Meet & greet

What pulled you toward patent work: science, strategy or persuasion?

I came out of university with an engineering degree and loved the science but I realised quickly I’m more of a big-picture person, and classic tech roles can be “very small picture.” At the same time, I was involved in a personal injury case spanning three instances and two languages, which taught me how early strategic turns can come back to bite you. When I saw an ad for a patent attorney trainee, I realised I could have it all in one job, and that was it.

What surprised you most about being a European Patent Attorney?

I expected the decisive moments to be about technological breakthroughs. They can be but once you’ve identified the real technical difference over the prior art, the case can turn on something seemingly tiny… like the meaning of a preposition. 

When a new opposition lands, what are your first three questions?

Is this strategic, or does it have immediate market impact? What products or services are we freeing or protecting and what do they look like? Are there related proceedings? And what’s the budget? (Yes, I know… I need to work on my counting skills.) 

How do you make sure EPO strategy supports wider litigation / UPC strategy?

By getting to grips early with the legal problems across all related proceedings and with what’s actually happening on the market so you can weigh risks and benefits from the first turn through to the conclusion. 

If you weren’t doing this, what would you do instead?

I’d probably run my own shop restoring old cars and motorcycles. 

One piece of advice you’d give your younger self?

You came into this job with a strong understanding of the technology and you’ll be taught the law. To truly excel, learn the business of your clients.