Isobel Stone

Isobel is an accomplished UK and European patent attorney whose technical expertise spans a wide range of technical fields in the mechanical engineering and materials engineering spaces.  Her work extends across the full IP lifecycle: she has extensive experience in original drafting and patent prosecution work, as well as a keen interest in opposition and other contentious matters.

Isobel’s thriving patent practice includes top-ranked UK universities and companies including start-ups, SMEs, and large multinationals.  Her attention to detail and focus on her clients have been documented in her 2024 ranking in the Legal 500 directory: "Isobel Stone is very close to the detail of her clients' IP, its landscape, and objectives. She has an excellent grasp of the detail, and gives good, relevant advice." 

Technical Expertise

Isobel’s technical background in materials science has proven an excellent base for her work across a number of different fields spanning mechanical & materials engineering. 

Stemming from her time spent working within the Cambridge Centre for Medical Materials during her master’s degree, Isobel has a keen personal interest in medical technology.  She has worked on IP in relation to a broad variety of medical devices and materials including orthopaedic implants, airway management devices, endoscopy systems, cardiac assist devices, dialysis systems, and medical biomaterials.

In contrast to her work in the medical devices and materials space, Isobel also has a strong practice in mechanical and materials aspects of construction technology: she handles patent portfolios covering building construction systems and building components, construction materials, balconies, balustrades and decking systems.  

More broadly, Isobel also works on various technologies within the wider advanced materials space including on carbon and related nanotechnologies, energy storage materials & devices, and structural, functional and electronic ceramic materials.

Opposition highlights

Isobel has worked on a range of post-grant proceedings in relation to patents across the engineering (mechanical & materials) and consumer products sectors, including a number of opposition and appeal cases before the European patent office, as well as on post-grant matters including UKIPO opinions on infringement and validity before the UK patent office.

Some highlights include:

EP3432957: Imperial Tobacco Limited vs Nicoventures Trading Limited. Representing the opponent in this opposition of this patent for an electronic vapour provision system, knocking out 13 requests and resulting in revocation of the patent.

EP3195888: Shibuya Corporation vs Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA . Successfully defending commercially important claim scope for this patent for dialysis system.

Qualifications and Career

Isobel has an MSci (Hons) degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge, where she specialised in materials science. Her master’s research project focused on production and characterisation of biomaterials for tissue engineering applications. Isobel joined Mewburn Ellis in September 2015, qualifying as a Chartered Patent Attorney and a European Patent Attorney in 2019.

In addition to her patent work, Isobel is closely involved in assessing new graduate applicants applying to Mewburn Ellis and is a key member of the Mewburn Ellis interview panel for engineering roles.  She has also taken part in a number of IP Inclusive ‘Careers in Ideas’ initiatives including presenting a number of webinars on a career as a patent attorney: she takes pride in her involvement in inspiring and recruiting the next generation of patent attorneys

Published Articles

Isobel has been heavily involved with creation of a number of Mewburn Ellis special reports, including:

Medical devices: Insights through IP

Femtech: a growth industry

Memberships and Affiliations

Isobel is a member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) and The Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (epi).