Dr Elizabeth Coulson (Chartered Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney) is a founding Director of Coulson & Associates. Elizabeth joined the patent profession in private practice in 2003 and has experience in original drafting of patent applications in mechanical and electrical technologies. She also has extensive experience of prosecution of patent applications before the UK and European Patent Offices.

She has a Physics degree from the University of Bristol, where she studied subjects including mechanical physics, biophysics, condensed matter physics and physical chemistry. Elizabeth has a Doctorate from the University of Cambridge. Her research at the Electrical Engineering Department at Cambridge resulted in a number of publications including conference papers and culminated in her thesis entitled Novel High-speed Lasers for Datacommunications Systems. The research she undertook during her PhD involved the development of a software program for the simulation of Distributed Feedback (DFB) Lasers. This she used to design a novel multi-contact DFB laser and then developed a prototype of the new laser design to demonstrate the potential high-performance of multi-contact lasers for use in telecommunications systems.

Download Elizabeth's Vcard

Dr John Rule (Chartered Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney) is a founding Director of Coulson & Associates. John entered the patent profession in 2003; he has acquired experience in a broad range of technical and legal issues, including drafting patent specifications; infringement and validity opinions; UK and European patent prosecution and preparation of UK and European registered design applications and their subsequent prosecution. He was previously engaged with a private practice firm in their Electronics group, during which time he was a seconded to the Engineering Group.

Prior to entering the profession, John studied Physics at the University of Manchester. Upon graduation John joined GEC Marconi Materials Technology Ltd. in their Photonics Group where he was engaged in research and development of fibre optic devices and semiconductor lasers. Subsequently John acquired a Masters degree in Radio Frequency Communications and High Frequency Engineering with the Microwave and Photonics Group of the University of Leeds. John stayed at the University of Leeds to complete his PhD entitled Gain and Phase Equalisation of Power Amplifiers. This project was in the field of Mobile Telecommunications Systems and was a joint collaboration with Nokia UK Ltd.

Download John's Vcard

Sarah Chatterley (Registered Trade Mark Attorney and European Trade Mark Attorney) joined the firm in July 2009, she has many years' experience in private IP practices in the trade mark profession. She has experience in providing advice on the choice of a distinctive trade mark and of conducting clearance and availability searching and advising on global filing strategies.

Sarah has filed and prosecuted trade mark applications at the UK IPO, OHIM (CTM), WIPO (International Register) and in individual overseas territories by liaison with associates, including opposition proceedings. She has managed extensive trade mark portfolios for multinational companies and assisted individuals and SMEs; this work has included the acquisition or sale of trade mark rights via assignments and the negotiation of co-existence agreements, as well as review of promotional literature for best practice in trade mark use.

Download Sarah's Vcard