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Gareth is a Partner in our Tech group specialising in computer software, healthcare systems and medical devices. He is recognised as a leading patent professional in the industry and his cross-sector know-how is valued by clients and colleagues.
 
Gareth’s healthcare and medical device practice covers a wide range of subject matter including hospital healthcare systems, digital healthcare technologies, insulin infusion pumps and infusion sets, analyte testing devices and test strips, electrochemical and optical sensors, microfluidics, surgical equipment, prosthetic joints, pacemakers, stents and nanocomposite vessels.  His software work includes cloud-based computing, cryptography, machine learning and AI, blockchain, smartphone software, GUIs and fintech applications.  Gareth’s recent work includes a freedom-to-operate analysis and filing programme for a new point-of-care diagnostic device and the application of AI in medical imaging.
             
Gareth’s diverse client base includes start-ups, SMEs and multi-national corporations.  He advises his clients on their patent strategy including patent searching, freedom-to-operate and invention capture. In addition, he has a great deal of experience managing large portfolios and leading the teams working on them.  With over 20 years’ experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications, he also regularly represents his clients at EPO examination, opposition and appeal hearings. Gareth has a particular reputation for handling computer software cases before the EPO and UK IPO. He has also been an integral member of the litigation team for several High Court patent actions, working closely with an extended team of advisors.
               
As well as healthcare, Gareth has a particular interest is the patentability of borderline cases which include software inventions as well as those involving games and finance-related inventions.  He has had articles published on the patentability of borderline cases and has given various presentations and lectures on this and other subjects. He also runs a training programme at Queen Mary University of London for candidates sitting the European qualifying examinations.

Gareth provides valuable and insightful advice on IP strategy and legal counselling on all IP-related documents. He is enthusiastic about technological innovation and an absolute pleasure to work with. He combines expertise and experience with the ability to understand the requirements and constraints of his clients. Gareth and the Kilburn & Strode team deserve the highest recommendation. - IAM Patent 1000, 2023

Qualifications

European Patent Attorney (2003)
Chartered UK Patent Attorney (2003)
IP Litigator - Patent
MSc Computer Science, University of London (1996)
BA Hons Natural Sciences (Chemistry), University of Oxford (1994)

Memberships

​Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA)
The Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (EPI)

G. Fennell, The EPO and computer-implemented inventions: an appeal for more?, Kilburn & Strode (2018)

G. Fennell, Blockchain Buzz, Kilburn & Strode, (2017)

‘Five Approaches to Software Inventions’, Managing Intellectual Property (6 December 2013)

‘OK Computer? The Patentability of Software in Europe/UK’, Managing Intellectual Property (2010)

Software Patents in Europe, Association of Intellectual Property Firms (2009) 

‘A European perspective: a comparison of the different approaches of the UKIPO and EPO when assessing the patentability of electronic inventions’, Patent World (2006)

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