Dehns

Biotechnology

Elizabeth is a UK Chartered and European Patent Attorney. She joined Dehns in 1993, was made a Partner in 2001 and is a senior member of Dehns’ Life Sciences and Biotechnology group. She holds a number of Chemistry and Biochemistry related degrees from the University of Cape Town and was awarded a PhD by the Open University. Elizabeth is a former Managing Partner of the firm and, in 2022, was elected Senior Partner, responsible for the growth and continued development of the firm.

Elizabeth’s clients include sole inventors and small companies, as well as University Technology Transfer Offices and multinationals. She provides a range of services including patentability assessments, drafting, filing and prosecuting patent applications, defending and opposing granted patents and providing advice on aspects such as due diligence, infringement, validity and freedom to practice.

Elizabeth handles patent work in the general fields of biochemistry and biotechnology, including genomics, proteomics, immunology, virology and microbiology, particularly in relation to molecular biology-based inventions (such as recombinant products, transgenic plants and animals, genomic therapeutics and diagnostics), screening methods, purification protocols, diagnostic assays and therapeutic and prophylactic inventions.

Authorised Representative before the Unified Patent Court (UPC), 2024

UK Chartered Patent Attorney, 1997

European Patent Attorney, 1997

Certificate in IP Law, University of London, 1994

English

Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA)

Member of the European Patent Institute

PhD, Open University, “Cell signalling pathways of IL-1 and TNF”, 1993

MSc, University of Cape Town, Crystallographic determination of cholic acid: alcohol structures”, (awarded with distinction), 1989

BSc (Hons), University of Cape Town, Biochemistry, 1986

BSc, University of Cape Town, Chemistry and Biochemistry (distinction in Chemistry), 1985