Meet The Russell IP Team

Our Expertise & Background

About Iain

Iain Russell

Patent Attorney, Director
BSc, CPA, EPA, FRSA

A UK and European patent attorney with almost 20 years’ experience, specialising in computer-implemented inventions (CIIs) and music technology.

Iain is an inventor on 25+ patents ranging from drones to dishwasher spray arms. He built and sold a patent portfolio of his own drone technology inventions, giving him first-hand experience of the inventor journey, patent portfolio due diligence, patent portfolio development strategy, and patent monetisation.

As an entrepreneurial patent attorney who has set up several small businesses, Iain understands complexities and pressures of running and building a small business. He has also successfully exited one of the companies he co-founded, selling his shares to the other co-founder who continues to run that business.

Iain is the author of two books on patents; one on passing the UK patent drafting exam and one on music technology patents. Iain has helped well over 1,000 candidate patent attorneys pass their qualifying exams to become UK and European patent attorneys.

  • BSc (Hons), Mathematics and Physics, University of Warwick, First Class
    • Awarded top marks in each year of degree
  • Chartered (UK) Patent Attorney
  • European Patent Attorney
  • Unified Patent Court (UPC) Representative
  • IP Litigation Certificate
Ben FINAL

Ben Hoyle

Patent Attorney (Consultant)
M. Eng, MA, CPA, EPA

A UK and European Patent Attorney with almost 20 years’ experience, specialising in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and information technology (IT).

Ben is a seasoned patent attorney and information engineer with a background in software, telecommunications, and machine learning (ML). Ben earned his engineering degree from Cambridge University, where he specialised in information and computer engineering which was complemented by further professional studies in artificial intelligence (AI), web development, and data science.
 
Throughout his career, Ben has developed and managed intellectual property strategies for large organisations and has overseen significant patent portfolios. The expertise and dedication Ben has shown to his craft has led to multiple successful multi-million pound tax-saving claims though the UK Government’s Patent Box scheme.
 
Within this work, he has drafted and prosecuted patent applications for big data, robotics and 3D printing, across the UK, Europe and the US.
  • M. Eng, MA, Engineering, University of Cambridge
    • First class result for third year
    • Honours with Distinction for M. Eng
  • Chartered (UK) Patent Attorney
  • European Patent Attorney
  • Unified Patent Court (UPC) Representative
  • IP Litigation Certificate
Silhouette of a team member

Jeff Sweetman

Patent Attorney (Consultant)
BSc, LLB, CPA, EPA

Jeff spent his first few years in the patent profession training within the mechanical engineering team of a large firm of patent attorneys in Sydney, Australia. He gradually expanded his practice to include electronics, telecommunications, signal processing, and software.

  • BSc (Electronics), Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
  • LLB, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
  • Chartered (UK) Patent Attorney
  • European Patent Attorney
  • Unified Patent Court (UPC) Representative
  • IP Litigation Certificate
Simon Davies

Simon Davies

Patent Attorney (Consultant)
BSc, LLB, CPA, EPA

An experienced Patent Attorney, Dr Simon Davies’ IP career started in-house at IBM before joining a private practice where he was a Partner for many years. He has a physics degree from Oxford University, a PhD in High Energy Astronomy from the University of Southampton, and a postgraduate certificate in IP Law from Queen Mary and Westfield University.

Throughout his career, Simon has drafted and prosecuted patent applications for high technology inventions, and has worked with start-ups, multinationals, and global technology companies.

Simon is Chair of the Computer Technology Committee of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) and is a member of CIPA’s AI Committee.

  • BA Physics (Oxford)
  • PhD Astronomy (Southampton University), including processing radio, optical, X-ray and gamma ray signals in time and image domains
  • Chartered (UK) Patent Attorney
  • European Patent Attorney
  • IP Litigation Certificate
Ben Charig

Ben Charig

Patent Operations, Research and Business Support (Consultant)
BSc, CPA, EPA

A UK and European patent attorney with over 10 years’ experience, providing patent operations, research and business support. 

Ben is a Maths and Physics graduate. As part of his degree, he spent a year studying abroad at a German university. Ben then trained as a UK and European Patent Attorney, gaining experience working in several private-practice firms of varying sizes. 

After qualifying as a European Patent Attorney, Ben spent 3 years working in house for a FTSE-listed technology and retail company. There he focussed on providing IP support to his technical colleagues, and on drafting and prosecuting patent applications directed to automated storage and retrieval system robotics and associated infrastructure. He also helped manage growing portfolios of registered designs and trade marks, and worked with the Legal Operations team to implement a new e-billing and matter management tool.

Ben has 3 years’ experience providing patent operations, research, formalities, billing, copywriting and other business support services. Ben enjoys designing processes and workflows to help make businesses run smoothly.

  • BSc (Hons) Mathematics and Physics, University of York, First Class
    • Top-performing 2nd year student – awarded Ede & Ravenscroft Prize for “[combining] academic excellence with an outstanding contribution to departmental or University life”
  • Chartered (UK) Patent Attorney
  • European Patent Attorney
  • IP Litigation Certificate