Professional Qualifications:
European Patent Attorney
Chartered Patent Attorney
UK and European Patent Attorney Litigator
Matthew is able to represent clients before the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), the European Patent Office (EPO), the UK courts and the Unified Patent Court (UPC).
Academic Qualifications:
B.Sc. Physics, Imperial College, University of London
LL.M. Intellectual Property Litigation, Nottingham Law School
Ph.D. Physics, University of St. Andrews
Matthew helps businesses identify and protect commercially important innovations. He drafts and prosecutes patent applications and develops IP strategies for global companies and growing SMEs. He has particular expertise in optics, defence and medical devices.
His experience of designing and building femtosecond lasers during his Ph.D. gives him a practical understanding of optics inventions and the physics behind them. He works directly with inventors on technologies including lasers, optical fibres, metamaterials and ophthalmic devices, with applications in telecommunications and healthcare. His wider practice includes defence technologies, software and oil and gas.
Matthew works closely with in-house IP departments, including long-term arrangements working on clients’ premises, helping patent and engineering teams identify inventions across their research activities. Some client relationships span more than 20 years. This experience gives him an understanding of how external advisers can support in-house teams and fit their advice to the needs of the business. He also frequently delivers IP training to businesses.
He advises on differences between US and European patent law and practice, drawing on his LL.M. research into their implications for litigation.
Based in Bath, Matthew joined Abel + Imray in 1996, became a partner in 2002 and was Managing Partner from 2016 to 2025. He is a Chartered Physicist and a member of the IEEE and Optica.
Outside work, Matthew coaches sabre fencing and is an Explorer Scout leader. He also enjoys target shooting and Olympic weightlifting.