of service from across the team, have resulted in word-of-mouth recommendations between clients, with one explaining that they choose Forresters for its “consistency, depth of support, and practical expertise”.

Team overview:

The “client focused, strategic and responsive” patent team at Forresters “take the time to connect personally” and are commended for their “willingness to invest in our relationship”, according to peers.

Andy Harding and Rupert Knights are “a great team” says an industry practitioner who works with the firm. Harding’s work involves drafting and filing patent and design applications in the UK and Europe, and he has been actively involved in successful opposition and appeal proceedings before the European Patent Office (EPO). Also a specialist in patent applications, Knights has an engineering background and works with clients in the mechanical, electrical and software industries.

Part of the life sciences team, London partner Charlotte Sunderland “will give me the advice I need and not just the advice I want to hear, ensuring that we obtain the best protection for our IP”, says an industry peer. A “trusted advisor”, Sunderland has particular expertise in patenting medical devices and bioinformatics.

Partner Charlotte Teall, based in London, has a background in biochemistry and a strong supplementary protection certificate (SPC) practice. Teall and Sunderland are described as “both knowledgeable and take a practical but appropriately creative approach to their prosecution and legal guidance”.

A senior associate in Birmingham, Kate Wilson “brings clarity to complex filings, has guided us through international filings, and consistently helps us position our IP portfolio for investor and regulatory scrutiny” says a client. Also in Birmingham, partner Jagvir Purewal is described as “very responsive” and praised for his commercially-focused advice.

Senior associate Ryan Mitchell is recommended for being “responsive”, “transparent” and “thorough” in his legal advice and recommendations, as well as “a pleasure to work with”. Mitchell represents clients before the UK and European patent offices.

Also a senior associate at the firm, Kate Wilson advises on a range of biotech and pharmaceutical matters, and is noted for bringing “clarity to complex filings”, as well as helping a client position their IP portfolio for investor and regulatory scrutiny.

Key matters:

• European patent prosecution—Abbvie

Among other areas, Forresters manages European patent prosecution matters related to AbbVie’s Rinvoq drug, which treats a variety of diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Partner Chris Bond leads the team.

• Patent drafting and opinion work—Sumitomo Rubber Industries

Japanese multinational Sumitomo Rubber Industries is a new Forresters client, whose brands include Dunlop and Falken tyres. Partners Matthew Barton in Munich and Rupert Knights in London are handling the work via the head office in Japan as well as the German subsidiary company. Initial work has included opinion work, a patent claim analysis project and the draft of a patent application for filing at the German patent office.

• Filing and prosecution—Carbon Clean

Forresters provides patent services to Carbon Clean, an innovation leader in point source carbon capture, which is developing cost-effective solutions to accelerate the global deployment of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies, especially in hard-to-abate sectors such as cement, steel, refineries and energy from waste.

Led by partner Chris Bond and senior associate Rosalie Shepherd, the team has assisted Carbon Clean in securing patent protection for carbon capture solvent compositions and methods for carbon dioxide recovery.

• European patent opposition proceedings—Regenxbio

Charlotte Teall successfully defended a key European patent for client Regenxbio during opposition proceedings, resulting in the patent being upheld as granted. Forresters has handled some of Regenxbio’s European patent portfolio for several years, particularly concerning the use of AAV viral vectors in treating lysosomal storage disorders.

Clients:

AbbVie, Animal Dynamics, BiSN, Carbon Clean, Entia, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Mara Renewables (represented by Kilpatrick), Regenxbio, Sibelco, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Waters Technology Corporation