What Are Patent Attorneys?

A patent attorney (or patent 'agent') is a type of lawyer that has undertaken special training to represent patentees before the national and regional patent offices. Our attorneys are dual qualified both as UK Chartered Patent Agents (CPAs) and European Patent Attorneys (EPAs).

In order to become a patent attorney it is normally necessary to have a first degree in a technical subject, such as engineering, biology or chemistry. The subsequent training to become a patent attorney is rigorous. For example, the qualifying examinations to qualify as a European Patent Attorney consists of four papers sat over three days, with each day lasting at least six hours.

The most important skills that patent attorneys have are in drafting patent applications and later arguing and amending applications before patent offices to try to get patents granted for their clients.

Along with being subject to the common law of confidentiality, patent attorneys are bound by professional codes of conduct in relation to keeping any information that clients disclose confidential, so the public can be sure that they can discuss the possibility of patent protection with qualified patent attorneys without jeopardizing their rights.