Ralph Cox has specialised in contentious intellectual property matters, particularly patent litigation, for over twenty-five years. He is independently recognised by a variety of industry publications as one of the UK's leading patent lawyers as well as being noted for intellectual property generally.
Ralph’s practice covers all aspects of intellectual property, both contentious and non-contentious, and all industry sectors. He has thus litigated patents, trade marks, designs, confidential information and licensing and other IP contractual disputes before the Patents Court, High Court and Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC). He has also worked with attorneys on a range of patent, design and trade mark matters before the European Patent Office, UK Intellectual Property Office and EUIPO and has regularly coordinated international IP litigation where multinational companies are involved, or the infringing activities extend beyond the UK.
Within the patent field, Ralph’s focus is on life sciences, advising clients on matters such as freedom to operate, research exemptions, litigation strategies and contractual issues as well as conducting litigation itself. He also advises clients on transactional and regulatory matters and carries out due diligence exercises on product acquisitions and fund raisings.
Outside the life sciences sector Ralph has litigated patents as diverse as riflescopes, prenatal genetic tests, vanadium redox batteries, ultrasonic bonding of disposable nappies, porridge containers and DRAMs.
Ralph is recognised as a leading practitioner for patent litigation, and IP generally, in legal directories such as Chambers UK and Global, Legal 500, Managing IP’s Patent Stars and Intellectual Asset Management’s Patent 1000. Reviews include the comments:
“Ralph Cox is a highly impressive patent lawyer- I would rate him as exceptional, and one of the very best I have worked with. His knowledge of the industry and the law is exceptional, and he is equally at home dealing with contentious and non-contentious work. Ralph manages somehow to be able to absorb and process all of the detail while also maintaining a high-level view of the case, transaction or advice at hand, which means he is able to provide user-friendly commercial advice to clients.” (Legal 500, 2021)
”Ralph Cox has unrivalled knowledge of patent law and practice – he is very good with clients and very supportive” (Legal 500, 2022)
Practice Description
Ralph’s practice covers all industry sectors and includes:
freedom to operate opinions
prior art searches and advice on validity
general due diligence on patent (and other IP) portfolios
UK Patent Office opinion requests
conducting patent entitlement, validity and/or infringement disputes before all levels of the UK courts
advising on the drafting of patent-related agreements, including assignments, licences and collaboration agreements
conducting disputes arising from such agreements
coordinating multi-jurisdictional patent disputes
regulatory issues relating to patented medicines and medical devices
Matters
Examples of past matters include:
Machinery Developments v Sealed Air (meat packaging machines)
DeLonghi v SEB (deep fat fryers)
Greiner Bio-One v Becton Dickinson (blood collection tubes)
Ronseal v ICI (garden fence sprayer)
Omnipharm v Sepracor (desloratadine for hay fever)
Omnipharm v Merial (fipronil formulations for flea protection)
Phil & Teds v TFK (convertible baby buggies)
Swarovski Optik v Leica (riflescopes)
Illumina v TDL Genetics (genetic tests for foetal chromosomal abnormalities, e.g. Downs)
Curt G. Joa v Fameccanica.Data (ultrasonic bonding of disposable nappies)
Michael Dichand v Hydraredox Technologies Holdings (vanadium-redox batteries)
Confidential (second medical use patents for cancer treatments)
Confidential (catalysed particulate filters for NOx reduction in diesel vehicles)
