Worth its salt: IP portfolio secures Brineworks investment
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Executive summary:
Brineworks used a combination of accelerated patent protection and freedom to operate analysis to attract investors and raise 5 million EUR of investment.
The Challenge:
Brineworks approached Barker Brettell as a start-up company innovating in the field of saltwater electrolysis and the removal of carbon dioxide from oceans and other brine streams through its carbon capture process.
The company already had a fledgling patent portfolio but recognised that, in order to grow, future research needed to be protected; and ultimately the business would require investment to achieve its commercial aims.
The Solution:
Barker Brettell assisted Brineworks to devise and implement a strategy for protecting inventions – from the research being performed – and to explore patent rights of related companies to ensure its freedom to operate.
Protecting Research
A key piece of research was Brineworks discovery that a unique membrane configuration could perform saltwater electrolysis with significantly higher current density and device stability than conventional systems, without producing toxic byproducts, and while simultaneously generating valuable hydrogen.
Barker Brettell filed a UK application to secure a filing date for this technology.
Following discussions with Brineworks, it was identified that an investment round was imminent. Barker Brettell suggested accelerating the progress of the UK patent application to provide investors reassurance that the invention was capable of obtaining coveted patent protection – an unusual accolade for such a young technology.
Barker Brettell attended to the necessary formalities and responded to concerns raised by the examiner to support the allowance of the application. The arguments overcame all of the examiner’s objections and the application was formally allowed less than a month later.
Ensuring freedom to operate
Alongside the acceleration, Barker Brettell assisted Brineworks with tailored freedom to operate searching options and analysis to mitigate the risk of infringing other companies’ patent rights. Freedom to operate projects can be notoriously expensive, and Brineworks was looking for a cost-sensitive option.
As Brineworks knew its field well, Barker Brettell suggested a search strategy focussing on the companies that Brineworks was aware of operating in this area of technology. An initial investigation revealed that patent applications had not been filed in the name of some of the companies of interest, but as Brineworks knew the individuals involved, Barker Brettell was able to search for the inventors as well.
This provided a detailed level of searching within the budget available to the client, allowing Barker Brettell and Brineworks to work together on meaningful analysis to anticipate potential concerns before approaching investors.
The result:
As a result of Barker Brettell’s assistance, Brineworks successfully raised 5 million EUR of investment in March 2025.
Brineworks’s CTO, Joseph T Perryman, said:
“Will has been instrumental in devising and delivering an IP strategy to meet our commercial aims. His advice is clear, pragmatic and tailored. This has provided foundations on which we have received significant traction for additional investment into our company to continue its growth. I would highly recommend him.”
On the basis of its robust IP strategy devised by Barker Brettell, Brineworks continues to grow and perform cutting-edge research into saltwater electrolysis and carbon dioxide removal technologies.
For further information, please contact William Dean
