Tom is a European and UK Patent Attorney in the Chemistry and Life Sciences group. He has broad experience in prosecuting and drafting patent applications, and has been involved in several opposition and appeal proceedings before the EPO. Tom works in a wide range of fields, specialising in the chemical, pharmaceutical and nanomaterial industries.
Outside of work, Tom has spent time living in Madrid and has a keen interest in cricket, football and foreign languages.
Tom’s areas of specialism are principally in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries:
- Pharmaceuticals
- Polymer materials
- Battery technology
- Nanomaterials
- Home care products
Tom studied Chemistry at Durham University, spending the final year of his Master’s degree working in industry on a project for a multinational materials and chemicals company. The project explored the thermomechanical properties of novel polymer resins to improve the sustainability and lightweighting of composite materials used in aircraft.
Tom joined GJE in January 2021 and qualified as a European and UK Patent Attorney in 2024.
My colleagues
View full teamInsights and events by Tom Blackburn
T 873/21 – A Stable Decision or More Plausibility Fences to Jump?
The Enlarged Board of Appeal in G 2/21 established new guidance for determining when post‑published evidence can be...
GJE Role Model Series – Sanaul Siddiquee
Our GJE Role Model Series aims to celebrate the achievements of people from under-represented groups within STEM, highlight...
G 1/23: New Referral to the Enlarged Board of Appeal Aims to Clarify What Constitutes the “State of the Art”
New questions have been referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal by the Technical Board in T 438/19. ...