To mark our 40 years in Europe, we interviewed our colleague, Sandeep Basra from our Munich office, to find out what patent attorneys get up to...

What is your role within Haseltine Lake?

As a senior associate representing Haseltine Lake's Munich office, my day-to-day roles include prosecution, opposition and infringement matters concerning German and European patents. In my role I am confronted with a wide spectrum of issues and every day brings new challenges and opportunities to learn about new technologies. I work closely with both small and large clients in the areas of chemistry and pharmaceuticals from around the world, including collaborating closely with companies in India.

What do you enjoy the most about working in Munich?

I really enjoy being part of a close-knit German speaking team and supporting the wider business with enquiries about German patent law. A benefit to working in such a central European city, is that the geographical location makes it easier for us to visit local clients, especially in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. We also have the European Patent Office, the German Patent and Trademark Office and Federal Patent Court right on our doorstep. Munich is a beautiful and vibrant city to live and work in and it is great to be surrounded by all the history, architecture, restaurants and beer gardens!

Favourite patent that you have drafted and why?

It is very difficult to pick a single patent, but a family of patent applications do come to mind, which are directed to new combinations of extracts from known plants. These plant extract compositions have not only been found to enhance the health of plants and crops, but it has been shown that they are effective alternatives to the use of synthetic chemical pesticides and fungicides. It's rewarding being involved in this project with a local agrochemical business, as such inventions pave the way for us to live in a more sustainable way with our environment.

What are you most looking forward to in the next 12 months?

The next 12 months are promising to be a busy and productive time for us in the Munich Office. We are looking forward to expanding our local network and reaching out to both established companies and start-ups to showcase our expertise. I also look forward to help train a new trainee patent attorney and to welcome them to our expanding team in the Munich Office.

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