James Sunderland - Partner

UK and European Patent Attorney
MA Natural Sciences (Physics)
Oxford University

"My favourite patented inventions are the transistor and the integrated circuit, for which the inventors also received Nobel prizes. The reason I chose these is because, along with the 'invention' of the Turing Machine, they made possible today's world of computers, which is the main focus of my professional activities. "

Jim has wide experience in the fields of electronics and solid state devices, and in relation to computer hardware and software. He also has considerable expertise in all aspects of European Patent Office (EPO) practice in particular, hearings at the EPO before first-instance Examining and Opposition Divisions, and also before the Boards of Appeals. Jim regularly deals with the procedural and legal issues which can arise in connection with European patents and applications, at first-instance level of decision making and on appeals.

Jim's clients include IP departments of multinational corporations, and IP attorney firms around the world.

He is a frequent visitor to Japan, China and Korea. Fluent in German and based in our Munich office, Jim is well placed to deal with the EPO and with IP negotiations/disputes between German and non-German (e.g. US, UK, Japanese) companies. He is responsible for briefing the other Haseltine Lake offices on developments in EPO regulation and practice.