Eleanor Maciver

Eleanor is passionate about the role technology can play in a more sustainable future and enjoys working in close partnership to use her expertise to advance the commercial goals of her clients.  Eleanor drafts chemistry patents for UK and international clients and is experienced in the prosecution of global patent portfolios as well as opposition and appeals before the EPO.  She has a proven track record and recently won three valuable opposition and appeal cases for key clients.  Eleanor frequently provides patentability and Freedom to Operate opinions for her clients.

Focus on Sustainability

Eleanor is our Sustainability Champion and is responsible for leading the firm’s environmental strategy and our sustainability collaboration group, ensuring this remains an important focus for the firm. 

Areas of Expertise

Eleanor specialises in sustainable chemical and material inventions, particularly:

• Sustainable Polymers such as bio or new polymers and chemical recycling
• Nature Based Materials and method for their production or growth such as cellulose pigments, mycelium or algal materials.
• Plant Based Foods particularly sweeteners and protein alternatives
• Battery Electrode Materials
• Carbon Capture and Storage Materials, Methods and Utilisation
• Sustainable Refrigerant Materials

Eleanor also specialises in small molecule chemistry including for therapeutics and agricultural molecules and particularly where small molecule and sustainable technology intersect.

Clients

Eleanor works with a range of local and international clients in the sustainable chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, biotechnology, agricultural chemistry and nanotechnology sectors in the UK, US and Japan. These include universities, SMEs, large corporations and attorney firms.  Eleanor’s UK focus is on deeptech and cleantech companies, particularly SMEs, where she brings her understanding of the varying role of IP at different stages of business growth to help her clients achieve their business goals.

Background

Eleanor has a Master’s degree in natural sciences from Cambridge University, specialising in chemistry. She also has a DPhil in organic chemistry from Oxford University and carried out post-doctoral research at both Oxford and Kyoto University in Japan. She joined Mewburn Ellis LLP in 2013, qualifying as a Chartered Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney in 2017. She joined the partnership in 2022.

Opposition Highlights

Eleanor has worked on over 25 opposition cases, including:

EP16851616.9 - A defensive opposition for Nippon Soda where Eleanor successfully maintained the patent as granted against a major competitor (Syngenta).  The opposition was rejected entirely.

EP07737057.5 – One in a series of defensive oppositions for Mitsui Chemicals against major competitor, Bruno Bock. Eleanor was successful on appeal at maintaining claim 1 as granted, strengthening our client's position in the market and their commercial negotiations.

EP14701796.6 -  An offensive opposition against a major competitor’s patent which blocked key coding and marking technology for Eleanor’s client, Domino Printing Sciences.  The opposition resulted in revocation of the patent removing this commercial barrier for our client.

Recommendations

Eleanor is named as a ‘Rising Star’ in the Managing Intellectual Property’s IP Stars 2022 and 2023.