Firm bolsters intellectual property offering with specialist patent hire
Freeths has strengthened its intellectual property team with the appointment of director of patents Richard Ellis, who brings with him a focus on protecting inventions and advising on patent strategy. Richard joins from Murgitroyd.
Having spent several years working in R&D before becoming a patent attorney, Richard has hands-on experience of the inventive process. He also has more than 16 years’ experience as a patent attorney, having worked in a wide range of fields including consumer goods, construction, medical devices, energy, automotive, aerospace and telecommunications, covering all types of mechanical, electrical, electronic and software patents.
He has worked with various high-profile, multinational clients including Nokia, Rolls-Royce, Arm, and Jaguar Land Rover.
Richard will work alongside the national head of intellectual property Simon Barker to build a patent practice within Freeths, making the team a full-service provider of intellectual property services.
Commenting on his appointment, Richard said: ‘I’m delighted to join the highly capable intellectual property team at Freeths and looking forward to bringing patent capability to the team.
‘My background of working in R&D and then as a patent attorney, both in-house and in industry, means I bring first-hand experience from a client’s perspective, and I am excited by the opportunity to be part of a full-service team that can deliver real value to Freeths’ clients, helping them to protect and get the most out of their intellectual property across the board.’
Simon commented: ‘Richard’s arrival is instrumental in our growth strategy and in strengthening our services to clients, making us a leading full-service IP practice. It comes at an exciting time of growth for the firm and Richard’s wealth of experience will further complement that growth and our national capabilities.’
Managing partner of Freeths Birmingham Richard Beverley added: ‘Our Midlands offering has been bolstered tremendously over the last few months with Richard being the latest in a long line of recruits, including the recent appointment of tax partner Stephen Jones in Birmingham. In our quest to continue attracting the best regional talent, I’m confident Richard will be an excellent addition to the team.’
