J A Kemp

Biotechnology and Life Sciences

Partner, European and UK Patent Attorney

Lizzie is a European and UK Patent Attorney. She qualified as a veterinary surgeon from the University of Edinburgh, and completed a PhD in immunology at the Babraham Institute, Cambridge. Her research used mouse models of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases to investigate the role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase signalling in regulatory T cells.

Lizzie has furthered her interest in immunology during her time at J A Kemp, handling many cases concerning immunotherapeutics. In particular, Lizzie drafts and prosecutes applications relating to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, affinity-enhanced T cell receptors, antibodies and other binding molecules, and has been involved in a number of EPO oppositions concerning these technologies. Lizzie also has experience with cases relating to peptide and nucleic acid vaccines.

Given her background in veterinary medicine, Lizzie is uniquely placed to handle applications in the field of animal technology. Lizzie works with both university and industry clients in this area, on cases concerning the optimisation of production animal health and output, and on applications relating to companion animal diagnostics and therapeutics. Lizzie also handles a number of applications concerning bioinformatics and AI in the veterinary and agritech sectors.

Lizzie’s clinical background affords her a broad grounding in the biomedical sciences, including pharmacology, physiology, pathology and epidemiology, as well as an appreciation of real-life diagnostic and therapeutic strategies and challenges. She is therefore well-equipped for the work she handles in the areas of regenerative medicine, gene therapy, diagnostic assays, and sequencing platforms.

Lizzie is based in J A Kemp’s Oxford office, where many of her clients are universities, start-ups and spin-outs. Accordingly, a key aspect of Lizzie’s work involves invention spotting, advising on patent strategy, drafting new applications, and co-ordinating global IP portfolios. Lizzie also assists numerous US-based clients and applicants with patent prosecution at the EPO. In addition, Lizzie is a member of J A Kemp’s restorations team, which helps clients that have unintentionally lost rights or whose patents have lapsed.

Lizzie joined J A Kemp in 2013 and became a partner in 2023.

Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA); Member of the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (EPI); Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)

University of Edinburgh, Honours Degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery; University of London, Honours Degree in Pathology; PhD in Lymphocyte Signalling