Kilburn & Strode

Firm overview:

Established in London in 1906, Kilburn & Strode has grown to become a leading patent and trademark firm with offices in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and the US. Some of the world’s leading brands in aerospace, automotives and pharmaceuticals choose the firm to take care of protecting and defending their most valuable intangible assets.

Kilburn & Strode’s non-contentious offering is particularly strong, and the team excels at working as an extension of clients’ in-house teams. This can include prosecuting clients’ patent applications autonomously by consulting its internal case records, and logging updates at key stages during the process. The firm also assists with obtaining unitary patents at the European Patent Office, and offers a full range of services before the Unified Patent Office (EPO) from filing opt-outs to litigation.

The patent practice is recognised for its success in UK and European disputes, and is called upon regularly to handle oppositions at the EPO. With a wealth of knowledge across multiple industries, the team also supports UK court proceedings and provides freedom-to-operate analysis, infringement and validity opinions.

Team overview:

The firm endeavours to work inclusively and embrace diversity. Kilburn & Strode was one of the first signatories of the IP Inclusive Charter, and a founding member of IP Out.

A stand-out member of the firm for patent prosecution, Sarah Lau heads up the Life Sciences and Chemistry group. Specialising in biotechnology, she is adept at handling all stages of the patenting process, from invention capture to EPO oppositions and appeals.

Firm chair Gwilym Roberts is also highly regarded for his prosecution practice. He acts for a range of clients from individuals and SMEs through to multinationals and handles a broad range of cases before the UK Patent Office, EPO and WIPO.

Key matters:

• Obtaining protection for women’s health technology—Elvie

The team works with female-founded women’s health company Elvie. Its work has included obtaining protection for Elvie’s cutting-edge health technology for women, from smart in-bra breast pumps to pelvic floor trainers.

Clients:

Alexion AstraZeneca Rare Disease, Elekta, Elvie, John Hopkins University, TuSimple