I am a University/Research & Development Institution

We work with 8 of the UK's top 10 Universities

We are very proud of the work we do for the UK’s academic and research institutions. A significant proportion of our original patent drafting work is completed in this sector for these institutions, or their technology transfer arms. As a firm we provide IP advice to 8 out of UK’s top 10 universities. In fact, many of the spin-out companies we work with are born from patented technology we have procured for universities and research institutions.

At Mewburn Ellis we have a strong understanding of the priorities faced by academic institutions and their researchers. Our long and established history of working with HE/FE Institutions gives us a real insight into the issues facing researchers, innovators and technology transfer officers, as well as the IP and innovation life-cycle for these institutions.

Our intellectual rigour and genuine academic interests make us an easy fit in the HE/FE space. Many of our attorneys have PhDs, and our clients always feel confident they are dealing with someone with a real technical understanding.  We understand how academic inventors work. Many of our patent attorneys have research experience themselves, and we empathise with the desire of the academic inventor to publish. We are well equipped to manage this and can carefully advise on IP legal ownership issues, which often arise in University settings.

We are highly sensitive to your budgetary limitations and working practices. We believe in being as flexible as possible in the way we work to deliver real IP benefits to help you grow. Our work is often done with a view to securing further investment or funding. We know the ultimate goal is often to assign or out‑license the portfolio to a start‑up or spin‑out company.

Client testimonials

author pink pentagon

University Technology Transfer Client

"There’s always expertise we can call on from Mewburn – the strength of the science is fantastic. There’s also the experience across the firm. And they can be trusted to give an honest opinion. I can just pick up the phone, have a chat to them and they will say ‘this is a no-go, you won’t get any protection here’ rather than simply try and take your money for the hell of it."

author pink pentagon

University Client

"Mewburn Ellis is a reliable service provider. Their advice has always been good and inspires trust."

We work at every stage of the IP lifecycle

Protect

Drafting, Filing & Prosecution
Portfolio Management
Searching & Watching
Renewals & EP Validations

Defend

Pre-action Advice
Oppositions & Appeals
Litigation
Alternative Dispute Resolution

Exploit

Strategic Advice
Commercial Issues
Transactions
Corporate Support

Forward Magazines Overlapping 8

Mewburn Ellis

FORWARD MAGAZINE

Mewburn Ellis Forward is a biannual publication that celebrates the best of innovation and exploration. Through its pages we hope to inform and entertain, but also to encourage discussion about the most compelling developments taking place in the scientific and entrepreneurial world. Along the way, we’ll engage with the IP challenges that international organisations face every day.