How I can help your business

• Provide strategic IP advice across engineering and energy sectors, supporting the development and global management of patent portfolios in oil & gas, renewables, aerospace, and advanced mechanical systems.
• Advise on freedom to operate, validity and due diligence to help identify and manage IP risk in commercial and transactional contexts.
• Represent you in EPO opposition and appeal proceedings, and support complex, multi-jurisdictional patent disputes.

Overview & Expertise

Andrew Docherty is a Partner and UK and European Patent Attorney, as well as a UPC representative, based in Aberdeen. He specialises in mechanical and energy-related technologies, with a particular focus on oil and gas, renewables and advanced engineering systems. He leads the firm’s Energy & Environment practice and advises clients ranging from multinational corporates to high-growth technology companies on patent drafting and prosecution, portfolio management and enforcement.

Andrew has extensive experience advising on international IP strategy, supporting clients in building and managing global patent portfolios aligned with commercial objectives. His work regularly includes complex, multi-jurisdictional freedom to operate analyses, validity opinions and IP due diligence in the context of transactions, investments and market entry. His experience in these areas helps clients to assess and manage IP risk in commercially significant environments.

He has significant experience representing clients before the European Patent Office, including opposition and appeal proceedings, and provides clear, commercially focused advice in contentious matters. His work in the energy sector has also led to instructions supporting litigation in an expert witness capacity.

In addition to oil and gas, Andrew has experience in aerosol generation and delivery systems, renewables, medical devices, gas turbine systems and aerospace technologies. He holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics from the University of Strathclyde.

Client Work & Case Experience

• Energy sector — advising on the development and global management of patent portfolios across oil and gas, renewables and advanced engineering technologies, including aligning IP strategy with commercial objectives.
• Multi-jurisdictional matters — conducting complex freedom to operate analyses, validity assessments and due diligence to support transactions, investments and market entry.
• EPO proceedings — representing clients in opposition and appeal proceedings before the European Patent Office in technically complex and commercially significant disputes.
• Contentious and advisory work — supporting cross-border patent disputes and providing strategic advice in matters involving overlapping technical and legal considerations.