Colin is a former division head of IP at Dyson and has 20 years of experience in intellectual property.
During his 13 years at Dyson Colin lead the IP teams responsible for the vacuum cleaner and brushless motor divisions, and then later the automotive and battery programmes. He was responsible for developing and executing Dyson’s IP strategy, managed all patent drafting and prosecution and freedom-to-operate activities in all areas, with a particular focus on powertrain, HVAC, and power electronics.
Colin’s pragmatic approach to providing IP advice includes an innate sense of where IP sits in a commercial context. He is highly experienced in strategic matters, identifying IP risks and opportunities, budgeting and auditing of IP portfolios. Colin also has experience in contentious matters, including running patent litigation in Japan, European oppositions and appeals and invalidation actions.
Before joining Dyson Colin worked for two IP firms in London. He has a Ph.D in Physics from University College London, and a degree in Physics from the University of East Anglia.
Published articles
- March 2021
Managing Intellectual Property, Electric car patents race poses questions for litigation (link) - November 2020
IAM, Do not expect an electronic vehicle patent boom in the UK despite 2030’s petrol and diesel car sales ban (link) - 2002
J. Chem. Phys. 117, 3928 , “The p-T dependency of the ice II crystal structure and the effect of helium inclusion” - 2000
J. Phys. Chem. B 104, 10969 , “Neutron diffraction studies of graphite-potassium-methylamine” - 2000
J. Chem. Phys. 112, 7169 , “The structure and ordering of ices III and V” - 2000
Clay Miner. 35, 283 , “Time-of-flight neutron diffraction studies of clay-fluid interactions under basin conditions” - 1998
Nature Vol. 391, 268, “The structure of a new phase of ice” - 1998
Chem. Phys. Lett. 293, 33, “Temperature-induced disordering of the hydrophobic hydration shell of Kr and Xe” - 1998
Rev. High Pressure Sci. Tech. 7, 1141 , “Partial H-ordering in high pressure ices III and V” - 1997
Phys. Rev. Lett 79, 1293 , “Structural determination of the hydrophobic hydration shell of Kr” - 1996
Acta Crystall. Section A 52, C535 , “The structure of in situ ices III and V” - 1996
Acta Crystall. Section A 52, C534, “Pressure-induced phase transformations in ice at low temperature”
Specialities
- Automotive
- Energy Storage
- Power Electronics
Education and qualifications
- European Patent Attorney, 2004
- UK Chartered Patent Attorney, 2004
-
2002
Certificate in Intellectual Property Law, Queen Mary University of London -
1994 — 1998
D.Phil Physics, University College London -
1990 — 1993
BSc. (Hons) Physics, University of East Anglia
Career history
- 2020 — present
Partner, EIP - 2018 — 2020
IP Category Head (Automotive and Energy Storage), Dyson - 2015 — 2018
IP Category Head (Floorcare and Motors), Dyson - 2007 — 2015
Senior Patent Attorney, Dyson - 2004 — 2007
Senior Associate, Forresters - 2000 — 2004
Trainee Attorney, Stevens Hewlett & Perkins
Awards and recognition
- Legal 500, 2021 (link)