Rhiannon Wescott

Rhiannon specialises in patents in the biotechnology field, including biomedical cases relating to therapeutics, from early leads to developments of marketed therapeutics. As part of her European patent work, she represents clients in complex and multi-party opposition cases as defendant or opponent. Rhiannon is also a member of the firms’ SPC team.

Areas of Expertise

• antibody production and development, especially relating to therapeutic antibodies
• personalised therapies, especially cancer therapies
• cell therapies
• protein engineering
• immunology and virology
• patent term extension (PTE) and supplementary protection certificates (SPCs)

Clients

Rhiannon’s clients include US attorney clients, large European and US biotechnology firms and UK based research institutions.

Background

Rhiannon has a degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge, with a particular focus on immunology and virology. She joined Mewburn Ellis LLP in 2011, qualifying as a Chartered Patent Attorney in 2014 and a European Patent Attorney in 2015. Rhiannon became a Patent Director in 2019.

EPO Opposition highlights

Defensive Oppositions

• EP2462158, T1108/22 - We successfully overturned the OD’s decision in for Roche.  The patent was opposed by eleven parties, and we persuaded the Board on appeal that the claims were clear allowing the case to be remitted to the Opposition Division. The patent protects methods in the field of therapeutic antibody purification.
• EP2510001, T1821/18 - Successfully defended in appeal proceedings for Abbvie.  The Patent protects antibodies for use in treating retinal nerve fiber layer degeneration.

Offensive Oppositions

• EP3215166 - Successful opposition in the field of modified CAR-T cells, resulting in the revocation of the patent.
• EP2569633 - Successful opposition of in the field of neoantigen cancer vaccines, resulting in revocation of the patent.
• EP1874824, T0956/19 - A successful opposition in the field of antibody therapy resulting in revocation of the patent.  In a complex case with multiple hearings at first and second instances we were able to persuade the Board to overturn the OD’s decision, involving detailed arguments on proof and the availability of documents before the priority date. 
• EP2235154, T0970/16 - We persuaded the Board of Appeal to overturn the OD’s decision, and find that the claims were not sufficiently disclosed, resulting in revocation of the patent.  The case has been cited in CLBA.