Meet the IP Professional: Jason Boakes – Keeping the Fundamentals at the Heart of Patent Practice

Ask Jason Boakes what has changed most during his career and his answer might surprise you. While technologies, industries and client expectations continue to evolve, he believes the qualities that define an excellent patent attorney have remained remarkably consistent. As a Partner and co-founder of Secerna LLP, he has built his career around technical excellence, trusted relationships and honest advice, principles he believes remain at the heart of effective patent practice.

Quick Profile

Name: Jason Boakes
Role: Partner
Firm: Secerna LLP
Location: York, United Kingdom
Areas of expertise: Patent drafting and prosecution, IP strategy, contentious patent matters, business leadership, mentoring and client relationship management.

Discovering a profession he never planned to join

Like many patent attorneys, Jason’s route into intellectual property began through curiosity rather than a carefully mapped career plan. Sponsored by Pilkington Glass during his science studies, he encountered an in-house patent team and discovered a profession that combined science, law and commercial problem-solving.

After training with Page White & Farrer in London, two decisions shaped his career. The first was returning to his native Yorkshire. The second, and perhaps the defining moment of his career, came years later when he left his role as an equity partner at HGF to establish Secerna alongside his business partner, Charlotte. Building a new firm brought into focus the challenges and responsibilities Equity partners in independent firms face, namely business leadership and management alongside technical client work.

More than a patent attorney

Jason is keen to distinguish between being a patent attorney and being an equity partner.

While the technical work remains central to his role, leading an independent practice requires balancing many different responsibilities. Alongside client work, he is responsible for helping shape the firm’s direction, supporting its people and ensuring the business continues to grow sustainably.

“We manage the functioning of the firm, what its priorities are and the tone that we want to set for the business,” he explains.

His role combines technical patent work with mentoring colleagues, developing international client relationships and helping shape the future direction of the business. That variety is one of the aspects he enjoys most.

Despite the variety, Jason remains closely connected to the technical work that first attracted him to the profession.

“If you found a firm, it is because you probably love what you do,” he says. “And I am no exception.”

Rather than viewing work as something to endure before life begins, he sees it as an opportunity for continual learning, challenge and personal growth.

That enthusiasm continues to shape the way he approaches both leadership and client service.

Why the fundamentals still matter

The original theme of our conversation centred on the evolving role of the patent attorney. Interestingly, Jason challenges the premise itself.

While acknowledging that technology, client expectations and the innovation landscape have changed significantly, he believes the core responsibilities of a good patent attorney have remained remarkably consistent.

“I don’t think their role has changed enormously,” he says.

Early-career attorneys still need to develop technical expertise, master the principles of patent law and produce work of the highest quality. Those foundations, he believes, are just as important today as they were when he entered the profession more than thirty years ago.

Innovation now spans an extraordinary range of technologies, while businesses of every size increasingly recognise the value of intellectual property. That growth has expanded both the number and diversity of clients seeking specialist advice. At the same time, technical disciplines have become increasingly specialised.

“When I started, I studied physics so I was the physics guy,” Jason explains. “Now you’re the AI person or the bioinformatics person. The technology areas within what were themselves dedicated subject areas, where significant activity occurs, have become much more specialised.”

He also recognises that younger attorneys are becoming involved in business development earlier in their careers.Rather than seeing this as a fundamental shift in the profession, however, he views it as a natural response to a more competitive marketplace and a broader client base. As firms grow and client expectations evolve, opportunities to build professional networks and contribute to business development arise earlier in many careers than they once did.

The essential qualities, however, remain unchanged: technical excellence, attention to detail, sound judgement, empathy and a genuine commitment to helping clients succeed.

Every client is different

Jason believes effective advice begins with understanding each client’s ambitions, resources and appetite for risk. Some organisations have sophisticated in-house IP teams who control the IP strategy of the organisation, while others require much more guidance. Rather than applying a standard formula, he tailors his advice to reflect each client’s commercial objectives and practical realities.

Building relationships that last

For Jason, technical expertise is only one part of being an effective patent attorney. Equally important is building relationships founded on trust, openness and honesty.

“One of the most valuable lessons,” he says, “is telling people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.”

Whether delivering good news or bad, he believes clients value straightforward advice delivered promptly. Delaying difficult conversations rarely improves the outcome, whereas honesty allows clients to make informed decisions and move forward with confidence.

“People understand that things don’t always work out perfectly,” he explains. “As long as you’re straight with your client and you’ve done everything you can to help them, that usually goes okay.”

It is a pragmatic approach, reflecting his wider belief that long-term relationships are built on trust rather than simply technical capability.

The qualities that endure

Asked what qualities matter most for the next generation of patent attorneys, Jason points not to trending attributes but to enduring attributes: curiosity, professionalism, technical understanding, attention to detail and pride in producing excellent work. Clients recognise quality, and those standards remain as important today as ever.

A profession of many hats

Outside the profession, manypeople assume patent attorneys spend most of their time drafting patent applications.Jason smiles at the misconception.In reality, the work is far more varied.

Depending on the needs of clients, his work ranges from drafting and contentious matters to leading teams and advising on complex projects.

He describes the role as continually changing, with priorities shifting according to the challenges clients are facing.That variety is one of the aspects he enjoys most.

Rather than becoming repetitive, every new project brings different technologies, different commercial considerations and different opportunities to solve problems.

As an equity partner, he is often involved when clients face particularly complex issues or require strategic oversight across larger teams, adding another dimension to an already varied role.

Outside the office

Although Jason speaks enthusiastically about his work, he is equally happy to admit that switching off doesn’t necessarily involve one defining hobby. Instead, he enjoys a wide variety of interests that allow him to recharge in different ways.

Over recent years he has owned a racehorse, enjoys spending time with friends and has discovered an unexpected enthusiasm for gardening.

Among his proudest achievements is planting around 140 David Austin roses, which now occupy a prominent place in his garden.

“I spend a lot more time pruning roses than I ever thought I would,” he laughs.

His favourite is the elegant white Macmillan Nurse rose, chosen not only for its appearance but perhaps also, he jokes, because as a Yorkshireman he feels obliged to favour white roses.

Home life also includes a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, whose intelligence sometimes manifests itself as an unwavering belief that he is the one in charge. The dog has become a popular visitor at the Secerna office, where colleagues are encouraged to bring their own dogs into work from time to time.

Looking ahead

After more than three decades in the profession, Jason remains enthusiastic about patent law. Technology will continue to evolve, but he believes the foundations of excellent patent practice remain constant: technical excellence, trusted relationships and honest advice. Those principles continue to guide both his own career and the culture he is helping build at Secerna.

Contact

LinkedIn: Jason Boakes
Website: https://www.secerna.com/

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