Karl Barnfather

European and UK Patent Attorney, BSc, PhD, CPhys, CPA, EPA

Partner

Higher education

Karl Barnfather has undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Physics from the University of Warwick. His doctorate was carried out in part in Grenoble, France and used magnetic resonance and neutron scattering techniques to investigate hydrogen fuel cell technology. The benefit of a modern Physics degree covering much electronics, computing and robotics, as well as traditional subjects such as optics and wave theory, and other theoretical aspects of Physics gives Karl an excellent base on which to practice as a patent attorney.

Career to date

Karl began in IP licensing electronics technology in the corporate sector. Karl is a qualified Chartered Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney. He became a Partner with us in 1997, and is the Managing Partner of our Midlands office.

Personal skills

A practical client focus complements Karl’s academic achievements which enable him to work in a range of technical fields of research. Karl also has a real desire for all businesses to make better use of their Intellectual Property rights and to this end has for some years lead an AWM funded team, now established as Fillip, raising awareness of IP among West Midlands businesses. Karl is the Chair of the steering committee for Fillip - http://www.fillip.org.uk/

Sector experience

Karl’s experience includes software (especially encryption, financial instruments and web-based systems), aerospace, photonics, telecommunications, high performance automotive components, sports equipment, and general mechanical devices.

Client experience

Karl has represented companies ranging from high-tech university spin-outs to multinational companies such as Mitsubishi, Time Warner, Nike, Intel Corporation and Nokia Inc.

Notable successes

Karl has enjoyed tremendous success before the Opposition Boards and Appeal Boards of the European Patent Office, and is actively involved in a large financial instruments opposition at present. He has been invited to speak at many international conference in recent years, as well as many domestic conferences such as at UNICO and the IEE inaugral Commercialisation and Innovation conference in London in September 2005. In 2006, Karl Barnfather chaired panel sessions at ABA and LES conferences, and continues to speak at various meetings on the thorny software patents issue.

On a personal note 

Karl, having long since hung up his rugby boots, has adopted cycling and the occasssional triathlon for some essential sporting activity.

Contact Details

Tel: +44 (0) 1926 310700
Fax: +44 (0) 1926 335519