Mr Mrs Miss Ms Dr Other

Dr
Robert
Scanes

Patent Attorney

London Office

Chemistry

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

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.

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

View publication online

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

Related News

Event - 24th June 2026

IP Clinic for SMEs at ETZ EnergyWorks

Following the success of our first session, we’re pleased to announce our next Intellectual Property (IP) clinic taking place at ETZ EnergyWorks in Aberdeen on Wednesday 24 June 2026, from …

Event details
Event - 2nd June 2026

HGF are proud sponsors of Retail Week General Counsel 2026

HGF is proud to be sponsoring Retail Week General Counsel. This will take place on Wednesday 3rd June at Ham Yard Hotel. The retail legal landscape is undergoing a fundamental …

Event details
Event - 5th May 2026

IP Clinic for SMEs at ETZ EnergyWorks

We’re pleased to announce a free Intellectual Property (IP) clinic taking place at ETZ EnergyWorks in Aberdeen on Wednesday 27th May, from 11.00am to 4.00pm, designed to support SMEs in …

Event details
Event - 11th - 12th May 2026

HGF is proud to be attending the 14th Microbiome R&D and Business Collaboration Forum: Europe 8th Skin Microbiome and Cosmeceuticals Congress: Europe.

HGF is proud to be attending the 14th Microbiome R&D and Business Collaboration Forum: Europe 8th Skin Microbiome and Cosmeceuticals Congress: Europe. It will be held on Monday 11-12th May …

Event details
Event - 27th April 2026

HGF are proud to be Gold Sponsors of IP Counsel Café

HGF are proud to be Gold Sponsors of IP Counsel Café on 12-14th May at Silicon Valley, US. HGF Partner Susan Keston will be speaking at on the topic AI …

Event details
Event - 16th April 2026

MedTech Innovation Summit 2026

HGF Partner and Patent Attorney Adam Hines will be attending the MedTech Innovation Summit Dublin 2026, taking place from 28–30 April at The Shelbourne Hotel. As one of Europe’s premier …

Event details

Let's talk

If you would like to discuss how HGF could help you, contact one of our IP specialists.