We have a long-established history of working with academic and research institutions as well as helping university spin-out companies.

These institutions contribute strongly to economic growth by creating exciting new companies that are rich in IP and at the forefront of cutting edge R&D resulting in life-changing discoveries.

Commercially astute universities have developed strategies to extract maximum benefits from their IP portfolios. We support such ventures, and seek to implement innovative and cost-effective IP strategies, giving careful consideration to the timing and number of filings and the territorial scope of protection required.

Our approach is always flexible, and is underpinned by close cooperation between different teams, particularly in areas where there may be overlap between technical disciplines. Many of our attorneys have research experience to PhD or post-doctoral level. We regularly meet with inventors who are leading experts in their field, and appreciate the need to quickly grasp the complex scientific concepts involved in order to translate these into strong IP protection.

Our services to academic clients include

  • Assistance in invention harvesting, including liaising directly with inventors and tech transfer teams
  • Seminars, webinars and workshops tailored to individual academic client needs
  • IP portfolio audit and strategic advice
  • Advising on the exploitation of IP rights for revenue opportunities
  • Freedom to operate advice including infringement and validity opinions
  • Due diligence work for funding, stock market flotation, business or project acquisition or sale
  • Supporting licence negotiations and agreements
  • Securing and prosecuting patents, trade marks and designs registrations worldwide
  • Supplementary protection certificates (SPCs)
  • Dispute resolution and litigation both in the UK and coordination internationally
  • Search, clearance and watching
  • Renewals
  • Case Study

    Working in Scandinavia

    We work with a number of universities and technology transfer organisations across Scandinavia, often working with government funded organisations and incubators to identify and protect early stage IP for start-up and spin outs. We have a proven track record of helping start-ups to secure robust IP rights that then allows them to approach investors to expand and grow their business. We can then help develop a long term IP strategy for business growth.


  • Case Study

    Technology transfer team support

    We have for a number of years worked with technology transfer managers at a top UK multi-disciplinary university, advising on patent drafting, prosecution and filing strategies over a wide range of subject areas, including chemistry, biotechnology and software applications. We have also advised on due diligence and licensing matters in relation to a number of different projects, including spin-outs concerned with small molecule drugs for medicinal use.

  • Case Study

    Patent advice

    D Young & Co advised an academic spin-out company developing novel therapeutic approaches using steroids and related molecules in the areas of cancer, women’s health, diabetes and hormone-associated diseases. Our team handled drafting and prosecution work as well as advising on due diligence matters. A single drug candidate synthesised in the early 1990s led to a patent and laid the cornerstone of the whole business. This university spin-out company was subsequently acquired by a mid-sized European pharmaceutical company.

You can't fault the fantastic quality of the work D Young & Co puts in. It collaborates efficiently to find the best solutions.
IAM Patent 1000
Talented patent attorneys with scientific backgrounds in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, electronics and engineering.
Chambers
The quality of their work is stellar. The partners and associates take the time to be thorough without overcharging for time.
IP Stars (Managing IP)
Its overall level of service never falls below excellent. It delivers quality patents for a reasonable price and is exceptionally responsive.
IAM Patent 1000
The practitioners demonstrate a high level of scientific expertise and are quick to understand the key features of an invention.
IAM Patent 1000
A strong patent drafting and portfolio management practice, often chosen by major international clients as well as prestigious universities and research institutes.
Legal 500
A very supportive back office, which deals with invoicing and renewals in a very professional way.
IAM Patent 1000
D Young & Co is just the most amazing IP company – you can leave it all in its hands and you never have to chase a thing.
World Trademark Review 1000
D Young & Co's overall level of service is excellent.  It delivers high quality work at a reasonable price, and is very responsive to its clients' needs.
IP Stars (Managing IP)
The thriving patent practice at D Young & Co is home to more than 40 attorneys and solicitors, all of whom specialise in a technological or scientific discipline.
IAM Patent 1000
They are professional and personal at the same time.
Chambers

Meet the team

Partners

Anthony Albutt
Anthony Albutt
Partner, Patent Attorney
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David Alcock
David Alcock
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Anton Baker
Anton Baker
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Robbie Berryman
Robbie Berryman
Partner, Patent Attorney
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William Burrell
William Burrell
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Richard Burton
Richard Burton
Partner, Trade Mark Attorney
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Matthew Caines
Matthew Caines
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Zöe Clyde-Watson
Zöe Clyde-Watson
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Andrew Cockerell
Andrew Cockerell
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Matthew Dick
Matthew Dick
Partner, Solicitor
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Gabriele Engels
Gabriele Engels
Partner, Rechtsanwältin
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Hanns-Juergen Grosse
Hanns-Juergen Grosse
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Charles Harding
Charles Harding
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Tamsin Holman
Tamsin Holman
Partner, Solicitor
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Catherine Keetch
Catherine Keetch
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Lawrence King
Lawrence King
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Antony Latham
Antony Latham
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Nicholas Malden
Nicholas Malden
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Connor McConchie
Connor McConchie
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Cathrine McGowan
Cathrine McGowan
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Tamara Milton
Tamara Milton
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Neil Nachshen
Neil Nachshen
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Simon O'Brien
Simon O'Brien
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Jennifer O'Farrell
Jennifer O'Farrell
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Tom Pagdin
Tom Pagdin
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Yvonne Stone
Yvonne Stone
Partner, Rechtsanwältin
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Kit Wong
Kit Wong
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Senior Associates

David Al-Khalili
David Al-Khalili
Senior Associate, Patent Attorney
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Kate Cheney
Kate Cheney
Senior Associate, Trade Mark Attorney
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Olivia Oxton
Olivia Oxton
Senior Associate, Solicitor
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Gemma Sparrow
Gemma Sparrow
Senior Associate, Patent Attorney
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Associates

Tara Fitz Gerald
Tara Fitz Gerald
Associate, Patent Attorney
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Ben Hunter
Ben Hunter
Associate, Patent Attorney
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Nigel Lee
Nigel Lee
Associate, Patent Attorney
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Phil Leonard
Phil Leonard
Associate, Solicitor
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Rachel Pellatt
Rachel Pellatt
Associate, Trade Mark Attorney
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Mathias Smolarski
Mathias Smolarski
Associate, Patent Attorney
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Julian Graf Wrangel
Julian Graf Wrangel
Associate, Rechtsanwalt
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Attorneys, Rechtsanwälte & Solicitors

Oliver Cartwright
Oliver Cartwright
Patent Attorney
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Keith Daly
Keith Daly
Patent Attorney
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Jacqueline Feigl
Jacqueline Feigl
Rechtsanwältin
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Leon Harrington
Leon Harrington
Patent Attorney
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Sean McCann
Sean McCann
Patent Attorney
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Gemma Seabright
Gemma Seabright
Patent Attorney
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William Smith
William Smith
Patent Attorney
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Joshua Wallington
Joshua Wallington
Patent Attorney
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Julian Graf Wrangel
Julian Graf Wrangel
Associate, Rechtsanwalt
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Assistants

Daisy Bethell
Daisy Bethell
Technical Assistant
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Molly Guy-Hickson
Molly Guy-Hickson
Technical Assistant
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Alice Holden
Alice Holden
Technical assistant
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William Hutton
William Hutton
Technical Assistant
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Sophie Rann
Sophie Rann
Trade Mark Assistant
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Michael Reynolds
Michael Reynolds
Technical Assistant
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Stephen Solomon
Stephen Solomon
Technical Assistant
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Chris Weekes
Chris Weekes
Technical Assistant
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Ben Wood
Ben Wood
Technical Assistant
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Consultants

James Turner
James Turner
Consultant, Patent Attorney
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IP Support

Mel Gregg
Mel Gregg
Trade Mark and Design Specialist
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Stefanie Koroll
Stefanie Koroll
Trade Mark and Design Specialist
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