Marks & Clerk

Marks & Clerk is pleased to announce that it has once again been recognised as a top international firm in the IAM Patent 1000 2026 rankings, an invaluable resource backed up by analytics underpinning critical firm analysis. We are delighted to see 48 individuals from Marks & Clerk's international network honoured for their exceptional expertise. The firm has also been recognised as a Gold standard firm for our work at the EPO. Congratulations to our teams around the world for this achievement. Full details of the announcement can be found on our website: https://lnkd.in/eJaDZX_y #IntellectualProperty #IPLaw #Patents #IAMPatent1000

Critical minerals are essential to modern technologies, but securing a reliable supply remains a challenge.    One emerging solution is the recovery of these minerals from mining waste - materials such as tailings and waste rock that remain after conventional extraction processes, which have traditionally been viewed as byproducts, but which can still contain valuable metals.    Companies and research institutions are also looking for ways to develop new extraction technologies and seek patent protection, as they move towards commercialising these innovations, and there has been a clear recent increase in patent activity in this area. To better understand how activity in this area is evolving, we looked at global patent filing data and trends globally to identify new technologies that are being developed. This article was written by Canadian partner and patent agent Evangellos (Van) Vekris and our summer student Xianda Gao. You can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gQWXKBSQ  #Patents #IntellectualProperty #Mining  

💫 STILL TIME TO REGISTER 💫 There is still time to sign up for the upcoming BBIA webinar - Understanding the Value of Trade Secrets in Your IP Strategy taking place next Monday 1 June. Yann Robin, Principal at Marks & Clerk, will be speaking on how to decide whether to #patent an #innovation or protect it as a #tradesecret? And what steps do you need to take to safeguard valuable know‑how within your business? Webinar: 📅 1 June ⏲️ 12-1pm 👉 Find out more and register here https://lnkd.in/eFgNhpf5 We look forward to welcoming you online. #IntellectualProperty #TradeSecrets #Patents #Innovation #LifeSciences #BBIA

The Ontario provincial government have recently announced that they will invest up to $8 million in funding for Intellectual Property support for Canadian publicly funded research institutions including universities, who are located in Ontario. The funding will be provided through Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON), a provincial agency that supports businesses and innovators with education and funding to create, protect and commercialize their IP more effectively.  It is important for universities and research institutions to remember that time and money spent on innovation must be accompanied by a disciplined and proactive approach to intellectual property (IP). Without timely filing of patents, industrial designs, or other IP rights, valuable discoveries risk entering the public domain and becoming difficult to commercialize. This article was written by Canadian partner, lawyer and patent agent Kevin Shipley. You can read the article here: https://lnkd.in/eG37Jr7Z #TechTransfer #IPFunding #IntellectualProperty #Patents  

We are pleased to be sponsoring the 2026 Canadian Bar Association’s annual Intellectual Property Day in Ottawa, Canada.  Two of our Canadian team members Alexis Vaughan, associate from our Litigation and Dispute Resolution team and Robert McNaughton, associate from our Trademarks team. They will also be attending the Federal Courts Judges' Dinner that evening.  The CBA’s IP Day brings together intellectual property professionals from across Canada and is a unique opportunity for members of the bench, regulators and the IP bar to engage in an open exchange of ideas and debate and to learn from engaging speakers in a series of expert panels, on topics and emerging issues in IP. You can find more information here: https://lnkd.in/eJy-_tNN  #CanadianBarAssociation #CBAIPDay #IntellectualProperty #IPLaw  

🔋 Batteries - powering the next wave of innovation General purpose technologies tend to underpin periods of sustained economic growth. #Batteries are a clear example — widely used, but increasingly critical as electrification accelerates and energy systems evolve. Tom Grendon reflects on a recent #Cambridge success story in this space, Nyobolt, which has achieved unicorn status following its Series C funding round. Spun out of the University of Cambridge in 2019, the company is focused on developing high-capacity, ultra-fast charging battery systems. Their work spans materials #innovation — including niobium-tungsten oxide and graphite-dominant anodes — and battery management systems designed to optimise performance and extend battery lifespan. This combination enables applications that were previously been constrained by charging times and durability to be embraced, paving the way for the power systems of the future. To read more on Nyobolt’s success, click here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eeYZQrMK To read more articles in our Cambridge Green Growth series, please click here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eH77Ji8Y

Marks & Clerk is supporting Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (KQ Liverpool)'s KQ Click Business Growth Exchange on 2 June 2026, part of the Liverpool City Region’s Innovation Investment Fortnight. The event brings together expert advisors across legal, investment, IP and other sectors to provide practical guidance for innovative businesses. The programme includes two tailored sessions for start-ups and scale-ups, focused on commercialising ideas and driving sustainable growth. Gavin Jones will be speaking across both sessions, sharing insights on intellectual property strategy, with Michael Shaw also attending. Both sessions will be interactive, combining expert input, discussion and real world examples, alongside opportunities to network and connect with advisors throughout the day. Get your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/eVAwUjch #KnowledgeQuarter #Liverpool #Innovation #IntellectualProperty

The final stage before grant is often treated as a formality, but recent changes to Rule 71(3) EPC - particularly stricter limits on repeated amendment or correction requests - suggest it warrants closer attention. Our latest article from Roona Deb and Gareth Williams explores how this stage is being handled in practice, and how applicants should approach the decision on whether to amend or proceed to grant. Read the full piece now: https://lnkd.in/exkY_rWE

This week, Canadian partner, lawyer and patent agent Jean-Charles Grégoire will be participate in a panel discussion and webinar hosted by the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC).  The webinar will focus on patentable subject matter in Canada, in particular computer-implemented inventions and diagnostic method inventions that are often considered to incorporate an "abstract theorem".  Jean-Charles and the panel will explore Canadian Intellectual Property Office / Office de la propriété intellectuelle du Canada's (CIPO) latest guidance which leans into the "Schlumberger question" and seeks "something more" to make execution of an algorithm patentable. They will tackle questions related to current jurisprudence, the Federal Court's expectations for claim construction and how the Commissioner can meet these, and developments in other countries that may be useful to patent drafters and prosecutors alike. You can register for the webinar here: https://lnkd.in/d-qr4fYi #Patents #PatentEligibility #IntellectualProperty #CIPO    

Marks & Clerk has been recognised by Asian Legal Business in its 2026 IP rankings. Beyond the rankings, ALB highlights a rapidly evolving IP landscape across Asia, with jurisdictions racing to develop frameworks capable of keeping pace with technological change, trade tensions and shifting commercial pressures. The past year has been particularly significant, as the demands of the digital economy and the growing influence of AI continue to reshape IP law across the region. As Monique Chu notes, Hong Kong is strengthening its position as an international IP hub through developments in AI and consultation in design law reform, alongside broader efforts in China to modernise enforcement. Across Southeast Asia, Daniel Poh highlights a shift towards more agile, commercially focused regimes, underlining the importance of coordinated, multi-jurisdictional IP strategies for businesses operating in the region. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e6FBPjJU #IntellectualProperty #IP #AsiaPacific #MarksAndClerk