Tanis Keirstead

Tanis is a Partner and member of the life sciences patent team at Mewburn Ellis. She has over 18 years’ experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. She has a deep interest in and understanding of her clients’ ever changing commercial goals and puts this at the heart of the IP strategies she develops for clients. Tanis’ expertise lies in taking her client’s inventions through from conception, to drafting, prosecution of multi-jurisdictional portfolios and ultimately defence, having accompanied several companies through from start up to clinical stage company, including supporting fundraising rounds and IPOs. She has a high level of expertise in antibody technology, in particular immunotherapy and antibody-drug conjugates. Her original background in virology has also led her to work in the field of RNA vaccines and liposomal delivery. Tanis has particular expertise in developing patenting strategies based on clinical trials, a highly complex topic, where each case requires a bespoke and carefully evaluated strategy. 

Areas of Expertise

• Antibody-based therapeutics and diagnostics, including immunotherapy, ADCs, and bispecific antibodies
• RNA vaccines and liposomal delivery
• Bioprocessing
• Manipulation of the microbiome

Background

Tanis has a degree in Microbiology and Virology from the University of Warwick and a PhD in Molecular Biology from the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford. 

Tanis joined Mewburn Ellis LLP in 2005, qualifying as a Chartered Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney in 2009. She joined the partnership in 2013.

Tanis is a member of the Patentanwaltskammer and authorised to provide patent services from Germany.