Arnie Francis

Arnie Francis

Principal Associate

MA(Cantab), MSc, CPA, EPA, Solicitor (England & Wales)

Arnie is one of the few people in the UK to have qualified as a UK and European patent attorney and solicitor of England and Wales. This provides him with a deep understanding of the full lifecycle of a patent, from conception through to commercialisation and enforcement. Over the course of his career, he has worked in both private practice and in-house at one of the world’s leading telecommunication companies. He uses this unique experience to help his clients solve complex and commercially important IP problems through the integration of his technical, legal and commercial expertise.

Arnie has worked across a broad spectrum of computing and engineering technologies, including graphics processing, video coding, telecoms and AI, building particular knowledge of drafting and prosecuting patent applications to overcome the patentability exclusions relating to computer programs and mathematical methods. He also has extensive experience of claim charting high-value standard essential patents (SEPs), both during prosecution and as part of litigation preparations. His experience of SEPs extends to active litigation, where he was part of the team working for InterDigital to secure the second ever global FRAND determination by the UK court.

In addition to patents, Arnie has a keen interest in other IP rights he believes are important as part of a robust, commercially focused IP strategy. This includes trade secrets and the implementation of trade secrets policies, a topic he has been invited to speak on in front of both domestic and international audiences.

Arnie holds a first class degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge where in his final year he specialised in astrophysics, graduating first in his year. He also holds an Msc in Computational Aeronautics from Imperial College, London, graduating with Distinction.

He qualified as a UK patent attorney in 2015, a European Patent Attorney in 2016 and as a solicitor of England & Wales in 2024.

Areas of practice :

Advocacy
Aerospace
Artificial intelligence
Automotive
Autonomous vehicles and control
Cease and desist
Cloud computing
Consumer products
Consumer electronics
Court proceedings
Data storage & retrieval
Display devices
Dispute resolution
Enforcement
Fluid dynamics
Food science
Healthcare Diagnostic and Imaging systems
Hybrid and electric propulsion/vehicles
Image processing (e.g. MRI)
Infringement
Integrated circuits
Invalidity
Licensing and royalty agreements
Machine learning
Materials science
Medical devices
Oppositions
Quantum technologies
Revocations
Robotics
Software defined networking
Settlements
Telecommunications
Video coding

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Thought leadership from Arnie Francis:

Articles Jun102026

Quick Play Sport on target in Kickster case defending against patent revocation action on appeal to the High Court

Few patent revocation actions go this far - fewer still end this decisively. This landmark win highlights the growing strategic role of national revocation proceedings.

Articles Apr242026

The legal foundations of long-arm jurisdiction

Arnie Francis explores how recent CJEU case law has reshaped cross‑border patent enforcement. This is the first article in a three‑part series that explore long‑arm jurisdiction before the UPC.

Articles Apr242026

How the UPC is applying long arm jurisdiction in practice

Drawing on early decisions, Arnie Francis analyses how the UPC is applying long‑arm jurisdiction in practice. This is the second article in a three‑part series that explore long‑arm jurisdiction before the UPC.

Articles Apr242026

Strategic implications for patentees and defendants of the UPC’s long arm jurisdiction

Arnie Francis analyses how the UPC’s arguably enthusiastic embrace of long-arm jurisdiction creates powerful opportunities for patentees and corresponding risks for defendants. This is the third article in a three‑part series that explore long‑arm jurisdiction before the UPC.