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Partner (London) & VP (San Francisco Liaison Office)

Tom Leonard

London

Described by clients as an “antibody expert” who is “at the top of his game in terms of both technical ability and client service, providing fantastic strategic advice for almost any project” (IAM Patent 1000), Tom is sought by biotechs and pharmaceutical companies alike as one of the leading attorneys in Europe working in the biologics sector.
 
With almost 20 years of experience in the profession, clients say Tom is “first-class in the biopharm space, extremely diligent and very hardworkingas well asfriendly, emotionally intelligent and highly considerate of others” (IAM Patent 1000). He has represented numerous UK and European start-ups, as well as VCs, in fund-raising, investment and acquisitions, in deals totalling hundreds of millions of dollars. Tom guides his clients through not only the patent drafting and filing process, but also the overall IP strategy, risk assessment (FTO) and due diligence exercises required to secure these deals. Tom relishes the opportunity to devise and implement IP strategies that help companies realise their business goals, be that developing a product all the way to market, collaborating with third parties, or selling or licencing their portfolio.
 
In addition to antibodies, Tom has an active and expanding practice in the field of nucleic acid therapies, including antisense RNA therapies, nucleic acid vaccines, and gene editing technologies. Other areas of practice include peptidic therapeutics, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), liquid biopsies, next generation sequencing, cell therapies, formulations, diagnostics, and new medical uses for known compounds. Tom is particularly adept at navigating the complexities of patent filing, prosecution, and defence in the context of clinical trials, and has presented to hundreds of in-house IP professionals on this topic over recent years.
 
With a reputation for getting difficult patents granted, Tom is highly accomplished at representing his clients at oral proceedings. Tom has a large EPO opposition and appeals practice and is actively involved in pan-European litigation support. He is cited by a client as “one of the best advocates I have worked with in my 20 years of practice” (Managing IP, IP Stars Handbook) and another says he “is a tremendous patent attorney who completely engages his audience at opposition and appeals proceedings at the EPO. He presents his arguments clearly and persuasively, and has an excellent track record of success” (IAM Patent 1000).
 
As part of the industry’s IP Inclusive initiative, Tom is co-founder of IP Out, the support and networking group for LGBT people working in IP, and also of Out in IP, a similar organisation for IP professionals based in Boston. Do get in touch with Tom if you’d like to know more.
 
Prior to starting his career as a patent attorney, Tom obtained a degree in Musical Theatre, which somehow he still finds time for through his involvement in Sedos, London’s premier amateur theatre company, as a performer and choreographer. For the past 15 years he has taught a weekly adult jazz dance class, currently held at Central School of Ballet in London.

'Notable Practitioner' for Patents - Managing IP, IP Stars, 2024

Tom Leonard is a tremendous patent attorney who completely engages his audience at opposition and appeals proceedings at the EPO.” He presents his arguments clearly and persuasively, and has an excellent track record of success. Recently Leonard has been representing long-term patron Zogenix in two opposition proceedings filed by Teva, and has secured favourable results in each. - IAM Patent 1000, 2024

"Tom is a superb attorney and his attention to detail is second to none. He is always available day and night and is a technical expert. Tom is first-class in the biopharm space, extremely diligent and very hardworking. He is also friendly, emotionally intelligent and highly considerate of others." - IAM Patent 1000, 2023

"Leonard is an antibody expert with a fast-growing practice, which sees him advise on extremely high-value products in an increasingly relevant area." - IAM Patent 1000, 2022 

'Recommended' in IAM Patent 1000 2021 edition.

Antibody specialist Tom Leonard “picks matters up very quickly and will always go out of his way to assist, even at very short notice”. - IAM Patent 1000, 2020

“One of the best advocates I have worked with in my 20 years of practice” – Managing IP, IP Stars Handbook 2017

Qualifications

European Patent Attorney (2010)
Chartered UK Patent Attorney (2010)
​Representative before the Unified Patent Court (UPC) (2023)
IP Litigator - Patent
Design Attorney (2010)
Foreign Legal Consultant (FLC) – State Bar of California
Queen Mary Certificate in IP (2008)
MA Musical Theatre Performance, Mountview Academy of Performing Arts (2006)
BA Natural Sciences (Pharmacology), University of Cambridge (2004) with an additional Part II in Management Studies (2005)

Memberships

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

“Antibody Patents: How to maximise value in Europe and beyond”, online seminar presenter (August 2020)

EPO Enlarged Board of Appeal Decision G 3/19 and the patentability of plant and animal products in Europe, Kilburn & Strode, (2020) 

Second medical uses at the EPO, Kilburn & Strode, (2020) 

Regeneron v Kymab and the effect of claim scope on the requirement of sufficiency of disclosure, Kilburn & Strode (2020) 

The worldwide pharma response to coronavirus – Part 2: Promising leads, Kilburn & Strode, (2020) 

Too big to pay – has Shanks v Unilever changed the way the courts interpret ‘outstanding benefit’?
Kilburn & Strode, (2019)

Why LGBTQAI+ pride is important, Kilburn & Strode, (2019)

The SPC manufacturing waiver enters into force, Kilburn & Strode (2019) 

SPC manufacturing waiver adopted by European Parliament, Kilburn & Strode (2019) 

Protecting the protector: The intersection of IP and Immuno-Oncology, Kilburn & Strode (2019) 

‘Antibody workshop’, Speaker at C5 Life Sciences IP Summit (October 2016)

‘Biotech patenting workshop’, Speaker at C5 Life Sciences IP Summit (October 2015)

‘Freedom-to-operate workshop’, Speaker at C5 Life Sciences IP Summit (October 2014)

‘A ray of hope for embryonic stem cell patents in Europe; and the 4 things you need to know’, Patently-O (August 2014) 

‘G3/14: In Pursuit of Clarity’, CIPA Journal, Vol. 43, No. 7, pp 393-394 (July 2014)

‘European Patent Law at 19th Annual AIPLA PCT Seminar’, Speaker, Denver, CO & Arlington (July 2014)

‘What is central limitation and why is it useful?’, Kilburn & Strode Publication (June 2014)

‘Refunds on search fees by the EPO’, Kilburn & Strode Publication (May 2014)

‘Filing divisional applications at the EPO – FAQs’, Kilburn & Strode Publication (April 2014) 

‘Patent exhaustion – at what level should this be assessed?’, Kilburn & Strode Publication, (2014)

‘Divisional deadline practice at the EPO to be reversed’, Kilburn & Strode Publication, (2013),

‘Virgin v. Zodiac: the end of the Unilin principle’, Kilburn & Strode Publication, (2013),

‘European Patent Law’, 18th Annual AIPLA PCT Seminar, Speaker, Minneapolis, MN & Alexandria, VA (2013)

"Supreme Court follows EPO Technical Board of Appeal: a sign of things to come?", Human Genome Science Inc v Eli Lilly and Company [2011] UKSC 51, United Kingdom Supreme Court, 2 November 2011 (on appeal from [2010] EWCA Civ 33), Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice, 2012, Vol. 7, No. 3, pp 150-151