Robert Barker

Senior Associate, UK and European Patent Attorney, Design Attorney
London

Robert Barker

Robert has a technical specialism in organic and medicinal chemistry, and biomedical sciences.

Robert has experience in dealing with patents in a wide variety of fields, including biochemistry, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food chemistry, medical devices, tribology and lubrication, electrochemistry, and mechanical devices.

In addition to his patent work, Robert also specialises in the registration and enforcement of designs.

He holds a first-class master's degree in Chemistry from Oxford University where he researched the synthesis of fluorescent organic probes for the diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer. Robert received an award for his academic achievement and extra-curricular contribution to his college.

Prior to joining EIP, Robert briefly worked at the John Innes Centre as a biological chemist, working on extraction and manipulation of natural products.

Recent work

  • Preparing Third Party Observations and Oppositions relating to enzyme-catalysed synthetic pathways
  • Pharmaceutical patent analysis and litigation support
  • Filing and prosecution of world-wide registered design portfolio for a flagship product
  • Coordinating and advising on European-wide SPC filing strategy
  • Drafting and prosecuting patent applications relating to surgical devices, fuel preparation systems, and baked snack products

Published articles

  • 24 December 2016
    JIPLP, Threats to infringe a patent application: no barrier to justification (link)
  • April 2016
    JIPLP, To Infinium and beyond! Questions regarding partial priority referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal (link)
  • 20 October 2015
    JIPLP, How low can you go? The scope of a numerical range is reconsidered by the Court of Appeal (link)
  • 8 March 2015
    JIPLP, There is a balm in Gilead: Idenix's patent infringed but invalid (link)
  • 16 February 2015
    WTR Daily, Registered design for ice cream van held to be valid and infringed (link)
  • 23 January 2015
    JIPLP, Rage against the (translation) machine (link)

Education and qualifications


  • Certificate in Intellectual Property Litigation, 2021
  • UK Patent Attorney, 2019
  • European Patent Attorney, 2019
  • 2015 — 2016
    Certificate in Intellectual Property Law, Queen Mary University of London
  • 2010 — 2014
    Master of Chemistry, University of Oxford

Career history

  • 2020 — present
    Senior Associate, EIP
  • 2014 — 2019
    Associate, EIP

Awards and recognition

  • Ranked as "Rising Star", IP Stars 2022 (link)
  • Ranked as "Rising Star", IP Stars 2021 (link)
  • Legal 500, 2022. (link)
  • Ranked as "Rising Star", IP Stars 2020

Specialities

Digital

  • Additive manufacturing
  • Gaming and graphics
  • Medical imaging
  • Semiconductors

Dynamics

  • Additive manufacturing

Elements

  • Cosmetics & fragrances
  • Electrochemistry
  • Food & flavour ingredients
  • Petrochemicals
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Semiconductors

Energy

  • Cells
  • Solar

HealthTech

  • Additive manufacturing
  • Medical devices
  • Medical imaging
  • Surgical tools and implants

Life

  • Agritech
  • Pharmaceuticals