Current Partners
Some of our key people from the present
Mark Goodwin Current Partner – Wilson Gunn
Mark Goodwin is an honours graduate in chemistry. Mark joined Wilson Gunn in 1988 and qualified as a Chartered and European Patent Attorney in 1992. He became a partner in the firm in 1994 and handles the international intellectual property portfolios of a number of domestic and multinational clients. Over the years, Mark's patent practice has covered a diverse range of technologies, and he has extensive experience in patents relating to polymer chemistry, surfactants, textiles, filtration, paper-making and confectionery, including chewing gum. Mark has a broad knowledge of patent prosecution before the UK Intellectual Property Office and the European Patent Office and in overseas jurisdictions, and he deals regularly with contentious matters such as patent infringement and validity proceedings, often co-ordinating sizable teams of professional staff. He has considerable expertise in direct advocacy work before the European Patent Office at all levels, including proceedings before the Technical Boards of Appeal. In addition to patents, Mark advises on a range of trade mark, copyright and design issues, is qualified as a Registered Trade Mark Attorney and European Trade Mark and Design Attorney. Mark's trade mark practice encompasses a range of non-contentious and contentious matters in the UK, EU and further afield. Mark is a former Chair of the North West Group of the Licensing Executives Society (Britain & Ireland). He is a past contributor to the text European Patents Sourcefinder and has tutored on the Robert Schuman University of Strasbourg training course for European Patent Attorneys. According to Managing Intellectual Property IP Handbook, Mark is “heavyweight, experienced and commercial” and “provides the strategic vision that keeps the firm ahead of the game”. Mark is also mentioned in The Legal 500, where he is described as a “stellar operator”.
James Edward Robey Current Partner – Wilson Gunn
James Robey graduated from the University of Durham with a master’s degree in physics and joined Wilson Gunn in 1996. James qualified as a Chartered and European Patent Attorney in 2000, and became a partner in 2004. He is a Chartered Physicist and a Member of the Institute of Physics. James's patent practice covers a broad range of technologies including automotive, hydrocarbon extraction, scientific and medical equipment, instrumentation and software inventions. He has wide experience of patent prosecution including direct advocacy at the European Patent Office in both ex-parte and inter-partes proceedings and he also routinely advises on patent enforcement. James is a tutor for the University of Strasbourg training course for European Patent Attorneys. James is also a European Trade Mark and Design Attorney and in addition to patent work a significant proportion of his practice is taken up with trade marks. He manages a number of international trade mark portfolios for major brands and much of his trade mark work involves contentious matters. James also handles a wide variety of copyright and design matters. He has experience in using registered designs creatively to maximise protection of products and has dealt with many cases of design and copyright infringement. According to Managing Intellectual Property IP Handbook, James impresses clients “because he always gives straightforward advice indicating the strengths and weaknesses of their position”. James is also recommended in The Legal 500 for his expertise is the engineering sector, where he is also described as “frighteningly clever”!
Michael Douglas Current Partner – Wilson Gunn
Michael Douglas graduated from Newcastle University with a first class honours degree in biochemistry. Michael has extensive research experience, including investigation into putative DNA repair enzyme polymorphisms and development of novel immunosuppressive drugs. He was awarded a Ph.D. for his research into the role of vascular endothelial cells in acute transplant rejection, which also generated a significant number of research papers. Michael also has experience in clinical research, having worked as a postdoctoral research associate investigating the safety of proton-pump inhibitor drugs, and is a Chartered Biologist and Member of the Society of Biology. Michael joined Wilson Gunn in 1999 and obtained the Manchester University Postgraduate Certificate in Intellectual Property Law (with distinction). He went on to qualify in both patents and trade marks, as a Chartered and European Patent Attorney and as a UK Registered Trade Mark Attorney and European Trade Mark and Design Attorney. He became a partner of the firm in 2007. On the patent side, Michael specialises in medical inventions and biotechnology and also deals with chemical subject matter. He has considerable experience in direct advocacy work in oppositions and appeals at the European Patent Office. Michael’s trade mark practice includes work in all areas. He manages global IP portfolios for a number of major brands, advising on everything from brand protection strategy through to maintenance and enforcement of rights. Michael has particular expertise in the fields of sports and entertainment, food and beverages, retail, fashion and industrial products. Chambers & Partners has described Michael as a “first-rate patent and trade mark attorney whose high standard of work is combined with excellent client care.” Managing Intellectual Property IP Handbook has this to say: “Michael Douglas is a great account manager and ensures delivery across the piece…Technically he is very good and commercially he is even better." The Legal 500 indicated that Michael "combines the skills and experience of a deep practitioner with a genial style."
David Slattery Current Partner – Wilson Gunn
David Slattery has a first class master’s degree in physics from Manchester University. David joined Wilson Gunn in 2001, after beginning his training in private practice with another firm. He obtained the Manchester University Postgraduate Certificate in Intellectual Property Law, and was awarded the AstraZeneca prize for best overall performance. David went on to qualify as a Chartered and European Patent Attorney. He became a partner of the firm in 2010. David’s patent practice encompasses technologies including telecommunications, data networks, semiconductors, imaging and optics, low temperature physics, lasers and laser spectroscopy, and digital and analogue electronics. David also has considerable expertise in prosecuting patents for inventions that lie at the boundaries of subject matter protectable by patents, in particular computer software, business methods and games. He has significant experience of direct advocacy at hearings before the UK Intellectual Property Office and European Patent Office and of litigation in the UK High Court. David is a tutor for the Robert Schuman University of Strasbourg training course for European Patent Attorneys. David also advises on a range of trade mark and design matters. He is qualified as a UK Registered Trade Mark Attorney and European Trade Mark and Design Attorney. The Legal 500 has praised David as "an IT patent expert" and “a very solid individual with good analytical skills", as well as a "stellar operator".
Ben Appleton Current Partner – Wilson Gunn
Ben Appleton graduated from Leeds University with an honours degree in chemistry & biochemistry. He was subsequently awarded a Ph.D. from the same university for research into the synthesis of novel biomimetic compounds which mimic the active site of glucose oxidase enzymes. Ben entered the patent profession in 1998 with another firm. He obtained the Manchester University Postgraduate Certificate in Intellectual Property Law and went on to qualify as a Chartered and European Patent Attorney. He joined Wilson Gunn in 2012, and became a partner in 2016. Ben also spent a number of years as in-house counsel at Cadbury and Kraft Foods, managing the UK patent team and advising the business on a wide range of patent, design and technical know-how matters. As a result of his time as in-house counsel, Ben has a particular expertise in patent matters relating to food chemistry, packaging and manufacturing processes. He also has extensive experience in European Patent Office oppositions and appeals, both offensively and defensively, and has been actively involved in successful litigation in Europe, Australia and the US. In addition, Ben also has broad experience in a range of other chemical and material science fields, including dye and colour chemistry, lithographic printing technologies, household cleaning products, alloys, and medicinal chemistry, as well as mechanical engineering experience. Ben is also an Examiner for the UK patent attorney professional examinations, in relation to the advanced examination on the infringement and validity of patents. Ben is recommended in The Legal 500, where he is described as a “stellar operator”. Ben is also recommended as a leading patent practitioner in the UK by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) magazine in ‘The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners’ peer-nominated survey for 2016, where he is described as “a really adept attorney – he is very astute, sedulous and thoughtful”.
Tim Rose Current Partner – Wilson Gunn
Tim Rose graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in law and went on to obtain a master’s degree in intellectual property management at Bournemouth University. Following this, he entered the profession with another firm before starting with Wilson Gunn in 2010.Tim is qualified as a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney and European Trade Mark and Design Attorney. He became a partner of the firm in 2016.
Tim has experience in all areas of trade mark law, including advising on the use and protection of trade marks, the maintenance of trade mark rights and the management of global portfolios. Tim also has a wealth of experience in dealing with contentious issues (oppositions, invalidations and revocations) from both sides of the fence and at all levels, up to and including the Appointed Person in the UK and the Boards of Appeal of the EUIPO. He particularly enjoys the satisfaction of a well negotiated agreement, saving the client time and money and providing certainty for the client in future business activities. One of the highlights of Tim’s career so far has been representing one of his multinational client’s in mediation proceedings at the Board of Appeal of the EUIPO in Alicante. This required negotiation between the parties in person at the EUIPO offices. The outcome was very successful for the client and Tim was one of the first UK trade mark attorneys to represent a client in such proceedings.
Chris McDonald Current Partner – Wilson Gunn
Chris McDonald graduated from the University of Liverpool with an honours degree in chemistry with a European language (German), including spending a year of his degree course studying chemistry at the Technical University of Vienna, Austria. He was subsequently awarded a Ph.D. from the University of Manchester for his investigation into the synthesis and electronic properties of diarsine complexes of transition metals. Chris initially entered the profession by spending several years as a European Patent Examiner at the European Patent Office in Munich, examining patent applications in the technical areas of organic and inorganic chemistry, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, polymers, catalysts, pesticides and cosmetics. Chris eventually returned to England to begin his training in private practice. He went on to qualify as a Chartered and European Patent Attorney, and joined Wilson Gunn in 2008. He became a partner of the firm in 2017.Chris has expertise relating to all areas of chemistry, including organic and inorganic chemistry, pharmaceuticals, food chemistry and manufacturing processes, medical devices, polymers, catalysts, industrial fluids, pesticides, personal care compositions, and cosmetics, and handles the international intellectual property portfolios of a number of domestic and multinational clients. He has extensive knowledge and experience of direct advocacy work at the European Patent Office in examination, opposition and appeal proceedings, as well as experience of European Patent Office examination and opposition proceedings from the perspective of a European Patent Examiner. He also has experience of patent proceedings before the US Patent and Trade Mark Office. In addition, Chris handles a range of trade mark and design matters and is qualified as a UK Chartered Trade Mark Attorney and European Trade Mark and Design Attorney. As a result of his two periods of living abroad, Chris is fluent in German.
Marc Lewis Current Partner – Wilson Gunn
Marc Lewis graduated with a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Bristol. As part of his degree, Marc spent a year working as a research chemist for a leading pharmaceutical company. He is an Associate Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and is qualified as a Registered Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney. Marc has been with Wilson Gunn since 2007.Marc deals with a range of patent work, with particular emphasis on organic, analytical and medicinal chemistry. He is also qualified as a Registered Trade Mark Attorney and European Trade Mark and Design Attorney and has experience in a wide variety of trade mark matters.
Mark Jolly Current Partner – Wilson Gunn
Mark Jolly graduated from Manchester University with a degree in chemistry (with patent law). Mark joined Wilson Gunn in 2014 after spending ten years with another private practice firm. He is qualified as a Chartered and European Patent Attorney and is a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Mark has patent experience in a diverse range of technologies. He has developed expertise in fuel-cell catalysts and pharmaceuticals as well as materials and process chemistry. He also has experience in engineering and electronics as well as in relation to mechanical inventions. Mark handles all aspects of patent work, from drafting and prosecution to opposition and enforcement. He also has significant experience of contentious work relating to patent infringement and validity. Mark has an enviable record in direct advocacy, having had successes in hearings at the European Patent Office both at first instance and on appeal. Mark is also a European Design Attorney and has built up significant expertise in relation to copyright and design issues. Mark contributes to two professional reference books, the European Patents Handbook and the Community Designs Handbook.