Meet the IP Professional: John-Paul Rooney – Building IP Expertise Through Culture and Connection

John-Paul Rooney is a partner at Withers & Rogers LLP, based in Sheffield. With a background that began with an engineering apprenticeship, he has built a career in patent law focused on client relationships, firm leadership, and the growth of one of the firm’s most successful regional offices.

Quick Profile

Name: John-Paul Rooney
Role: Partner
Firm / Organisation: Withers & Rogers LLP
Location: Sheffield, UK
Areas of expertise: European and UK patents, client relationship management, electronics, video coding, IP strategy, Unified Patent Court matters, AI in IP practice

From apprentice technician to patent attorney

John-Paul Rooney’s route into the IP profession was far from conventional. He began his career as an apprentice technician at ICI Pharmaceuticals, now part of AstraZeneca, with no expectation that patent law would eventually become his career.

“I had absolutely zero idea that I would get into the IP profession,” he says.

During his apprenticeship, he studied part-time while working, eventually progressing from college to university. His early experience in industry exposed him to the commercial importance of patents, particularly within the pharmaceutical sector.

“We could see that when one of the blockbuster drugs that we made went off patent, the profit margin went down massively,” he explains. “That gave me a signpost to the existence of the IP profession and how important it was.”

After deciding to pursue university full-time, John-Paul studied electronics before completing a PhD involving a large-scale research project. It was towards the end of that doctorate that patent law first became a serious option.

Following his PhD viva, his supervisor suggested he would make a strong patent attorney because he could understand complex technology while communicating clearly with both engineers and business leaders.

“That was a great piece of career advice from him,” says John-Paul.

Finding the right culture

John-Paul joined Withers & Rogers LLP after applying to firms across the UK. He believes the firm’s openness to different backgrounds played a major role in that decision.

Today, as a partner, his responsibilities extend beyond client work. He serves on internal committees covering finance, quality, and risk management, while also leading several major client teams, including large US and UK accounts. He additionally runs the firm’s China desk, helping to build relationships with Chinese clients and associates, with particular success in new energy and biotech/pharmaceuticals sectors.

For John-Paul, culture has remained central throughout his career.

“Finding your people and a culture that fits you is really important,” he says. “Every patent attorney firm has a different culture, and I’m lucky to have found a great fit with Withers & Rogers.”

Building the Sheffield office

One of the defining parts of John-Paul’s career has been helping grow the Sheffield office of Withers & Rogers LLP over the last 15 years.

When he moved to Yorkshire to start a family, the firm did not yet have a regional office there. After spending time with another firm, he returned when the opportunity arose to help establish the Sheffield presence from the ground up.

“It was an opportunity I couldn’t resist,” he says.

What began as a small office with only a handful of people has since grown into a substantial regional operation employing over 40 people.

John-Paul believes two things made that growth possible: culture and energy.

“We developed a culture that could breed success,” he explains. “Being open, sharing information, supporting one another — that was really important. Then having the energy and desire to go out and communicate that to the world.”

He also highlights the importance of support from the wider firm.

“The rest of the firm really wanted the office to succeed,” he says. “That support was hugely important.”

Although hybrid working has changed office life, he believes in-person collaboration still plays a vital role in building strong teams and maintaining culture.

Technical understanding and client relationships

John-Paul’s engineering background continues to shape the way he works with clients today.

He recalls visiting a Sheffield-based client and immediately recognising elements of their equipment from his apprenticeship days.

“I knew exactly what I was looking at,” he says. “Their confidence in me went through the roof.”

That ability to understand technology quickly and communicate naturally with technical teams has become a key strength throughout his career.

He places particular importance on long-term client relationships.

“We really like building those long-term trusted relationships with our clients,” he says. “I enjoy seeing clients able to pick up the phone to discuss something difficult and for us to find a solution together.”

The changing IP landscape

Like many in the profession, John-Paul sees artificial intelligence as one of the biggest current shifts affecting IP practice.

“We are beginning to deploy AI more widely,” he explains, “but only as an assistant, not to do the work.”

He believes careful and responsible use of AI will become increasingly important across the profession.

Alongside AI, he also points to the growing influence of the Unified Patent Court in Europe.

“We’re involved in four litigations in that court at the moment,” he says. “It has definitely changed how IP is used.”

Later this year, John-Paul will also be speaking at the CIPA Congress in Manchester on the sustainability challenges facing the patent profession and its future direction.

Outside the office

Away from work, John-Paul enjoys spending time with his partner and three children. Living in the Peak District gives him plenty of opportunity for walking, particularly around Kinder Scout and Bamford Edge.

He is also a keen gardener with a growing interest in climbing roses.

“I think when I retire, I’ll be pottering around the garden most days,” he says.

Golf is another long-standing hobby. He plays competitively at his local course, which he jokes is close enough to see from his window.

Looking ahead

Reflecting on his career so far, John-Paul returns to the importance of finding the right environment and the right people.

“You’ve got to find a place with a culture that fits you, and vice-versa” he says.

His own path into the profession may not have been traditional, but he believes the industry is becoming more open to different backgrounds and experiences. Through internships and outreach initiatives, he hopes more people will discover opportunities in IP that they may never previously have considered.

Contact

LinkedIn: John-Paul Rooney LinkedIn
Website: Withers & Rogers LLP

Meet the IP Professional is a PatWorld interview series exploring the people and perspectives shaping the intellectual property profession. Discover more interviews in the Meet the IP Professional hub, and find out more about PatWorld, a global IP search provider working with IP professionals worldwide to support informed patent, design and trade mark decisions, on our About Us page.