Lovells

Robert Anderson graduated from Edinburgh University with a BSc (Chemistry including chemical pharmacology). He joined the firm in 1974 and became a partner in 1978.

Robert Anderson specialises in the litigious and commercial aspects of patent and other intellectual property law. He is particularly interested in patents in the chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields and has acted in matters relating to patents concerning metallocene catalysts, the synthesis of artificial sweeteners, slow release analgesics, thrombin inhibitors, diagnostic proteomics, the hepatitis D virus, fungal phytase genes, oncogenes and anti TNF antiibodies. He has specific experience of serious industrial secrets disputes particularly in the biotechnology area and is representing DSM in a current dispute with GSK concerning Streptomyces strains for the production of clavulanic acid.

He has also been involved in IP related competition matters and advises on research and development and technical collaboration agreements and the IP aspects of acquisitions and disposals.

He carries out IP audits for investment and acquisition purposes. He was responsible for advising the UK Department of Trade and Industry on the intellectual property aspects of the privatisation of the commercial part of the UK Atomic Energy Authority.

Robert lectures on patent litigation for the Diploma in Intellectual Property Law at Bristol University and is a visiting lecturer on patent law for the LLM course at Edinburgh University.