Laura Jennings
Since joining D Young & Co in 2015 I have enjoyed the legal application of my background in chemical and biomedical sciences to my work in patents.
My work includes EPO oppositions, appeals and freedom-to-operate opinions, and I am experienced in the drafting and prosecution of patent applications. This has involved representing a diverse range of clients in the chemical and pharmaceutical fields, from universities and spin-outs, to multinational companies. I also have in-house pharmaceutical experience gained through lengthy secondments with two of the firm’s clients.
Prior to joining D Young & Co, I completed my doctoral research in medicinal chemistry at the University of Oxford, with the Systems Approaches to Biomedical Science Industrial Doctorate Centre. My research focused on the development of small molecule ligands for epigenetic targets. I also conducted research in relation to induced pluripotent stem cells, and the synthesis of fluorinated carbohydrates, at the University of Oxford, and development of ligands to target G-protein coupled receptors, at the Institute of Cancer Research.
I have published articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented my research at international conferences. I have also given presentations both internally and externally on important aspects of patent law, particularly priority, and presented arguments to the EPO in oral proceedings.
Qualifications
- MChem (Hons) in Chemistry, Pembroke College, University of Oxford.
- DPhil in Organic Chemistry, Lincoln College, University of Oxford (research part-funded by GlaxoSmithKline).
- Certificate in Intellectual Property Law, Queen Mary, University of London.
- Chartered Patent Attorney 2018.
- European Patent Attorney 2018.
- Certificate in IP litigation.
- Registered representative before the Unified Patent Court (UPC), 2024.
Memberships
- Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA).
- European Patent Institute (epi).
- Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).
Publications
- L.E. Jennings et al. BET bromodomain ligands: Probing the WPF shelf to improve BRD4 bromodomain affinity and metabolic stability. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 26(11):2937-2957 (2018).
- A.R. Sekirnik et al. Isoxazole-derived amino acids are bromodomain-binding acetyl-lysine mimics: incorporation into histone H4 peptides and histone H3. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 55(29):8353-8357 (2016).
- L.E. Jennings et al. Phenotypic screening and fragment-based approaches to the discovery of small-molecule bromodomain ligands. Future Med. Chem. 6(2):179-204 (2014).
- D.S. Hewings et al. Progress in the development and application of small molecule inhibitors of bromodomain-acetyl-lysine interactions. J. Med. Chem. 55(2):9393-413 (2012).
- G.T. Giuffredi et al. Facile synthesis of 4-deoxy-4-fluoro-α-D-talopyranoside, 4-deoxy-4-fluoro-α-D-iodopyranoside and 2,4-dideoxy-2,4-difluoro-α-D-talopyranoside. J. Fluor. Chem. 132(10):772-778 (2011).
- M.C. Corentine et al. Fragment-based identification of ligands for bromodomain-containing factor 3 of Trypanosoma cruzi. ACS Infect. Dis. 7(8):2238–2249 (2021)