Elkington + Fife LLP

Elkington + Fife LLP is a leading firm of patent and trade mark attorneys with an international reputation for high-quality, commercially-focused intellectual property services. The firm’s partners and fee-earners are recognised experts in their respective fields, many having previously worked in-house in multinational corporate IP departments or law firms. Partner involvement is high across most matters, ensuring consistently responsive and tailored advice aligned with client needs.

The firm maintains strong and expanding departments in chemicals, biosciences, electrical, and mechanical technologies. Partners Richard Gillard, James Anderson, and Oliver Kingsbury have extensive experience in patent oppositions before the EPO, while Nick Ertl has developed significant outsourcing services for filing patents for multinational clients. The firm also provides expertise in pharmaceutical patent supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) across Europe, managing filing programmes for numerous major drugs. The trade mark team, led by Chris McLeod, handles UK, EU, international, and foreign trade mark applications, oppositions, and disputes worldwide, with experience extending to the Boards of Appeal and the General Court.

Elkington + Fife LLP serves a wide spectrum of clients, including global multinational corporations, Fortune 500 companies, and clients with strong regional presence in Kent and the South East. The firm is active professionally, with members serving on CIPA, INTA, and CITMA committees, regularly speaking at conferences, and contributing as editors to leading trade mark handbooks.

The firm provides comprehensive prosecution services, including preparation, filing, and prosecution of UK, European, and international patent applications; trade mark clearance; and filing of UK, EU, international, and foreign trade mark and registered design applications. Additional services include IP due diligence and patent portfolio strategy advice.

Strategic Departments:

• Chemicals/Biosciences: Extensive EPO opposition practice, representing top international pharmaceutical companies, UK and US universities, and UK hi-tech and engineering firms. Expertise includes nanotechnology, SPCs, and life cycle management.
• Electrical and Mechanical: Strong EPO opposition and patent filing practice, supporting electronics firms with outsourcing and complex technology applications.
• Trade Marks: Expertise in UK and global trade mark clearance, filing, oppositions, and disputes across multiple industries, including chemical, pharmaceutical, telecommunications, IT, toy retail, automotive, engineering, medical, and entertainment sectors.

Offices: London and Sevenoaks

Staffing Figures:
19 UK partners
26 other UK fee-earners
100 total staff