Alistair Holzhauer-Barrie

Alistair works with clients over a range of technologies in the engineering, electronics and software fields.  This includes advising on medical, mechanical, electrical and computer technology innovations.

In providing this advice, Alistair focuses on drafting and prosecuting patents and designs from filing to grant and beyond.  This has included successfully obtaining grant of patents protecting products with multi-million sales values, including for a best-selling toy, and playing a key role in the IP due diligence on a company acquisition worth tens of millions of pounds.

Alistair has developed an international reputation for registered and unregistered designs in the UK, Europe and overseas, developing a substantial design practice. Clients often seek out Alistair’s advice on filing strategies and the most suitable scope of protection to pursue to provide while avoiding aspect likely to attract objections.  This has resulted in Alistair filing and overseeing over 5,000 designs over his career, with consecutive years of design filings equivalent to the top five largest filers of UK designs.

Alistair works with a diverse range of clients including multinational companies, SMEs and start-ups in the UK, Europe and further afield, focusing on advising start-ups and SMEs on IP strategy and tailoring IP to a business plan.  This is aimed at ensuring IP complements business strengths and can enhance business growth.  Notable clients include a leading insulation manufacturer, a listed music production equipment producer, a camera tripod company aiming to disrupt the field and an award-winning climate tech startup.

Away from work, Alistair enjoys spending time with his young family, and, when possible around that, is an enthusiastic photographer, which he couples with a joy of travel and exploration to seek out captivating landscapes, urban environments and architecture.

Alistair has built direct experience over a number of years with various technologies and innovations, including in:

• Mineral wool production
• Hydroponic growth systems and plant growth platforms
• Greenhouse gas and pollutant abatement and monitoring
• Music production equipment and accessories
• Graphical user interfaces
• Medical devices and biological and diagnostic analysers
• Tripods and camera accessories
• Telecommunications devices and interfaces
• Video codecs
• Food, drink and consumer products

Alistair also performs specialist work in relation to registered and unregistered designs, including:

• design filing strategy
• design filing and prosecution
• freedom-to-operate and infringement issues
• design invalidity matters

European Patent Attorney
UK Patent Attorney
UK Design Attorney
UPC Representative

Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA)
Member of the European Patent Institute (EPI)
Member of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), sitting on the Design Committee
Carbon13 Domain Expert

Alistair graduated from the University of Bristol with a First Class Master’s degree in Physics.  He also holds a Certificate in Intellectual Property Law from Queen Mary College, University of London.

Alistair joined GJE as a Trainee Patent Attorney in 2014.  He Qualified as a European and UK Patent Attorney and as a Design Attorney in 2015.

Prior to joining GJE, Alistair worked for another leading private practice firm from 2011.