Natalie Falls

Senior Associate, UK and European Patent Attorney
Leeds

Natalie Falls

Natalie is a UK and European Patent Attorney who has over 10 years’ experience in the patent profession.

Her work has a particular focus on software-based patents and since joining EIP she has drafted and prosecuted patent applications in areas such as machine learning, computer systems and architecture, data management and security, payment processing and electronics.

She appreciates the challenge of drafting patent applications to be suitable for worldwide prosecution, particularly in light of the important differences between European and US prosecution practice and approaches to computer-implemented inventions.

Client and inventor engagement is a regular and very important part of her job that Natalie especially enjoys. As part of this, she is involved in overseeing patent portfolios for her clients in a range of jurisdictions. She liaises directly with clients to gain insight into the commercial drivers behind their patenting activities, which enables her to provide strategic advice on the management of their patent portfolios.

Natalie has a degree in Physics from the University of Birmingham, and a Certificate in Intellectual Property Law from the University of Bournemouth.

Experience

  • Prosecuting European patent applications relating to payment and transaction processing technologies
  • Patents relating to query optimisation and execution in database management systems

Recent work

  • Drafted a US patent application relating to running virtual machines that received a notice of allowance as the first substantive office action
  • Drafted an application relating to video software suitable for both US and European jurisdictions, receiving a positive search opinion from the European Patent Office after filing

Education and qualifications

  • Certificate in Intellectual Property Litigation, 2019
  • UK Chartered Patent Attorney, 2018
  • European Patent Attorney, 2017
  • January 2015 — July 2015
    Certificate in Intellectual Property, University of Bournemouth
  • 2010 — 2013
    BSc Physics, University of Birmingham

Career history

  • 2020 — present
    Senior Associate, EIP
  • 2018 — 2019
    Associate, EIP
  • August 2017 — December 2017
    European Patent Attorney, Hepworth Browne
  • 2016 — 2017
    Associate and European Patent Attorney, Withers & Rogers LLP
  • 2013 — 2016
    Trainee Patent Attorney, Withers & Rogers LLP

Specialisms

Digital

  • AI
  • Consumer electronics
  • Fintech
  • Software