Robert Watson

Robert handles patent work in our chemistry team. His work is focused in the pharmaceutical chemistry sector, where he applies his over 25 years’ experience in providing commercially focussed strategic advice. His work spans the product and IP lifecycle, including invention capture, drafting, global prosecution, opposition and freedom-to-operate.

Robert drafted and globally prosecuted the patent portfolios related to two marketed oncology drugs, one of which is a blockbuster – six patents he has drafted and prosecuted are listed in the FDA Orange Book. His experience in working with new clinical entities right from discovery to patient and the associated commercial milestones makes him passionate about helping others with IP protection in the drug discovery journey. Robert particularly enjoys advising start up and spin out companies alongside his longstanding relationships working with patent attorneys at pharmaceutical giants.

He is also a leading member of our designs team.

Areas of Expertise

• Antibody-drug conjugates
• Small-molecule pharmaceuticals
• Polymorphic forms of drugs
• Combination therapies

Clients

Robert works with a range of clients including British universities, charities, spin out companies, SMEs and multi-national pharmaceutical companies.

Background

Robert has a first class degree in chemistry from Oxford University. He joined Mewburn Ellis in 1995, qualifying as a Chartered Patent Attorney and a European Patent Attorney in 1999. He joined the partnership in 2001. Robert has over 20 years of experience as a professional representative at the EUIPO (1999 to 2020).

Robert is a member of the Standing Advisory Committee before the EPO (SACEPO), and an Expert Adviser to the IP Thematic Working Group at the UK’s Department for International Trade.

He is President of FICPI’s Study and Work Commission (CET) in which capacity he leads FICPI’s substantive work to improve the IP system and meets the European Commission, EPO, EUIPO, WIPO and other major patent offices.

He is also a member of the Designs and Copyright committee of CIPA and represents FICPI-UK on the UKIPO’s Marks and Designs Forum (MDF).

He regularly speaks at conferences on a variety of topics including entitlement to priority and privilege.

Recommendations

Robert is recognised in IAM Patent 1000, Managing IP, Who’s Who Legal and Thomson Reuters Stand-Out Lawyers.

Robert is named a Patent Star in Managing Intellectual Property: IP Stars 2023 and 2024. 

He is described as “a chemistry and materials maven, the depth of whose analysis never fails to amaze”, his “first-rate global portfolio management work has won him admirers on all continents.” What makes him stand-out is “his technical expertise, the quality of his advice, and successful representation in European opposition proceedings.”

Robert’s “knowledge of the pharmaceutical and industrial chemistry fields knows no bounds, which is of significant help when advising on portfolio strategy and invention capture” - IAM Patent 1000, 2022