Michael Brunner - IT & Engineering

Partner

Mike obtained his Bachelor Degree in Engineering Science from Exeter University in 1971, specialising in electrical, electronic and mechanical engineering and joined GJE shortly afterwards. He became a Chartered Patent Attorney in 1976 and a European Patent Attorney in 1978, joining the partnership in 1980.

He was elected to the post of Secretary General of AIPPI (the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property) in October 2006, finishing his tenure in October 2010.

From an early age his interests lay in the mechanical and electrical arts, including computing, and he undertook a wide range of civil, mechanical and electrical engineering placements before and whilst at university. He continues to work on a wide range of technical subject matter, from medical equipment, undersea oil technology and cement manufacturing equipment to GPS systems, inkjet printers and audio systems, to name a few.

Mike has a wide range of UK and overseas clients with whom he works closely, extending from R&D organisations such as The Technology Partnership, Europe's leading independent technology development and licensing company, to niche development companies such as Cambridge Positioning Systems, and to leading companies in the fields such as life science automation (The Automation Partnership), audio technology (Bose Corporation), automobile technology (Yazaki Corporation) and computing (Compaq – now HP), as well as oil exploration and delivery technology (Cameron International). He also works with a number of UK and overseas universities. Mike is on Managing IP’s list of UK patent experts and is recommended by The Legal 500.

He took a lead role in early practice-forming decisions of the European Patent Office in respect of PCT applications and procedures and has litigated in the English and Scottish Courts, as well as having handled many oppositions and appeals in the European Patent Office.

Mike has a particular interest in the development and management by clients of their IP portfolios, whilst taking a robust view of the need to match IP strategies to overall business strategies.

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