Catherine Hanratty

Catherine is a European Patent Attorney, an Irish Patent and Trade Mark Attorney, and a Community Trade Mark and Design Attorney with more than 20 years’ experience in Intellectual Property matters.

Catherine graduated from Queen's University Belfast with a BSc (Hons) and a Master’s degree in Physics with a specialisation in Optics and Optoelectronics. Her research work focussed on magneto-optical systems.

At the start of her career, Catherine spent several years as a Patent Examiner at the European Patent Office, working in the technical area of imaging systems, mainly in the CPC fields of H04N (pictorial communication), G06F and G06K. Additionally, during her tenure at the European Patent Office, Catherine gained extensive experience in patent data and information systems. Building on this background, Catherine has a particular interest in patent landscaping and opinion matters.

Catherine’s work in private practice primarily entails preparing and prosecuting patent applications, developing IP strategies, and managing patent portfolios for clients ranging from local SMEs to larger multinational companies. Catherine works across several areas of technology, with a particular focus on inventions in the fields of medical devices, health technology, digital health, optics, telecommunications, software, and mechanical devices. Catherine also has significant experience in Examination, Opposition and Appeal proceedings before the European Patent Office.

Catherine is a member of the Irish Association of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys (APTMA) and the EPI.

Catherine is based in our Dublin Office.