J A Kemp

Biotechnology and Life Sciences

Partner, European and UK Patent Attorney, Litigator

Marc is a European and UK Patent Attorney. He has a wealth of experience in the biotechnology and life sciences fields. Following the completion of a PhD focusing on cellular signal transduction and the molecular control of the cell division cycle Marc worked as a senior scientist at GlaxoSmithKline Plc for over three years and was head of the cell biology group at Millennium Pharmaceuticals (UK) for two years. During his time as a research scientist in the pharmaceutical industry Marc gained a significant insight into the drug discovery and development process and acted as senior and lead biologist on several discovery projects focusing on inhibitors of intracellular kinase targets for neurology and oncology indications. Subsequently, Marc qualified as a patent attorney in 2008 and has over fourteen years' experience advising clients in patent matters. Marc obtained the UK Higher Courts Litigation Certificate in 2014.

Marc's extensive patent experience concentrates on technologies relating to genomics, biochemistry, antibodies, molecular biology and cell biology. Over the course of his career as a patent attorney Marc has been involved in a number of high profile cases in seminal life science technologies including antibody humanisation (CDR grafting), nucleic acid microarrays, RNAi, induced pluripotent stem cells and more recently genome manipulation and gene editing - particularly CRISPR.

A large focus of Marc’s current practice is in the field of genomics, including nucleic acid-based amplification and analytical methods, nucleic acid synthesis and diagnostic methods. Marc has significant expertise in technologies involving biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic purposes, including proteomics-based techniques and methods involving the analysis of genetic and epigenetic markers such as DNA methylation. In addition, Marc handles a large number of patent cases involving antibodies and antibody-related technologies, as well as cases relating to regenerative medicine including cell and gene therapy technologies. Marc also handles cases involving microfluidic and medical devices.

Marc has experience of drafting and prosecution of patent applications in both a domestic and international capacity and he has been involved in numerous cases before the Opposition Divisions and the Technical Boards of Appeal at the European Patent Office. Marc additionally provides patent validity and infringement opinions as well as freedom-to-operate advice.

Marc’s clients range from start-ups to SMEs and multinational corporations, based primarily in the USA, UK and continental Europe. Marc also provides patent services to universities and academic technology transfer departments.

Marc joined J A Kemp in 2014, having previously worked at another prominent UK private practice firm since 2004, and became a partner in 2016.

Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA); Member of the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (EPI)

University of Sheffield, Honours Degree in Genetics; University College London (MRC National Institute for Medical Research), PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology; Queen Mary University of London, Masters Degree in Management of Intellectual Property