Mr. Julian Crump

I graduated from Cambridge University in 1988 with an honours degree in Natural Sciences, covering physics and cell biology, but with a focus on chemistry. I qualified as a Chartered Patent Attorney in 1993 and a European Patent Attorney in 1995. I won the Gill Prize for the highest marks overall in the UK qualifying examination, and the Ballantyne Prize for top marks in the Infringement & Validity paper. 

I have been working as a patent attorney for nearly 35 years, and joined Abel + Imray in 2018. My practice is focused on pharmaceuticals and medicinal and small molecule chemistry, new medical treatments, biotechnology and medical devices, especially drug formulations and drug delivery forms, new chemical entities, biomarkers, vaccines, diagnostics/prognostics and localisation and biopsy markers, but I also have experience in other technologies, including adjustable focal power lenses, augmented reality devices, food technology, materials, packaging, product-handling equipment and aircraft seating systems. I act for a diverse range of clients ranging from start-ups to multinational corporations.

Many clients ask me to represent them in oral proceedings before the European Patent Office (EPO), especially oppositions and appeals, and in UK patent revocation actions. I advise clients on the IP aspects of licences, collaborations and other technology transfer agreements and have performed a number of IP audits and due diligence reviews for a variety of different clients, including investors as well as parties to prospective licensing and collaboration deals. 

I became involved in FICPI in 1997 as a member of CET Group 5. I was appointed as Reporter of CET Group 3 in 2000 and as CET Reporter General in 2003. In 2006 I was elected as Secretary General and served in that position for 9 years. In 2015 I was elected Vice President and in 2018 President. My term of three years was extended by 15 months to September 2022 in view of the restrictions on meetings and travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a privilege and an honour to help FICPI through that difficult period, and I now serve as head of the Advisory Council and president of the Communications Commission. I also serve as a board member of the Global Intellectual Property Alliance (GLIPA). In May 2023, I was elected President of the British Association of FICPI (FICPI-UK).