Philip Slingsby

Partner

Philip founded Slingsby Partners with the vision of forming a firm that would focus clearly on enabling clients to meet their business objectives through the use of IP. He has brought together a group of outstanding patent professionals to achieve that goal.

Philip has 30 years of experience as a patent attorney. After gaining his patent attorney qualifications, he worked in the in-house patent department of Nokia, with responsibilities that included licensing negotiations for standards essential patents. Since then he has spent 20 years in partnership positions in private practice, coordinating teams that have been responsible for managing the patents and patents strategy of some of the world’s most innovative corporations.

Philip’s own areas of specialisation include advising clients on the development of their IP strategies, patent drafting – notably in legally complex areas such as software – and advising on approaches for managing IP disputes, particularly when US-based patents are asserted.

Clients value that a central aspect of Philip’s approach is not to regard patents as an end in themselves but to consider how patents might benefit the client’s commercial position.

2023: “Practice leader Philip Slingsby has experience in the procurement and licensing of US patents, as well as litigation issues.”
2017: "Founding partner Philip Slingsby has a wealth of knowledge and experience in both patent procurement, licensing and litigation."
2015: "Philip Slingsby ... [is] highly recommended."
2014: "Philip Slingsby ... [is] ‘highly knowledgeable’ and ‘imbued with business acumen’."

Legal 500

2023: "Philip Slingsby, an accomplished expert in electronics and mechanical engineering with around 24 years as a patent attorney under his belt.”
2022: “Philip Slingsby … focuses on electronics, software and mechanical engineering and offers sage advice when it comes to patent procurement and contentious issues overseas, especially in the United States.”
2021: “Founder and software maven Philip Slingsby marries a fine-grained appreciation of US patent law with insider insight from his time at Nokia.”
2019: "Name partner and founder Philip Slingsby established it in 2013 and has built it into the outfit it is today. He is “not only excellent in his execution, but a valuable strategic partner: a scientist first and a lawyer second”."
2018: "Philip Slingsby at Slingsby Partners drafts applications that are always of great practical and commercial use to clients."
2017: "Founder Philip Slingsby is 'highly respected by everyone he works with'; clients have 'complete trust in his unparalleled level of technical intellect and commercial understanding'."
2016: "The Chancery Lane-based IP outfit maintains a prodigious workload and a loyal following - in no small part thanks to the fame of name partner Philip Slingsby. 'His approach is always thorough, but also creative and commerical, particularly when it comes to the defensive strategies being deployed by his clients.' Active in the profession since the early 1990s, he has now successfully represented clients in over 50 opposition and appeal hearings before the EPO."
2015: "Philip Slingsby sets the tone: 'With his experience and knowledge, he is a true asset to have on your side. He’s very quick to understand difficult technical issues, and moreover, his advice is resolutely commercial.'"

IAM Patent 1000

2018: "Slingsby is commended by a number of clients. 'Philip is exceptionally bright and capable of understanding the technical intricacies of the projects our company works on,' says one.

IP Stars