INTERVIEW

How did you learn about the Patent Attorney profession and what inspired you to become a (European) Patent Attorney?

I was considering doing a law conversion course in the UK after my PhD, a family friend (who was a solicitor at a big London law firm, not practicing in IP) asked if I’d considered becoming a Patent Agent (as the job title was then). I started to research the job, met with a few people, actually first applied to become an EPO Patent Examiner (I didn’t get the job, although my German was fluent, my French wasn’t good enough) and then was offered a job as a Patent Trainee at Boult Wade Tennant – and I’ve been there ever since!

Most people know that Patent Attorneys help clients obtain a patent. However, what other tasks are you responsible for? 

I am responsible for the EP Validation Group at Boult Wade Tennant, which is a blend of management, strategy and fee earning work.

I have also become more active in Business Development and client management over the years, and absolutely love the relationship building and problem solving sides that comes from these roles.

I am also very active in my firm’s EDI initiatives, and am passionate about working towards a more diverse and inclusive profession.

If you had to split your role into science, law, and business, what is the proportion of each? 

Earlier in my career probably 30/70 (science and law). Now it’s more like 20/30/50 – but it changes regularly.

What does the team structure at your workplace look like?

We have five main groups, although there is plenty of overlap where needed to cover subject matter areas. These groups are Engineering, High Tech (Electronics, Computer Software and the like), Chemistry, Biotech and Trade Marks. Each group has a number of Equity and Salary Partners plus qualified attorneys and trainees. Each group is supported by a number of secretaries and PAs. The EP Validations group serves all the patent clients across the firm and consists of Equity and Salary Partner leads, a Manager and a team of administrators.

We have Records, Renewals, Accounts, IT, HR and BD/Marketing groups that support across the business.

What does your average workday look like?

This is so difficult to answer, as no day looks the same at this stage of my career.

An ideal day would start with me going through my emails, saving, triaging and acknowledging as appropriate. I would then settle and do some “deep work” – this could be a response to an office action, or preparing for an opposition, or doing a deep dive into some strategic points that need considering – this could equally be time spent discussing a difficult matter with a colleague.

Ideally, I would take a lunch break and catch up with colleagues (if in the office) or sit and chat with my husband (if working at home) before doing more “deep work” for a few hours.

I’d then have a Zoom chat with a connection or a client or my team for 30 mins or so before doing a review of my emails, checking all is in order before reviewing my calendar and setting my intentions for the next day before closing down my laptop. Oh, how nice and simple such a day sounds :)

In general getting the two deep work sessions is difficult due to the various roles I hold, but it’s good to have an aim!

What is the most exciting aspect of being a (European) Patent Attorney for you?

The fact that I’ve been able to use my engineering degree in a way that works for me. Also, as I’ve progressed through my career I’ve been able to develop other skills that excite me – like building relationships, strategic planning and management.

What are your least favourite tasks?

Honestly, anything to do with IT systems! That and remembering to record my time.

Does your job allow you to have time for your hobbies?

I love to read and to exercise, plus get outside in nature. My family have also done a few house renovations (although I’m not sure they class as a hobby). Otherwise, I’m a Mum of two, so they keep me on my toes. I also love to travel, and am looking forward to doing more of that with my family (we had started to do more exciting travel, but then took a pause due to the pandemic).

If you could start your career over, would you change anything?

I would have liked to have done some time in-house so I could have learnt more about how to improve the service we provide and really understand the issues. This is something I’m enjoying learning about from my contacts, but at least a secondment would have been great.

If the Patent Attorney profession suddenly disappeared tomorrow, what else would you do?

Either Business Development or Legal Strategy.

What advice would you give someone that wants to become a European Patent Attorney?

Persevere, find a place where you feel comfortable and where you can belong, speak to lots of people to make sure you know what niche you might end up in, really get involved in the profession – join CIPA, IP Inclusive (UK organizations) or your local equivalent.

What do you think about the future outlook of our profession?

I think it is rosy, but that we need to really be willing to adapt and change – to consider whether there are there better ways to do what we do at present, to talk to others in the profession and to keep learning and evolving.

With more and more available software, do you think the work of European Patent Attorneys will change in the next 10 years?

I think it will, but my guess is that the big changes will come in the next 10 to 20 years – but that’s just my crystal ball gazing.