The European unitary patent (UP) provides welcome additional flexibility for obtaining patent protection in Europe. It complements, rather than replaces, conventional European and national patent rights in certain EU member states. With over 60 qualified European patent attorneys, we are able to provide tailored, sector-specific advice relating to patent filing strategies, to maximise your commercial objectives.

Selecting the most suitable patent protection strategy is not always straightforward. As unitary patents do not extend to all European countries, it may be necessary for applicants to seek the additional protection of European and/or national patents to obtain adequate territorial protection. For example, patent protection in the UK may be obtained via a European or a UK national patent, but not directly via a unitary patent.

There are also cost implications associated with the different options for obtaining patent protection in Europe. A unitary patent may be more cost effective where protection is required in a significant number of countries, whereas a conventional European patent and/or a series of national patents may be more cost effective if protection is only required in a limited number of countries.

Unitary patent renewal fees are paid annually to the EPO on a fixed fee basis and it is not possible to elect or withdraw protection in individual countries covered by a UP: it is an “all-in” or” all-out” system. By contrast, renewal fees for conventional European patents are payable to national patent offices after grant and the territorial scope of protection may be voluntarily limited by the non-payment of renewal fees in certain countries at different points in the patent lifecycle, if desired. This provides a level of flexibility that is not available with a unitary patent.

Our unitary patent related services include:

  • Patent portfolio management
  • Advice regarding unitary patent filing and prosecution strategies before the EPO
  • Advice relating to unitary patent protection and opt-outs
  • Advice relating to interaction of unitary patents and national patents (double protection)
  • Payment of unitary patent renewal fees
  • Advice relating to the litigation and dispute resolution of unitary patents before the Unified Patent Court (UPC)

Guide to the unitary patent (UP)

Read our in-depth guide explaining the key points of the unitary patent, including: legal sources, requesting unitary effect, register for unitary patent protection, extent of coverage, renewal fees, licences of right, unitary patent as an object of property, effect on existing European patents and national patents, supplementary protection certificates (SPCs), infringement and freedom-to-operate, relationship with the UPC and opposition/appeal, benefits and disadvantages.

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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)
D Young has a good team of attorneys who provide great service on complex issues in a very responsive manner.
Chambers
Its squad of technically astute professionals makes light work of all prosecution matters.
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Their level of service is a rarity compared to many other IP firms.
IP Stars (Managing IP)
Talented patent attorneys with scientific backgrounds in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, electronics and engineering. Well known for representing generic pharmaceutical companies as well as innovators.
Chambers
A very supportive back office, which deals with invoicing and renewals in a very professional way.
IAM Patent 1000
Its substantial roster of attorneys enables it to cover nearly every specialism and need, including litigation.
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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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Rachel Bateman
Rachel Bateman
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Robbie Berryman
Robbie Berryman
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Alan Boyd
Alan Boyd
Partner, Patent Attorney
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William Burrell
William Burrell
Partner, Patent 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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James Cornford
James Cornford
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Jonathan DeVile
Jonathan DeVile
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Garreth Duncan
Garreth Duncan
Partner, Patent Attorney
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Doug Ealey
Doug Ealey
Partner, Patent Attorney
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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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Jonathan Jackson
Jonathan Jackson
Partner, Patent Attorney
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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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Darren Lewis
Darren Lewis
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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David Meldrum
David Meldrum
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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Sophie Slater
Sophie Slater
Partner, Patent Attorney
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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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Martin Bicker
Martin Bicker
Senior Associate, Patent Attorney
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Emma Hamilton
Emma Hamilton
Senior Associate, Patent Attorney
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Laura Jennings
Laura Jennings
Senior Associate, Patent Attorney
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Robert Kelly
Robert Kelly
Senior Associate, Patent Attorney
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Ryan Lacey
Ryan Lacey
Senior Associate, Patent Attorney
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Arun Roy
Arun Roy
Senior Associate, Patent Attorney
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Gemma Sparrow
Gemma Sparrow
Senior Associate, Patent Attorney
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Alice Stuart-Grumbar
Alice Stuart-Grumbar
Senior Associate, Patent Attorney
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Associates

Khalil Davis
Khalil Davis
Associate, Patent Attorney
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Joseph Flood
Joseph Flood
Associate, Patent Attorney
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Tara Fitz Gerald
Tara Fitz Gerald
Associate, Patent Attorney
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Ben Hunter
Ben Hunter
Associate, Patent Attorney
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Samuel Keyes
Samuel Keyes
Associate, Patent Attorney
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Nigel Lee
Nigel Lee
Associate, Patent Attorney
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Rebecca Price
Rebecca Price
Associate, Patent Attorney
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Simon Schofield
Simon Schofield
Associate, Patent Attorney
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Samuel Smith
Samuel Smith
Associate, Patent Attorney
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Mathias Smolarski
Mathias Smolarski
Associate, Patent Attorney
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Nathaniel Wand
Nathaniel Wand
Associate, Patent Attorney
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Toby Willis
Toby Willis
Associate, Patent Attorney
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Stephanie Wroe
Stephanie Wroe
Associate, Patent Attorney
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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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Matthew Gallon
Matthew Gallon
Patent Attorney
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Jake Leggat
Jake Leggat
Patent Attorney
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Joshua Wallington
Joshua Wallington
Patent Attorney
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Assistants

Michael Reynolds
Michael Reynolds
Technical Assistant
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Consultants

David Horner
David Horner
Consultant, Patent Attorney
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