Our people

Richard’s patent experience lies mainly in the fields of mechanical engineering and control systems, with particular emphasis on aerospace and defence, automotive, clean energy, packaging and medical device technologies.

Richard works extensively on a wide range of aircraft technologies, including flight control surfaces and systems, composites design and manufacturing, aircraft structures, fuel systems and UAVs. In the automotive sector he has particular experience of IC engines, turbochargers, vehicle air-conditioners, caravans, smart toll charging systems and off-highway vehicles. He also handles numerous EPO oppositions and appeals.

He supports a wide range of clients including universities, start-ups and multinational corporations such as Europe’s leading commercial aircraft manufacturer and a global leader in sustainable energy solutions.

As head of the firm’s Designs group, Richard advises clients mainly in the cosmetics, fashion, furniture and medical device industries. His clients use design rights to supplement other forms of IP protection, such as patents and trade marks, and as a stand-alone backbone of their IP strategy. Richard often combines his keen eye for design aesthetics with his engineering background to great effect in scoping out design registrations for functional items.

Richard has a wealth of experience in all aspects of patent practice. In addition to patent drafting and prosecution work around the world he is experienced in portfolio management, invention harvesting, litigation and European Patent Office Opposition and Appeal proceedings, IP ownership in collaborative projects, licensing and entitlement dispute resolution, and freedom to operate, validity and infringement opinions.

Career highlights to date include the successful resolution of a complex IP ownership dispute and a series of freedom to operate exercises for global players where the outcomes were strategically important to their businesses.

Education & background

Richard graduated with a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Imperial College, London.  He entered the profession in 2002, qualifying as a European and UK Patent Attorney in 2007. Richard joined Withers & Rogers in 2008. 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...

Richard enjoys middle distance running and has completed several half marathons and 10k’s and more recently has taken to triathlons (although he could do with some swimming lessons). When time allows away from his young family he is also an experienced mountaineer with expeditions across the Maritime Alps in southern France and to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.