I hold a PhD in Mobile Telecommunications, which is where my specialty lies, though I now work across a wide variety of different technical industries including electronics, computer and networking technology, physics and optics.
Many of my clients, for instance a significant client in scientific instruments, develop a wide variety of different technologies: the subjects are incredibly challenging technically and at the absolute forefront of science, which is exciting. I love learning about new technologies and feel my clients see this passion as one of the reasons why they enjoy working with me. My telecoms clients, especially their inventors, get excited that I share a vocabulary with them, which is great.
I love that my practice is so varied. The majority of my work focuses on drafting and prosecuting patent applications; understanding what clients are doing and being able to put that clearly into words. I also have significant expertise in managing worldwide filing and prosecution strategies, contentious European proceedings and due diligence.
Tailoring my practice to my clients is also important. There’s a certain satisfaction in assisting a large corporation on a wide range of different tasks. Equally, I thoroughly enjoy working with an SME that relies on my insight exclusively to know if they’re doing the right thing for the stage they’re at, and who can benefit from my breadth of knowledge.
I’m active on the CIPA Patents Committee, helping to try to influence government and non-governmental organisations in setting the rules that will work well for our clients. I was heavily involved in organising conferences when on CIPA’s Congress Steering Committee and am proactive in running webinars to update clients on patent law changes and help them tailor what they’re doing to be more streamlined and efficient.
I’m very much motivated by understanding technology and helping it to develop. It’s rewarding to help technology be commercialised and get out into the wider world, rather than something which sits only within papers and in academic institutions.