UK & European Patent Attorney
European Patent Litigator
MSci, PhD, CPA, EPA
Andrew has been commended by clients for his proactive approach and understanding of business strategy. Recommended in the 2022 edition of The Legal 500, Andrew is described as “an exceptional patent attorney” “who knows exactly the perfect way to construct a patent application.” One source commented: “He’s the best I’ve worked with in over 15 years.” Andrew is also ranked as a ‘Recommended Individual’ in the latest edition of IAM Patent 1000, in which he is praised for being having an “analytical mind that penetrates technical issues across industries with ease”, and recognised as a ‘Notable Practitioner’ in the latest edition of Managing IP’s IP STARS directory. Clients note that he can be “relied upon for both his legal knowledge and technical expertise.” Andrew likes to develop long term relationships with clients and their technical teams to really understand where a business is going and how IP can be used as a tool to complement those drivers and help the business grow.
Expertise
Andrew manages international portfolios in the medtech, software, telecoms and automotive fields, in particular relating to electric vehicle technologies. He is an expert in the deep tech field, advising clients on the patentability of deep tech inventions (in fields such as bioinformatics, artificial intelligence and blockchain inventions) and how to successfully navigate the patentability exceptions in these areas, both in Europe and abroad, to obtain patents of commercially valuable scope, as well as advising on numerous other issues specific to deep tech businesses.
Andrew has an active approach to engaging with London’s burgeoning startup and scaleup community. He regularly provides free support and advice to a number of startup accelerators and incubators in the UK, discussing all aspects of IP including registered designs, agreements and licencing, as well as patents. In particular, Andrew is keen to explain to clients how developing an effective IP strategy can add value to a business – whether that be through securing supply deals with third parties, helping to secure investment or driving up value of the business for due diligence and exit.
Andrew has experience handling oppositions and appeals at the European Patent Office, and in obtaining opinions from the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO). In particular, he has experience in using an opinion from the UKIPO to guide the conduct of future litigation in the UK. His background in the interface between physics and consumer healthcare means Andrew has a particular interest and expertise in medical device technologies. His PhD had a commercial focus, sponsored by a major pharmaceutical company resulting in a number of scientific publications in highly-regarded peer-reviewed journals and Andrew’s attendance at numerous international conferences.Andrew has been commended by clients for his proactive approach and understanding of business strategy. Clients note that he can be “relied upon for both his legal knowledge and technical expertise”. Andrew likes to develop long term relationships with clients and their technical teams to really understand where a business is going and how IP can be used as a tool to complement those drivers and help the business grow.
Andrew is also an Examiner for the Infringement and Validity paper (FD4) of the professional exams for becoming a Chartered UK Patent Attorney.
Academic
Andrew is a European patent attorney and a Chartered UK patent attorney. He holds a master’s degree in physics and a PhD, both from the University of Bristol, as well as a Certificate in Intellectual Property Law from Queen Mary, University of London. During the course of his PhD, which was sponsored by GSK, he gained valuable insight into the world of commercial R&D and published a number of papers, book chapters and spoke at numerous international conferences – a skill which he now uses to give presentations on IP to both students and clients.
Memberships & organisations
Andrew is a member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) and of the European Patent Institute (EPI). From 2013-2014, he was appointed by CIPA as Informals Honorary Secretary, and as the Informals Education Secretary. He is also a member of CIPA’s Education and Professional Standards Committee. Andrew is a member of the North East Automotive Alliance.
Awards
Sectors
“Andrew White is a discerning choice for those seeking patent protection for deep tech inventions. Working on the very cutting edge of AI and blockchain inventions, he skilfully handles notoriously difficult applications through to grant, at home and abroad.”
“Partner Andrew White is a skilled portfolio manager across a range of technologies, from medtech through software to the automotive industry. Alongside an analytical mind that penetrates technical issues across industries with ease, White is also prized by his following for his keen commercial insights.”
“Andrew White is an exceptional patent attorney. He knows exactly the perfect way to construct a patent application, to consider an examiner’s feedback and to work round it to get the patent grant with minimal deviation from the original scope. He’s the best I’ve worked with in over 15 years.”
“A trusted mentor to startups, physicist Andrew John White keeps his clients in the loop, closely collaborating with them throughout the patenting process. His scientific understanding means that he can quickly get to grips with technologies and craft strategic plans that suit the invention at hand.”
“Rarely in my professional career have I worked with someone as professional and efficient as Andrew.”
“Mathys & Squire have been with us since we began our transition from industrial markets into the automotive sector. In the years that we have worked with Andrew White, he has struck up a relationship with our technical team, and we know they can be relied upon for both their legal knowledge, and their technical expertise.”
“Hyperdrive went out to market looking for IP support two years ago. As a growing company dependent on IP, this was a key strategic selection for us – we were looking for a partner we would be happy to work with long term. We chose Mathys & Squire because Andrew White and his colleague, Sean Leach, stood out from the competition for the proactive nature of their approach, and for their science and engineering knowledge. There was no need for us to educate them on the fundamentals of our technology.”
“I’ve been working with Andrew for two years now and he has great knowledge. He is very good at finding ways to get round obstacles to get us the patent… I’ve always got on very well with them and he explains the legalities in a way that I can understand.”