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Howard spent over 10 years drafting and prosecuting patent applications for Profile Therapeutics. Their technology related to drug delivery devices for delivering atomised pharmaceuticals to the lungs of a patient. One of the characteristics of patenting in this field is the need to draft patent specifications such that they can be adapted during prosecution in different countries to take account of the very different rules of patentability in each country.

Howard has extensive experience in patenting inventions in a broad range of technologies. These include medical apparatus, computer-related inventions, mechanical inventions and semiconductor devices.

Howard has worked with many multinational, medium-sized and smaller companies, as well as with individuals. Much of his work is with SMEs for whom patents can play a huge part in their success. He also works closely with many patent attorneys overseas. His clients include Thorn Security Limited. Howard often travels to Taiwan to visit a number of the firm’s clients there.

Howard has successfully represented both applicants and opponents in oral proceedings at the European Patent Office (EPO). He represented one US company in a group of oppositions and appeals against a large German corporation.

His client experience includes writing a patent attorney’s report for a client that formed part of its prospectus when it was listed on the London Stock Exchange. He has also advised on the validity of patents and on the risk of infringement.  Another client required a positive opinion as to the validity of their patents as part of a round of fund-raising, and with Howard’s help, they were able to make some straightforward post-grant amendments to put the patents’ validity virtually beyond question.

For another client, Howard advised in modifying the design of their prototype product so as to avoid risk of infringement of a competitor’s product. Although the modifications were costly as a result of the need to retool, the final design was nearly 15% more efficient than the original design.

Education & background

Howard holds a degree in physics with solid state electronics from Exeter University. He joined Withers & Rogers in 1992 and became a partner in our London office in 1999. In March 2023, he was registered as a representative before the new Unified Patent Court, one of the first European patent attorneys to be entered on the list of UPC representatives.

On a personal note...

Away from the office, Howard leads an Explorer Scout Unit, and supports the annual Overland hiking competition for scouts over the South Downs. All this while trying to keep his hand in with the spanners, keeping old cars on the road.