UK & European Patent Attorney and UK Design Attorney
BSc, PhD, CPA, EPA
Laura joined Mathys & Squire in 2011 and qualified as a Chartered Patent Attorney in 2015 and a European Patent Attorney in 2016. She has experience in the drafting and prosecution of patent applications in the UK, Europe and worldwide. Laura has an honours degree in chemistry and a PhD in high-performance liquid chromatography and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy from the University of Liverpool. Laura also has experience in filing and prosecuting registered community designs. In recognition of her expertise, Laura has been ranked in the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions of Managing IP’s IP STARS directory, as well as The Legal 500 2024.
Expertise
Laura has experience in the drafting and prosecution of patent applications in the UK, Europe and worldwide, particularly in the fields of ionic liquids, composite materials, polymer chemistry, solar cells, medical stents and oil and gas technologies. She has also been involved in patent opposition work and has experience in the management of patent portfolios. Laura also has experience in filing and prosecuting registered community designs.
Academic
Laura has both an honours degree and a PhD in chemistry from the University of Liverpool. Her PhD focused on the synthesis of new bi-functionalised stationary phases for use in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and the analysis these stationary phases using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The aim of this work was to determine the position of the functional groups on the stationary phase and their accessibility to analytes. In addition, Laura’s research also focused on understanding the way in which the functional groups on the stationary phase interact with different analytes.
Memberships & organisations
Laura is a member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) and the Institute of Professional Representatives before the EPO (EPI).
Recent work
Laura has made a number of media appearances, in which she shares her expertise relating to IP in the food industry, including: appearing as a guest on the CIPA podcast ‘Two IPs in a Pod’; featuring as an expert guest for Adam Ragusea’s Youtube channel on the subject of recipe ownership rights; discussing trade secrets within the food industry on BBC Radio’s The Food Chain: Trade Secrets; featuring in a Food Matters Live video series; and publishing articles relating to the food industry across a number of industry publications, including Baking Europe, New Food Magazine, Food Manufacture, The Journal of the Institute of Food Science & Technology, and Food & Drink Technology Magazine; featuring in Protein Production Technology International podcast (episodes 35 and 39) discussing IP in the field of alternative proteins; prepared an article for a article for the Protein Production Technology International magazine.
Sectors
Awards
Laura has been awarded the University of Liverpool Potts Medal for her outstanding contribution to chemistry. The award was established in 1933 in honour of Harold Edwin Potts, a fellow chemist who went on to become a patent attorney. To mark the occasion, Laura returned to her university to deliver her lecture: ‘Following in the Footsteps of Potts’ to students and staff.
“Laura Clews has always been a delight to work with. She is extremely competent and pleasant.”