J A Kemp hires new partner to strengthen biotech practice

Andreas Theisen (41), who has joined J A Kemp as a partner, is a qualified microbiologist. As such, he specialises in biological therapeutics and diagnostics, and in particular therapeutic antibodies, gene therapy and cell-therapy products.

J A Kemp gains partner

Theisen began his career as a technical assistant at patent attorney firm Mathys & Squire. During his more than seven years there, Theisen qualified as a UK and European patent attorney. In early 2016, he joined Carpmaels & Ransford, a mixed practice known for its strong life sciences team. While at the firm, he advised many US clients such as Bristol-Myers Squibb and GlaxoSmithKline. Theisen also has experience representing them in EPO oppositions.

Andreas Theisen

His recent work includes developing a strategy to navigate the FTO landscape for a projected blockbuster orphan drug product in Europe and the US. Theisen was also involved in the successful EPO opposition defences of Stanford University’s ‘Quake’ patent estate covering commercial non-invasive pre-natal testing (NIPT) methods, which parties also litigated at the UK High Court in 2017.

Specialised in life sciences

With the addition of Andreas Theisen, J A Kemp now has 84 patent attorneys at its three UK locations, London, Cambridge and Oxford. Of this number, 37 are partners. The patent attorney firm is particularly renowned for its filing and prosecution work in pharma and biotechnology, chemistry, automotive, transport and electronics.

J A Kemp counts international life sciences companies such as AbbVie, Regeneron and BASF among its clients. It also works for Nippon Steel and Toyota. The patent attorneys represent clients in EPO oppositions such as for Agile Diffraction against Femtonics or for ViiV Healthcare against Gilead. Now the firm is gearing up to play a role at the UPC, with a majority of its patent attorneys registering as representatives at the new court.

Still going strong

Carpmaels & Ransford’s team of 88 patent attorneys should be able to absorb the loss of Theisen. In addition to patent filing and prosecution, the market also holds the mixed firm in high regard for its litigation in infringement proceedings. Here, its 14 lawyers regularly represent clients in the life sciences sector.