gb_flag germany_flag japan_flag korea_flag china_flag
Back to Team

Samuel Keyes

Senior Associate, Patent Attorney Southampton
Profile of Samuel Keyes

I have always loved both scientific innovation and the power of language, and I enjoy working in a field which combines the two so deeply.  

My practice spans patent drafting, prosecution, and preparation of infringement and validity opinions, with a particular focus on handling oppositions (including appeals) before the European Patent Office (EPO). For several years, I have divided my time between private practice and secondment with the in-house patent department of a FTSE 100 company, advising on freedom-to-operate (FTO) matters, and gaining significant insights into commercial aspects of patent strategy. 

Prior to joining D Young & Co, I spent several years in academic research and education, developing new experimental and computational techniques to enable time-resolved (4D) imaging of living samples using synchrotrons and research reactors. I have carried into my patent practice a love of working at the interface of different scientific disciplines, with techbio a particular area of interest. I now represent a diverse range of clients, from multinational companies to university spin-outs, in areas of innovation spanning engineering, physics, and computer-science, with particular experience in radiation detection, telecommunications, medical devices, and digital image analysis. 

Having acted to oppose European patents subject to parallel proceedings at the Unified Patent Court (UPC), and also acted before the UPC in respect of such proceedings, the interplay of the EPO and UPC is an area of particular interest, on which I often take opportunities to write and speak. 

Qualifications

  • MEng in Mechanical Engineering, University of Southampton, 2010.
  • PhD in Multidisciplinary Bio-engineering, University of Southampton, 2014.
  • Certificate in Intellectual Property Law, Queen Mary, University of London.
  • Chartered Patent Attorney 2021.
  • European Patent Attorney 2021.
  • Certificate in IP litigation.
  • Registered representative before the Unified Patent Court (UPC) 2023.

Memberships

  • Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA).
  • European Patent Institute (epi).

Publications

  • Keyes SD, Cooper L, Duncan S, et al. (2017), Measurement of micro-scale soil deformation around roots using four-dimensional synchrotron tomography and image correlation, Journal of the Royal Society Interface.
  • Keyes SD, Zygalakis K, Roose T, (2017), Synchrotron X-ray Computed Tomography of the rhizosphere enables explicit structural modelling of root-hair and soil interactions, Bulletin of Mathematical Biology.
  • Keyes SD, Daly K, Gostling NJ, Jones DL, et al. (2013), High resolution synchrotron imaging of wheat root hairs growing in soil, and image based modelling of phosphate uptake, New Phytologist.
  • Keyes SD, Soper N, Gillard F, et al. (2016), Mapping full-field soil deformation around plant roots using in vivo 4D X-ray Computed Tomography and Digital Volume Correlation, Journal of Biomechanics.
  • Keyes SD, Gostling N, Cheung J, et al. (2017), The application of contrast media for in vivo feature enhancement in X-ray Computed Tomography of soil-grown plant roots, Microscopy and Microanalysis.
The patent team at D Young & Co LLP is consistently excellent and is very customer focused.
Legal 500
The people are very impressive and have a good attitude towards client care.
Chambers
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