Karl Barnfather

Electronics, Computing & Physics

Partner

Karl Barnfather is a senior member of the Electronics, Computing & Physics group. He is the immediate past Chair after 9 years in the role.

Karl 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. He recently enjoyed completing the Oxford University “Fintech Programme” run by the Said Business School to consider disruption and future trends in fintech, regtech and proptech.

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 has held the lead Partner role of each of our Marketing, Midlands, and Electronics teams. He was unanimously elected Chair of Withers & Rogers LLP commencing April 2012.

Karl has the Université de Strasbourg (CEIPI) Diploma in European Patent Litigation and is qualified to practice before the Unified Patent Court. He is also recognised as a leading IP Strategist as one of the IAM 300 IP Strategists and Chair of the LES GB&I IP Strategy Committee.