Edmund Lobb: “There is a fundamental reason to invest in patents – adding value to your company”

4 November, 2019

Edmund Lobb joined Ström & Gulliksson’s Stockholm office in May 2018. He has experience working for a large range of companies, from start-ups to multinational corporations. His practice in both Europe and the UK helps him guide clients through the patenting process and provide strategic advice with a practical and international perspective.  

“There is a fundamental reason to invest in patents adding value to your company. It’s important for a patent attorney to have insight into a company’s business strategy. Are they searching for investors? Are they working towards licensing their patents? How do they stand out from their competitors in the same industry? How rapid is advancement in this industry? Business and patent strategies go hand in hand, and the more we know the better our patent application will be,” says Ed, who is a UK and European Patent Attorney.

Ed enjoys working with a wide range of people with diverse skill sets and roles within a company.  

“This ensures they feel I am part of the team and not just an outside counsel. It is my view that intellectual property should be a cornerstone of any successful business, and as a patent attorney I aim to build a close relationship with each of my clients that lets me see things through their eyes.”  

Another service that Ed hopes to bring to the table is future-proofing protection of ideas through a creative patent strategy. It’s easy to get bogged down with the task at hand and protecting the innovation you are working on right now. However, analysing potential developments in an industry can improve patent applications and provide the protection needed to ensure no one else can overtake you.  

“Designing an effective patent portfolio involves various considerations. It’s important to look beyond the actual patent and see what opportunities it might yield depending on the scope of protection you’re aiming for. As a patent consultant, thinking long term is crucial for me. I aim to spend my time and energy on seeing the big picture, from today into the future. Sometimes the success of a product launch hangs in the balance of small yet incredibly important details of the patent process. It may be a matter of expanding the scope of protection or sharpening its focus.”   

Commercial and space aviation, computer-implemented inventions including artificial intelligence (AI), security, user interfaces, media production and streaming, fintech and general mechanics – these are the technical fields in which Ed’s expertise principally lies. Many of these are right at the edge of what is considered patentable. Ed feels that both the choice of patent law firm and the individual patent attorney are of paramount importance. 

“If you work in a niche industry, you should choose someone who has an interest, insight and understanding of that industry. This ensures a proactive approach and gives you a better chance of receiving dedicated, tailored and professional advice from your patent attorney. Within Ström & Gulliksson, we work closely together and handpick employees with strong professional expertise and high-level skills to provide the best advice for a particular client. Our close partnership with Advokatbyrån Gulliksson is also a major advantage for our clients in patent disputes”. 

Ed has found moving to Sweden, and Ström & Gulliksson in particular, to be both challenging and rewarding.   

“Sweden is a global hub of innovation with a large number of exciting companies operating at the cutting edge of their industries. Moving from a large office in London with hundreds of employees to a close-knit team here in Stockholm has been exciting. I have the opportunity to define my role, and I’m impressed with the consistently high quality and commitment to be found throughout Ström & Gulliksson.”   

Christian Arkelius, Partner and Head of Stockholm office, explains that the decision to recruit Ed was a strategic move that benefits Ström & Gulliksson’s clients:  
“British patent attorneys have all had a thorough education in both European and British patent law – not just in patent applications at patent offices but also in patent cases at courts. Not only does Ed bring his winning personality to our team, his expertise is a huge asset when we meet our clients and discuss patent law with them. We are able to offer even more breadth and depth in these discussions, which empowers our clients to make even better decisions in the long run.”