Martin MacLean

Partner

UK & European Patent Attorney

European Patent Litigator

BSc, MSc, PhD, CPA, EPA

Martin has over 20 years of intellectual property (IP) experience with particular expertise in patent portfolio management for corporates and government. He is top ranked in Band 1 of the Chambers and Partners UK guide; a position he has held for the last 13 consecutive years. In the latest edition, Martin is described by sources as “highly competent and committed to his work” (2023). He is also recommended in The Legal 500, and has received praise for being “a pleasure to work with” (2023), “accessible”, “knowledgeable” and for his “outstanding, can-do attitude” (2021). He has been ranked as a ‘World Leading IP Strategist’ in IAM Strategy 300 for the last four years, and recognised in the inaugural IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders list, in which he is described as “one of the top guns of the UK life sciences patent scene.” Ranked as a ‘Recommended Individual’ in IAM Patent 1000 in the last five editions, sources commend Martin’s “deft touch in managing sprawling patent portfolios” (2021) and his “knowledge on the targeting of bacterial toxins” (2020).

Expertise

Academic

Recent work

Memberships & organisations

Awards

Martin is an outstanding patent attorney...I’m always very impressed working with Martin.

Chambers and Partners (2025)

Martin MacLean is “an extremely knowledgeable, efficient and effective practitioner with a deep technical understanding. He is pragmatic, commercially minded and always delivers a high-quality work product that gets results, especially before the EPO.”

IAM Patent 1000 (2024)

“Martin MacLean is a highly impressive individual. He is very well informed and easy to work with.”

Chambers and Partners (2024)

“Martin MacLean is a dynamic and agile attorney who masterfully devises creative IP solutions. He goes above and beyond to meet and exceed client expectations and dives into the details of their business to ensure his advice aligns neatly with their commercial goals.”

IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders (2024)

“Martin MacLean offers insightful guidance on intellectual property issues that is both practical and future-focused in its analysis of business and market trends. He takes a sophisticated and personalised approach to his work, and his strong portfolio management skills are an excellent asset.”

IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders (2023)

“Martin MacLean is highly competent and committed to his work.”

Chambers and Partners (2023)

“Our main contact, Martin MacLean, has truly extensive experience in prosecuting patent applications through the whole process from filing to award. His support team are also highly competent. It is a pleasure to work with Martin.”

The Legal 500 (2023)

“Martin is deeply knowledgeable and very flexible.”

Chambers and Partners (2022)

“Biotechnology boffin Martin MacLean exhibits a deft touch in managing sprawling patent portfolios for everybody from large corporations to governmental organisations and has expertly conducted more than 100 EPO opposition hearings, at a 90%-plus success rate.”

IAM Patent 1000 (2021)

“As well as being an outstanding technology attorney and exceptionally astute, Martin MacLean really knows how companies and businesses work, making him the complete package. He is one of the top guns of the UK life sciences patent scene with superb international connections.”

IAM 300 Global Leaders (2021)

Martin is a “charming and highly capable lawyer with extensive sector-specific experience… he has great scientific knowledge.”

Chambers and Partners (2021)

“Martin MacLean is a real guru in the healthcare and pharmaceutical field, and brings his experience to bear in not only giving very wise legal advice, but also setting things in a commercial context.”

The Legal 500

“Martin is ‘a real guru in the healthcare and pharmaceutical field’, bringing ‘his experience to bear in not only giving very wise legal advice, but also setting things in a commercial context.’ He has been described by a source as ‘very sharp’, with a ‘deep understanding of the law and the procedures at the EPO.”

The Legal 500

“We have a great relationship with Martin, he is very responsive to our needs and we would always go to him for life science matters in Europe. He is technically competent and are excellent at meeting deadlines.”

COJK

Described by the market as “a brilliant patent attorney who carries his wisdom very lightly”, Martin MacLean is “right on top of the most pressing IP challenges.”

“He handles mind-boggling technical matters in complex business projects without breaking a sweat.”

IAM Strategy 300