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Dr
Robert
Scanes

Patent Attorney

London Office

Chemistry

Telephone. +44(0) 207 776 5100
Email. rscanes@hgf.com
Vcard

Experience

Robert specialises in patents and related IP rights in the fields of chemistry, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

He has broad experience in patent practice, including urgent drafting for SARS-CoV-2 antivirals during the COVID-19 pandemic, coordinating global patent portfolios for a pharmaceutical candidate in phase III clinical trials and contentious proceedings before the European Patent Office defending market exclusivity determining patents for authorised drugs. Robert also provides advice regarding freedom-to-operate and validity.

He is familiar with the differing needs of prosecuting applications in several fields, encompassing consumer goods, graphene technology and polymer chemistry.

Robert's technical experience spans the interface between chemistry and biology, working on new chemical entity, polymorphic form, dosage regimen and subsequent medical use cases.

Before joining the profession Robert discovered a new oscillating chemical reaction during his doctoral research, work that was highlighted in the journal Science. His laboratory work reflected his long-held interests in enantioselective catalysis, non-linear reaction kinetics, protocell movement, oligonucleotide modification and super-resolution microscopy. He holds a first class Master's degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge, where he was awarded scholarships and bursaries for academic performance.

Specialisms

Industries

Services

Qualifications

Patent Attorney

Chartered (UK)
Europe

BA

BA in Natural Sciences, First Class, University of Cambridge

MSCI

Natural Sciences, First Class, University of Cambridge

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA OR CERTIFICATE

Intellectual Property Law, Distinction, Queen Mary University of London

OTHER

DPhil in Organic Chemistry, Thesis Title "Selection among Replicators and Protocell Chemotaxis", University of Oxford

Publications

UPC delivers first judgment on Validity and Infringement of a Second Medical Use Claim

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T 0295/22: Apremilast decision highlights hopes and challenges for broad second medical use claims

View publication online

T 1418/22: Acalabrutinib provides guidance on establishing inventiveness of polymorphs at the EPO

View publication online

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Event - 11th November 2025

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Event details

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