Tom Turner

Professional qualifications:
European Patent Attorney
Chartered Patent Attorney

Academic qualifications:
M. Chem. Chemistry, University of Durham
Ph.D Organometallic Chemistry, University of Bristol

Technical Background
During his PhD studies, Tom worked in collaboration with Lucite International, specialising in the development of new catalysts for applications in industrial chemistry. His work focused on the synthesis, characterisation and testing of highly selective homogeneous palladium catalysts used in the preparation of methyl propionate, a sought-after intermediate for the production of methyl methacrylate.

See, e.g., Efficient and chemoselective ethene hydromethoxycarbonylation catalysts based on Pd-complexes of heterodiphosphines o-C₆H₄(CH₂PtBu₂)(CH₂PR₂) - Catalysis Science & Technology (RSC Publishing) and WO2011083305 - Process for the carbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds, novel carbonylation ligands, and catalyst systems incorporating such ligands.

Experience
Tom joined Abel + Imray in 2012, and now splits his time between our Cardiff and Delft offices.

Tom handles patent and design work, mainly in the fields of industrial chemistry and engineering, with a special focus on polymers and advanced materials, reactor technology, homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, food and packaging, and clean tech and carbon capture. He is involved in drafting, prosecution and opposition work in the UK and Europe, and management of client portfolios around the world. Tom regularly provides strategic Patentability and Freedom to Operate advice, coordinating searches for conflicting rights, reviewing UK and European patents and working with local attorneys to provide robust and pragmatic guidance to a range of clients, from start-ups to multi-nationals.

Key subject areas for Tom include:

• Polymers and advanced materials
• Reactor technology
• Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis
• Food and packaging
• Clean tech and carbon capture
• Data centres

Polymers and advanced materials
Securing appropriate protection for novel polymers and other advanced materials, such as gels and biomaterials, can be difficult, with novel compositions often being complex mixtures of multiple components that are hard to characterise. Tom has experience navigating these issues, finding a way to protect products as well as processes for manufacture and use.

Reactor technology
Improvements and developments in reactor design can bring benefits to existing processes and enable production of new materials. Tom’s work on reactor systems covers a wide range of technologies, including equipment a diverse as fluidised bed pyrolysis reactors for plastic recycling and nuclear fusion reactors for production of medical isotopes.

Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis
Tom brings the specialist knowledge of his PhD studies to his patent practice, bringing it together with hands-on experience in drafting, prosecuting and defending patents relating to homogeneous and heterogenous catalysis.

Food and packaging
Food technology is an area where trade secrets can be particularly important, and there is often trade-off between the benefits of registered right protection afforded by patents and the indefinite confidentiality offered by appropriately protected know-how.

Tom also regularly advises on and secures Registered Designs relating to food products (such as biscuits) and their packaging.

Clean tech and carbon capture
In this rapidly growing sector, Tom is working with companies developing carbon capture equipment, advance insulation materials and recycling processes.

Data centres
Often more akin to a large machine than a building, Tom has worked on flat-pack prefabrication systems for entire data centres, as well as the architecture and equipment needed for energy-efficient operation.

Supporting early-stage, innovative companies
Tom works with a number of spin-out and start-up companies, helping them make best use of intellectual property to harness growth while protecting their assets. Through the Science Creates incubator in Bristol, and the Innovation Centre for Applied and Sustainable Technologies (iCAST) in Swindon, Tom provides workshops and drop-in IP clinics to support early-stage, science and technology focused companies with tailored practical and strategic advice. Example topics include how to spot patentable inventions and when to file a patent application, and how to understand third party IP rights.

Tom also leads a partnership with investment group Empirical Ventures, helping investors better understand the IP position of companies seeking investment.

In-house experience
During a secondment to the Patent Department of a global oil and petrochemicals company, Tom gained valuable industrial experience through his involvement in patent drafting, prosecution and opposition work relating to a variety of aspects of industrial chemistry including polymer compositions, homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, bulk chemical production processes and refinery apparatus.