Field Fisher forms 'groundbreaking' patent alliance

City firm Field Fisher Waterhouse has entered into an exclusive relationship with London-based patent specialists Mathys & Squire - which they say is the first between a law firm and patent agency - to provide a one-stop shop for intellectual property advice.

The firms will both offer patents advice under a single brand name - Isosceles - and Field Fisher will only deal with Mathys when advising on patents, although Mathys will continue to deal with other law firms.

Both firms claim that the development will help them avoid duplication of work, reduce costs to clients, and harmonise their advice.

The firms will both continue to bill their clients separately for work and Isosceles will be used as a trading brand.

Field Fisher partner John Olsen, chairman of Isosceles, said: 'Nobody has ever tried this approach before in the UK.

'Past attempts to import patent agents into solicitors' firms or to have a simple non-exclusive referral relationship between agencies and firms - the usual methods of handling both the scientific and legalistic aspects of patenting - have failed.'

Jeremy Fleming