How I can help your business

• Advise on complex patent matters across physics, software, electronics and engineering, including AI, medical technology, photonics, communication, and sensing technologies.
• Provide strategic IP guidance to early-stage companies, supporting the development and protection of their innovations.
• Assist with the preparation, prosecution and management of patent portfolios across a range of technically advanced sectors.

Overview & Expertise

Gavin Cullen is a Senior Associate based in Marks & Clerk’s Edinburgh office and a Chartered UK and European Patent Attorney. He has over a decade of experience advising on patent matters across electronics, physics, engineering and computer-implemented inventions.

His practice spans a wide range of advanced sectors, including artificial intelligence software and related hardware, medical devices and imaging, photonics and imaging sensors, networking and optical communication, laser-based gas sensors, video game and virtual reality technology, and quantum technologies. He supports both multinational organisations and a strong base of Scottish SMEs and university spin-outs, providing practical advice on protecting and developing intellectual property.

Gavin is actively engaged in the Scottish start-up ecosystem and has substantial experience advising early-stage companies on IP strategy. He also works closely with technology transfer offices at leading Scottish universities to support the protection and commercialisation of research outputs.

Before entering the patent profession, Gavin completed a PhD in particle physics theory and a Masters in Mathematical Physics at the University of Edinburgh. He subsequently worked as a postdoctoral researcher at DESY in Germany, developing software to implement complex mathematical models for particle physics at the Large Hadron Collider. This technical background underpins his ability to engage with highly complex subject matter in his patent practice.

Client Work & Case Experience

• Scottish universities — working closely with technology transfer offices to protect and develop patent portfolios for research outputs.
• SMEs and university spin-outs — advising on patent strategy and supporting the protection of early-stage innovations.
• Multinational organisations — assisting with patent matters across a range of engineering, physics and software-related technologies.