Simon Parry

Simon is highly skilled in patent drafting, prosecution, oppositions and appeals. He is also experienced in Freedom to Operate opinions. Simon is particularly interested in the invention capture process, marine engineering, and automotive engineering, especially automotive safety. He leads the firm’s sponsorship of UK electric Formula Student team, Team Bath Racing Electric.

Areas of Expertise

• Automotive safety, including active and passive safety
• Marine engineering
• MedTech

Clients

Simon works for a range of clients including Swedish automotive engineering multinationals, British multinationals, UK innovators, US LLCs and global sports brands.

Background

Simon has a degree in Ship Science from Southampton University, qualifying as a European Patent Attorney in 1999 and a Charted Patent Attorney in 2000. He was previously a partner of a smaller IP firm, based in London.

Opposition highlights

Simon has worked on various opposition cases, including:

EP1454801, T0165/08: Simon acted for Autoliv in an opposition against a patent for a decorative member for an airbag cover. Successfully the patent was revoked by the Opposition Division at first instance. The patentee appealed the decision, and the Opposition Division’s decision was subsequently upheld by the Board of Appeal.

EP2520470, Autoliv Development AB vs Takata AG: Defence of a patent for a pedestrian airbag for a motor vehicle in which the opposition was rejected by the Opposition Division and the patent maintained as granted. 

EP2975951: Simon represented Imperial Tobacco in an opposition against Nicoventures Trading Limited, for a patent for a smokeable material heating apparatus. The Opposition Division issued a preliminary opinion prior to oral proceedings which was negative for the patentee. The patentee subsequently requested revocation of their patent, which was duly revoked.

EP3613301: Simon represented Imperial Tobacco in an opposition against a patent for a system and device for vaporising a substance. Successfully the patent was revoked by the Opposition Division. The Patentee appealed, but subsequently withdrew the appeal. 

EP3651591, Imperial Tobacco Limited vs Essentra Filter Products Development: Opposition against a patent for a smoking article filter in which the patent was revoked by the Opposition Division. 

Recommendations

Simon has been recognised in IAM Patent 1000 – 2017-2024 and described as “Outstanding" and "extremely reliable, thorough and easy to work with”.

“personable and client-focused” - IAM Patent 1000, 2021

"clients appreciate the solutions that Simon Parry dreams up for all their patent protection problems. “With the inventions that are of most importance to our company, we turn to Simon,” says one. - IAM Patent 1000, 2020

"top-notch engineering counsel" - IAM Patent 1000, 2019

"A mechanics maestro with a lock on the oil and gas and structural engineering sectors.”  - IAM Patent 1000, 2018

Client comments:  “We (also) wanted to thank you for all of the help you’ve given us this year. As ever, we are incredibly grateful for all of the support, we really wouldn’t be able to do it without you!” - Will Minter-Kemp,  University of Bath