How I can help your business

• Draft and prosecute patent applications in Europe and in other jurisdictions covering major commercial markets.
• Assist clients to understand which parts of their technology are patentable, and ensure that IP strategy aligns with long-term commercial goals.
• Conduct freedom-to-operate analysis with an integrated understanding of the developing UPC approaches to infringement, validity and claim interpretation.

Overview & Expertise

Abigail Spreadbury is a Chartered (UK) Patent Attorney in the Life Sciences team based in London. She works primarily in the pharmaceutical sector and has significant experience with monoclonal antibody therapies and antibody drug conjugates. Abigail has growing expertise in other technologies such as nucleic acid and peptide therapeutics, drug delivery systems, CAR-T cell therapy, genetic engineering, medical and non-medical diagnostics, food technology and cell culture devices. Abigail works with a diverse range of clients including multinational companies, SMEs and universities.

As well as her strong foundation in European patent prosecution, Abigail has experience supporting clients in obtaining patent protection for their inventions internationally, whether in key commercial markets such as the US, China, and Japan, or jurisdictions of specific value to clients operating in specialised technology areas.

Abigail is also part of a team of attorneys who are dedicated to analysing trends in the growing body of case law of the Unified Patent Court (UPC). Abigail has read and analysed over 200 UPC decisions across a broad range of technical areas, including biotechnology, medical devices, electronics, and consumer products. Abigail has used this knowledge to work directly with litigators to support Marks & Clerk’s UPC litigation practice, as well as co-authoring articles with senior members of the team to support broader understanding of the UPC and its development.

Abigail holds a First Class Integrated Master's degree (MSci) in Biochemistry from University College London (UCL), where she specialised in structural biology and the mechanisms of infectious disease. She also has significant practical research experience, including in Cryo-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM).

Client Work & Case Experience

• Pharmaceutical sector — prosecuting patent applications relating to biologics, including monoclonal antibodies and antibody drug conjugates, across European and international jurisdictions.
• Life sciences clients — advising on patentability and supporting development of IP strategies aligned with commercial objectives.
• Multinational companies, SMEs and universities — assisting with international patent protection in jurisdictions including Europe, the US, China and Japan.
• Cross-sector technologies — conducting freedom-to-operate analyses incorporating UPC approaches to infringement, validity and claim interpretation.