Laura Carney

Laura is a UK and European patent attorney with a focus on building and managing global patent portfolios, particularly in the fields of cell and gene therapy, antibody technology, immunotherapy, diagnostics, prognostics and biomarkers, together with peptide and nucleic acid therapeutics. Laura has a particular interest in cell and gene therapy and is a key member of the firm’s Advanced Therapeutics team.

Her work spans all stages of the patent life cycle, with significant experience in the identification of opportunities for portfolio expansion, management of IP portfolios, drafting of patent applications and multi-jurisdictional prosecution of patent families. Laura is proud of her client-focused approach to IP strategy, and is dedicated to ensuring the best outcomes for her clients. She really takes the time to understand her client’s technology, as well as their broader commercial objectives. Her attention to detail, enthusiasm for the technology and strategic thinking means clients thoroughly enjoy working with Laura.

Laura has a first class undergraduate BSc degree in Biology from the University of York and a PhD in Immunology from the University of Bristol. She joined Mewburn Ellis in 2023, having qualified as a Chartered Patent Attorney in 2019 and as a European Patent Attorney in 2021. 

Areas of Expertise

• Cell therapy
• Cancer therapeutics
• Autoimmune therapeutics
• Diagnostics, prognostics and biomarkers
• Nucleic acid and protein therapeutics

Clients

Laura’s client base ranges from biotech start-ups and spin-outs to academic institutions, charities and multinational biopharma companies. Her clients are primarily based in Europe and the USA.

She has extensive experience in advising universities, research institutions, spin-outs, charities and non-profit organisations, having specialised in these areas throughout her career. Laura thoroughly enjoys interacting with academics and universities to devise and execute IP strategies that align with the client’s budgets, commercial goals, timelines and research plans.

Key Projects and Contributions

• Laura plays a key role as one of the primary advisors for a major UK charity. Laura’s extensive work has involved advising on patent strategy, invention capture and substantial patent drafting.
  
  
• Another of Laura’s clients is a European-based start-up in the antibody and antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) space. Laura is one of the main advisors to this client, providing strategic advice on invention capture, patent drafting, multi-jurisdictional management of IP portfolios and freedom to operate (FTO).
  
  
• Laura plays a pivotal role as a primary advisor for a peptide-therapeutic UK spin-out. Laura has been instrumental in drafting and managing their patent portfolio and supporting this client as their commercial goals change and adapt, with a view to future licensing deals.