Electronics, Computing & Physics group
The Electronics, Computing, and Physics group of Withers & Rogers is the firm’s largest practice group. We help our clients to obtain patents in high-technology electronics and computer-related fields.
Our experience
Our clients include well-known British, American and Japanese companies manufacturing products and offering services using electronic or computer-related technologies. They include telecommunications network and systems providers, integrated circuit design companies, medical equipment manufacturers (including makers of medical imaging equipment), computer network and systems providers, domestic and industrial electrical and electronic equipment companies, aerospace and avionics manufacturers, as well as the research departments and technology transfer companies of a number of British universities.
Our expertise
The group is headed by Karl Barnfather. He and other members of the group bring appropriate academic and professional experience to the area. First degrees include physics, electronic and electrical engineering and electronic systems engineering, either solely or in combination with subjects such as solid state electronics and computing. Members’ doctorates cover specialist areas including solid state physics studies using nuclear magnetic resonance and neutron scattering techniques, application of nuclear magnetic resonance techniques in the investigation of solid state systems at low temperature and plasma physics.
The group also includes a former Patent Examiner at the UK Intellectual Property Office and attorneys with dual qualification as a Solicitor and Patent Attorney Litigator.
Some members have gained valuable industry experience, working in the intellectual property departments of multinational companies. This breadth of expertise allows us to tailor the teams we offer to our clients.
Work undertaken encompasses all aspects of patent procurement and enforcement such as original drafting and prosecution, opinion work, IP exploitation advisory work including licensing and assignments and enforcement advice.
The way we work
We aim to develop as complete an understanding of our clients’ businesses as possible and to establish long term relationships. To this end we take the time necessary to gain that understanding and where possible visit clients on a regular basis to conduct review meetings to ensure our clients are fully aware of the current status of their IP portfolios, to identify any areas in which their portfolios may be strengthened and to make sure we are fully aware of any new innovations that may give rise to new additions to those portfolios.
Our goal is to remove any perceived separation between us and our clients such that we are considered in effect part of our clients business. That is most clearly demonstrated where we have in fact provided one or more attorneys from the group to work on secondment within a client’s business, either on a full-time or part-time basis. This has been much appreciated by those clients involved.
We provide pragmatic & business-focussed advice in a clear and jargon-free manner, since we recognise that our advice is often passed on to less IP-aware managers and directors within a company. Our clients appreciate this straightforward manner of communication for the simplification it brings to their jobs.
The breadth and depth of experience within the group is fully exploited through our practice of consulting with all group members on individual matters and regular group video-conferences in which topics of interest that have arisen are discussed. Thus all our clients benefit from the collective experience of the group irrespective of the particular attorney working with that client.
Wider perspectives
The Electronics, Computing, and Physics group aims to stay in touch with industry developments, and where possible, use this knowledge to improve our services to clients.
The group’s members serve and participate in a wide range of organisations, including:
The Institute of Engineering & Technology (IET)
The Institute of Physics (IOP)
Cambridge Wireless Network
Silicon Southwest
Bristol Enterprise Network
Southeast Healthcare Tech Alliance
Oxford Alumni
Medi-Wales
Low Carbon Southwest
British Computing Society
West of England Aerospace Alliance
Electronics Knowledge Transfer Network
Digital Communications Knowledge Transfer Network
We find that in addition to the networking opportunities that our participation in these associations provides, which enables us to bring our existing clients together with potentially useful new contacts, the exchange of information and awareness of new legal and commercial practices and regulations allows us to react quickly and flexibly to the benefit of our clients.
What our clients say
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“Whilst W&R are instructed directly through our external Australian attorneys, we find they understand our patent portfolio and our cases are not treated as simply foreign referrals. It is invaluable having direct access to W&R if we have any queries on our EP/UK portfolio and related strategies."
John Walker, Senior Manager, CSIRO - Intellectual Property Portfolio Management
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“Withers & Rogers’ clear advice and swift action was invaluable in securing Intellectual Property protection for our improved product and we are confident that this protection will be a major commercial advantage as the new standard is adopted.”
Geraint Evans, Managing Director, P&B Weir Electrical
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"We were impressed by the support Withers & Rogers were able to give in ensuring an effective acquisition of this IP portfolio. With a necessarily tight deadline imposed, the team proved to be very flexible and helpful and were able to quickly assess the true status of the IP rights."
Sean Lin, President and CEO, Luxtaltek
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“The thorough review and assessment of Profile Therapeutics' intellectual property by Withers & Rogers and the subsequent detailed report that they wrote for the flotation prospectus was an important part of our business’s flotation on the London Stock Exchange. We were able to raise sufficient funds in the flotation exercise to develop our new technology and market it. Our new technology and the patent position that Withers & Rogers helped us to build up made the business sufficiently attractive that it was subsequently acquired by a US corporation.”
John Denyer then CTO of Profile Therapeutics
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"Covidien's Imaging Solutions business chooses to utilise Withers & Rogers' intellectual property services as they demonstrate a high level of competence with regard to our products and related technologies. Furthermore, they have a proven record of zealously advocating Covidien's legal position at the European Patent Office. On a personal note, we find W&R's professionals to be quite pleasant and enjoyable to work with. W&R is a valued part of our global IP team."
Kenneth D. Goetz, Vice President, Intellectual Property - Imaging Solutions, Covidien
Telecommunications Group
Our expertise
The Telecommunications group is headed by Matthew Gillard. The group has extensive experience in obtaining intellectual property protection across the entire spectrum of telecommunications technologies: mobile apps and mobile device operating systems, physical layer algorithms (in particular EDGE, UMTS and LTE), positioning systems (GPS), power control, amplifier design and linearisation, RF front-end design, antenna structures and BluetoothTM.
Our experience
The group’s clients include well known multi-national telecommunications companies, as well as a number of OEM suppliers to those companies. The group’s work includes original patent drafting, as well as patent prosecution on an outsourced basis from clients’ in-house patent departments. Additionally, more general advisory and court work has also been undertaken, including appeals to the Patents Court (noted previously), due diligence work, and attending EPO hearings.
Group members
See table below for the Telecommunications team.
Electronics, Computing & Physics |
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Solid State Physics |
Karl Barnfather |
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Semi-conductor fabrication |
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Opto-electronics |
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RFID |
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Software Engineering |
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RF Antennas |
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Mechatronics/Robotics |
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ADC/DAC design |
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Digital Signal Processing |
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Image Processing |
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Telecommunications |
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Mobile apps |
Simon Beck |
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Mobile device operating systems |
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EDGE |
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UMTS |
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LTE |
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Positioning systems (GPS) |
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Power control |
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Amplifier design and linearisation |
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RF front-end design |
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Antenna structures |
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Bluetooth™ |
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Medical Devices |
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Ultrasonic and microwave imaging apparatus |
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Endoscopy devices |
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Soft tissue surgical tools |
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Stent manufacture |
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Limb prostheses |
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Aerospace & Defence |
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Aircraft power distribution systems |
Jim Ribeiro |
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Flight control sticks |
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Sonar systems |
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Anti-submarine surveillance systems |
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Fuel systems |
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Actuators |
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Clean Technology |
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Photovoltaics |
Callum Wardle |
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Solar Thermal Power |
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Hydro Power |
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Heat Recovery |
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Fuel Cells |
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Electrical Energy Management |
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Contentious Practice |
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EPO Oppositions & Appeals |
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UKIPO Opinions |
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"Withers & Rogers’ clear advice and swift action was invaluable in securing Intellectual Property protection for our improved clamp and we are confident that this protection will be a major commercial advantage as the new standard is adopted."
Geraint Evans, Managing Director
P&B Weir Electrical
Group Members
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