Specialist IP firm Appleyard Lees is praised for its ‘highly experienced experts’, who are skilled in a range of industries, including life sciences, pharmaceuticals, electronics, software, chemistry, engineering, and physics. The firm counts emerging innovators and start-ups among its extensive client base, as well as larger international corporations. In Leeds, managing director Bobby Smithson now heads up the team, having taken over from previous Manchester-based practice head David Clark, who has substantial experience in patent drafting and opposition work regarding electronics, as well as representing clients in infringement proceedings. Barbara Fleck in Leeds spearheads the firm’s life sciences sector group, and she boasts ’expert knowledge in the biotechnology IP space’ in particular. Howard Read retired in April 2024.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Richard Bray and David Clark's ability to answer our questions promptly and with high quality, especially during urgent times and despite the time difference, is always reassuring. Entrusting them with handling matters in Europe and the UK is always a wise decision. Additionally, they communicate frequently to ensure a correct understanding of the client's needs and are able to motivate everyone to do their best.’

  • ‘Appleyard Lees has grown in size but retains the character and personality of a small firm; highly focused on the client, super-responsive, and with an excellent strategic approach to patent prosecution and management.’

  • 'Barbara Fleck is an outstanding European Patent Attorney with expert knowledge in the biotechnology IP space, notably in the fields of transgenic animal technology, antibody engineering, and therapeutic biologics including bi-specific molecules. I am impressed with Barbara’s strategic handling of our caseload. Barbara summarises highly complex arguments with great clarity.'

  • ‘The practice has highly experienced experts in fields covering food science and related technologies who think together with the client about the optimum strategy for protecting IP, which can go beyond thinking about patent content.’

  • ‘Simon Bradbury is not only a highly experienced IP expert, but also has a broadly commercial mindset and is able to advise clients at an early stage of their IP journey on the best approaches to protecting IP, whether this is in the context of patenting or in the context of potential collaborations with partners that could impact ownership or use of current or future IP.'

  • ‘The team arranged for us at Appleyard Lees is diverse in its technological and IP skills, as well as their industrial knowledge and background, yet with people knowing about our industry to help drive everybody in the right direction in line with our expectations to maximise relevance of our IP rights. All people are friendly and most importantly curious to understand and fit our needs and bring added value for us.’

  • ‘Richard Bray and Paul Beynon are second-to-none when establishing a trusted relationship with their client and are always available to listen to us and adjust resources and advice in a tailor-made fashion. They are just a pleasure to work with and they are really on top of things to ensure the supporting team outputs are to expected standards.’

  • 'Appleyard Lees have been exceptional at creating our patent estate and advice on Freedom to Operate. In particular, the patents they craft for us stand out globally in the field as having clear claims that account for the complex, noisy and changing biology. Their leadership in the field is also demonstrated by how the partners and associates have educated examiners in numerous jurisdictions on the appropriateness of our filing and the lack of rational in the application of others.’

Key clients

  • Clasado Research Services
  • Smith and Nephew
  • PPG
  • Samsung

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Bobby Smithson

Other key lawyers

Julia Gwilt, David Clark, Dick Waddington, Simon Bradbury, Adam Tindall, Barbara Fleck, Kate Hickinson, Parminder Lally, Paul Beynon, Paul Roscoe, Richard Bray