Francis assists Gevers as ‘of counsel’ after a career of more than 30 years in industry where, while working for large oil groups, he had the opportunity to handle patents for more than 30 affiliates dealing with topics as diverse as catalysis, polymerisation processes, polymers and their applications, paints and coatings, oleochemistry, nitrogen chemistry, and photovoltaics. He acquired a wide experience in prosecution, oppositions and appeals at the European Patent Office and abroad. A native French speaker, he mostly handles cases in English and has led many oppositions against patents written in German.
Francis has long been involved in the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (known as epi), chairing the European Patent Practice Committee for 9 years before being President from 2017 to 2023. He is vice-chair of the General Assembly of the Belgian Institute of Patent Attorneys and a member of standing advisory committees to the Belgian and European Patent Offices.
Francis is a well-known tutor in the epi-CEIPI Basic Courses in European Patent Law in many European cities and has been lecturing on the topic of the Unitary Patent since 2012. He has been a Guest Lecturer at the Université catholique de Louvain from 1998 to 2021.
