Derek Holmes

‌I joined Dummett Copp LLP in 2017, having spent over eleven years in private practice in London. I am a fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys.

My practice extends across a range of technology areas, including automotive, mechanical and electrical engineering, materials science, medical devices, pharmaceutical technology, building products and logistics. As well as drafting and prosecuting patent and registered design applications, I provide advice on portfolio management, contentious and commercial issues, and I am an experienced advocate in European patent opposition proceedings. 

Before joining the patent profession, I obtained a first-class Master’s degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University, specialising in Materials Science and Metallurgy. I also completed a PhD in Ceramic Processing at Cambridge, where my research on the sintering and drying behaviour of engineering ceramics encompassed scientific instrument design, software programming and device fabrication techniques. The multidisciplinary nature of my studies and a passion for new technology led me to a career as a patent attorney.

Outside work, I enjoy music, walking, car mechanics and motor racing.