Fiona graduated from Glasgow University in 1998 with a first class Honours degree in biochemistry. During her degree, she studied topics relating to both plant and medical biochemistry. In 2003, Fiona was awarded a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Cambridge, having conducted research in the area of bioenergetics, specifically focussed on the structure of the ATP synthase enzyme. Her research involved the techniques of protein purification, protein crystallisation, X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

 

Fiona joined Maucher Jenkins in 2011 having previously worked for a Cambridge based firm of patent attorneys. Fiona has experience of working in-house, having previously worked in the intellectual property department of an antibody technology company.

 

Fiona has experience of drafting and prosecuting patent applications, preparing and filing design applications, as well as prior art and freedom to operate searching and assessment.  She enjoys meeting inventors, providing advice relating to patent filing strategies and drafting new patent applications to cover their ideas.

 

Fiona has worked in a wide range of technologies. In particular, she has experience in the areas of biochemistry, antibody technology, industrial biotechnology, in vitro diagnostics, bioenergetics, synthetic biology and medical technologies and devices.

 

 

"Fiona Kellas and Reuben Jacob are extremely helpful in guiding us to navigate what is, for our organisation, a new journey through intellectual property protection. They do so with utmost professionalism and expert advice. We value their input, their expertise and above all their friendliness and good disposition to help us." The Legal 500, 2025

 

Fiona was ranked by Managing Intellectual Property as a Notable Practitioner for 2022, 2023 and 2024.

 

 

Publications:

 

'J Mol Biol', 368 (2), 310-318, 2007.

 

'The Plant Journal', 20(1), 193, 1999.