Tim Belcher

Senior Associate, Patent Attorney
Leeds, EIP Europe LLP


Tim is a UK and European patent attorney with experience in dealing with patents across the chemical field, with a particular focus on pharmaceutical and polymer/industrial chemistry. He has also worked on mechanical, process chemistry, biochemical and materials cases.

Tim has experience in prosecuting patent applications at the EPO, JPO and USPTO and in post-grant proceedings at the EPO and UKIPO. Prior to joining EIP, Tim spent three years working for one of the largest firms of patent attorneys in the UK.

Tim graduated with a first class master's degree in Chemistry from the University of Oxford. During his degree, he spent a year researching quantum cascade laser spectroscopy and the potential to use highly tunable QCLs to achieve selective excitation in organic syntheses.

During qualification as a patent attorney, Tim was awarded the Gill prize for the highest mark in the UK patent attorney qualifying examinations 2012, and the Drafting prize for the highest mark in the UK drafting finals paper. He also achieved amongst the highest marks in the opposition and law papers for the European qualifying examination and regularly provides tutorials to trainees in the profession.

Experience

  • Worked on a range of pharmaceutical portfolios including those of Wellcome Trust, Genentech, Spirogen, Biota and Novacta.
  • Experience in patents relating to food ingredients (Tate & Lyle) and polymer chemistry (Mitsui Chemicals and Toray Industries).

Recent work

  • Defensive opposition for BAT and strawman offensive oppositions.

Published articles

  • 23 January 2015
    JIPLP, Rage against the (translation) machine (link)

Education and qualifications

 

  • 2006 — 2010
    Master of Chemistry, University of Oxford

Career history

  • 2014 — present
    Senior Associate, EIP
  • 2014
    Associate, EIP
  • 2010 — 2014
    Technical Assistant, Mewburn Ellis

Awards and recognition

  • Gill Prize 2012 - awarded for achieving the highest mark in the UK patent attorney qualifying examinations.
  • Drafting Prize 2012 - awarded for achieving the highest mark in the drafting paper in the UK patent attorney qualifying examinations.

Languages spoken

  • French (Basic)