A team of patent lawyers has opened offices in Oxford, marking the city's development as a haven for bright commercial ideas.
Frank B Dehn, one of the largest patent law firms in Europe, will be based in St Aldate's to target new spin-out companies from Oxford University.
Senior partner Dr Julian Cockbain is returning to Oxford, 20 years after completing a chemistry DPhil at the university.
He said: "We believe there is an opportunity for new business. We have good contacts here because several of our staff studied at Oxford."
The team of eight will be offering intellectual property services to private individuals and corporations worldwide.
Marks & Clerk, the UK's largest firm of patent lawyers, warns Oxford companies may be losing out in bids to protect software and business method inventions.
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