Partner
Chartered Patent Attorney
European Patent Attorney
UK Design Attorney
MA and MSci Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge
Thank you
Emily specialises in the fields of materials science, engineering and design. She leads the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing practice at Keltie, and co-leads the Design Group. Her practice covers a wide range of technical fields including nanotechnology, glass processing, advanced materials, energy storage, construction, packaging, food technology, medical devices, automotive and aerospace engineering, electronics, software and user interfaces.
Emily focuses on providing practical, business-led advice, with an eye on commercial as well as legal leverage, and an understanding of the IP challenges that businesses of all sizes face, from start-ups and small design houses to SMEs and large corporations. She often works with in-house legal teams to support their IP activities, and has undertaken in-house secondments at multinational corporations, which has involved consulting on strategic aspects of IP management and assisting with training.
Her experience includes drafting and prosecuting patent applications, EPO oppositions and appeals, validity and freedom-to-operate opinions, due diligence projects, day-to-day management of global IP portfolios and strategic advice on contentious and non-contentious issues. She also helps guide clients through IP matters arising in research collaborations and joint venture projects.
In addition to her work as a patent attorney Emily has extensive experience in design rights, particularly in global design filing strategies, design searching and clearance projects, and strategic advice regarding clearance and contentious matters. She has helped many clients successfully navigate the minefield of design rights to enforce their rights, defend against allegations of infringement, and invalidate registered design rights.
Emily graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2007 with a degree in natural sciences, studying chemistry and physics before specialising in materials science. She went on to conduct post-graduate research in experimental materials science on magnetoelectric effects in thin-film oxide nanocomposites. During this time she also taught undergraduate and postgraduate students in many areas of materials science including metallurgy, polymer science, crystallography, electronic devices, biomedical materials, glasses, and materials manufacturing. Her interest in teaching continues into her life as a patent attorney, where she often tutors trainees and lectures on patent and design law, as well as being an Examiner for the European Qualifying Examinations.
After joining Keltie in 2011, Emily qualified as a UK and European Patent and Design attorney in 2015 and joined the partnership in 2019.
What people think about Emily
Emily was named as a ‘Rising Star’ in Managing IP’s 2018 and 2019 ‘IP Stars’ Rankings, and 'Notable Practitioner' in the 2020 and 2021 rankings.
03.03.2021
5 minutes with Emily Weal on materials science patentsWhat's new and what's next in materials science and IP?
27.01.2021
Design Registration Strategy: The spectrum of protectionDeveloping a design registration strategy that balances breadth and strength, to give you the best possible protection.
05.12.2023
Top five patents for Fintech inventions21.04.2023
Keltie launch DICE on World Earth DayOtherLess related knowledge
Thank you
