Maille (pronounced “molly”) Lyons never planned a career in intellectual property. A scientist, researcher and educator, she knew little about patents when a move to Washington DC led a friend to suggest applying for a role at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Fourteen years later, she left a career she loved with a wealth of experience from inside the US patent system. Today, through her own consultancy, she is using that examiner’s perspective to help others better understand and navigate the patent process.
Quick profile
Name:Mary Maille (Molly) Lyons. Background: Scientist, researcher and educator; former USPTO Patent Examiner. Current focus: Independent IP consultancy, SeaLyons LLC. Specialist area: Biotechnology and the US patent examination process. Something you might not know: Maille combines her consultancy with a life of travel and plans to return to living and working aboard a 44-foot sailboat when her new vessel is ready.
An unexpected route into IP
For Maille, a career in intellectual property was never part of a carefully mapped-out plan.
Her background was in science. She had worked in both research and education, developing a deep knowledge of biotechnology and, just as importantly, an appetite for learning.
A change in circumstances provided the unexpected route into patents. As a military wife, Maille had moved regularly, and when her husband’s career took them to Washington DC, finding a suitable scientific research position proved difficult.
A friend suggested that she apply to the USPTO.
At the time, Maille knew very little about intellectual property or what being a patent examiner involved. Nevertheless, the combination of science, research and the opportunity to explore new ideas quickly proved a natural fit.
She was hooked.
Over the next 14 years, Maille built a successful career at the USPTO. Receiving accolades for her work and discovering a profession that brought together many of the things she enjoyed most.
“I loved reading about new innovations every day and speaking to innovators who were passionate about their inventions.”
Her previous experience proved particularly valuable. A background in biotechnology gave her the technical understanding required to examine complex inventions.While years spent researching meant that reading, investigating and continually acquiring new knowledge already came naturally.
There was, however, one aspect of the job that surprised her.
“You need to know a lot of law.”
For someone entering the profession from a scientific background, understanding the legal framework surrounding patents represented a significant learning curve. Over time, that combination of scientific and legal knowledge became an important part of her expertise.
Life on the other side of a patent application
For patent applicants and their representatives, interaction with an examiner may be just one stage of a much longer journey. For Maille, spending 14 years on the other side of that interaction has given her a very different perspective on the process.
One point she is particularly keen to emphasise is that many examiners want applicants to succeed.
Having spoken with innovators throughout her USPTO career, she understands how much time, knowledge and enthusiasm can sit behind an invention. The examiner’s job is not simply to find reasons to reject an application, but to assess it within the framework they are required to follow.
Maille describes the examiner’s role using the analogy of putting a fence around an invention. An inventor will naturally want that fence to extend as far as possible, maximising the scope of their protection. The examiner’s role is to determine where that fence can fairly be placed, balancing appropriate protection for the inventor with the interests of the wider public and the need to leave room for further innovation.
That makes presenting information clearly particularly important. For Maille, that clarity starts with the claims. Examiners will often read these first because they establish the legal boundaries of the protection being sought, meaning every word matters. Clear, well-written claims can make the examiner’s task easier and often give a good indication of how clearly the rest of the application has been prepared.
Maille points to the guidance provided by the USPTO for patent applications. While not every element of that guidance is mandatory, following the recommended structure can make it considerably easier for an examiner to understand an application and locate the information they need.
From her experience, departing from that guidance unnecessarily can create problems.
If information is difficult to identify or understand, there is greater potential for something important to be missed. That can make the examination process more difficult and potentially contribute to an application being rejected.
It is a simple insight, but one that reflects Maille’s broader philosophy: understanding the process from the examiner’s perspective can make navigating it much easier.
Turning examiner experience into a consultancy
Leaving the USPTO was not driven by a desire to leave patent examination behind. Maille thoroughly enjoyed her work.
Instead, a very different life decision prompted the next stage of her career.
Maille and her husband had decided to live aboard a sailboat and travel. Establishing her own consultancy offered a way to retain her connection with intellectual property. While creating the freedom to work wherever their travels took them.
It also gave her an opportunity to put 14 years of examiner experience to work in a new way.
Today, that experience is central to what she offers.
Having sat on the examiner’s side of the process, Maille understands what an examiner is looking for in an application and the issues that can arise during examination and subsequent responses or appeals. She can look at a situation through a lens that applicants themselves may never have experienced.
That perspective is particularly useful because she also understands the human side of the process.
Years of conversations with applicants have given her an appreciation of the passion people have for their ideas. Combining that understanding with practical knowledge of how examiners work allows her to help clients approach the process more effectively.
It is a role that brings together the different strands of her career: scientist, researcher, educator and former patent examiner.
The deliberately provocative title reflects one of the messages she wants applicants to understand: the relationship between applicant and examiner does not need to be adversarial.
Maille believes it is important not to let patent examination become an “us versus them” contest between examiners and IP practitioners. Instead, she encourages both sides to keep the inventor at the centre of the process. Behind an application is usually someone who genuinely believes they have created something important.The shared aim should be to help establish a strong, defensible patent with an appropriate scope of protection.
The book is intended to help inventors and those supporting them better understand how to work with patent examiners and make their way through the USPTO process more smoothly.
Although firmly rooted in the US patent system, Maille believes the lessons are relevant beyond the United States, particularly for overseas applicants seeking US patent protection.
That international relevance has become even more significant following a USPTO rule change effective from 20 July 2026. The rule change concerning representation for applicants located outside the United States. For overseas innovators navigating the US system, understanding how the USPTO and its examiners operate remains an important part of the process.
Maille’s experience also gives her an appreciation of just how complex patent examination can become. Patentability is not simply a matter of understanding the science behind an invention. Examiners must apply detailed legal and procedural guidance, including rules around issues such as subject matter eligibility.
For innovators encountering the system for the first time, that complexity can be daunting. Maille’s aim is to make what happens on the examiner’s side less mysterious.
A career built on curiosity
There is another thread connecting the different stages of Maille’s career: curiosity.
Research, teaching and patent examination all require a willingness to keep learning. For Maille, that is one of the great attractions of working with intellectual property.
Every application can introduce a new technology, discovery or idea.
It is also why she believes someone does not necessarily need to discover intellectual property at the beginning of their career to find their place within it. Maille herself came to IP relatively late, bringing experience and qualifications from elsewhere that ultimately helped her succeed.
Her advice to others considering a similar move is reassuringly straightforward: you can start at any time.
A research background can be particularly useful because researchers are already accustomed to reading extensively, investigating unfamiliar subjects and continually developing their knowledge.
There is, however, one caveat.
If spending large amounts of time reading scientific and technical literature sounds tedious, patent examination may not be the career for you.
For Maille, it was precisely the opposite. The opportunity to encounter something new every day was part of what kept the role interesting throughout her 14 years at the USPTO.
Wherever the winds take her
Maille’s working life today looks rather different from her years in Washington DC.
She previously lived and travelled aboard a catamaran, which has since been sold while she waits for a new boat to be built. In the meantime, her travels continue on dry land, with plans to be back on the water later this year.
The ambition is to combine both sides of her life. Developing her consultancy and sharing the knowledge accumulated during her USPTO career while continuing to travel the world.
It is perhaps an appropriate next chapter for a career that was never planned in the first place.
What began with a friend’s suggestion to apply for an unfamiliar job became a 14-year career at the heart of the US patent system. Now, Maille is taking everything she learned on the examiner’s side and using it to help others see the patent process from a different perspective. Wherever in the world she happens to be.
Connect with Maille
To learn more about Maille’s consultancy, her experience at the USPTO and her adventures as she takes her work around the world, connect with her on LinkedIn, visit IP at Sea or email.[email protected]
For more of Maille’s insights from the examiner’s side of the patent process, her book, There are NO Bad Patent Examiners: The unofficial guide to working with the “good” ones, offers a practical look at working with USPTO patent examiners and navigating the examination process. Find out more about Maille’s book.
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.
Michelle Catto is a Senior Associate at FB Rice in Australia, specialising in medical technology and engineering. With a background in medical device development, she brings an engineer’s perspective to intellectual property, helping innovators consider patents alongside regulatory, investment and commercial objectives as they build businesses with ambitions extending beyond Australia.
Quick Profile
Name:Michelle Catto Role: Senior Associate Firm / organisation:FB Rice Location: Australia – Sydney Areas of expertise: Medical technology, medical devices, engineering, patent drafting and prosecution, IP strategy, portfolio management and freedom to operate
A happy accident: from engineering to IP
Michelle describes her move into intellectual property as a “happy accident”.
She began her career at Cochlear, joining its graduate programme before moving into production engineering. The programme gave her experience across manufacturing, quality, regulatory, design, new product industrialisation and returned device analysis.
One department she never experienced was IP. “I didn’t even really think about it as an option back then,” she says.
That changed through a colleague at Cochlear who was a patent attorney but had spent time working in the regulatory team. The two stayed in touch. Several years later, when Michelle mentioned she was looking for a change, her former colleague suggested something completely different: joining her team as a trainee attorney.
Michelle started asking questions about the profession and quickly saw its appeal.
“IP is at this really interesting intersection between technology and law and business strategy,” she explains. “I really love problem solving and strategic thinking, and I’m a skilled communicator, so it really felt like a natural fit for me.”
Her engineering experience remains fundamental to the way she works. It helps her understand complex technologies quickly and connect with inventors and technical teams. In fact, Michelle jokes that she probably uses her engineering skills more as a patent attorney than she did as an engineer.
Finding a home in MedTech
Today, Michelle works within FB Rice’s broader engineering team, focusing predominantly on medical technology. It is an area particularly close to her heart.
“There’s such a tangible link to making a positive impact in people’s lives,” she says.
Her clients range from small start-ups to multinational businesses, but the common thread is solving real problems in healthcare.
For Michelle, MedTech is also intellectually fascinating because so many disciplines intersect. Science, engineering and medicine meet regulatory requirements and commercial considerations.
“Every project is interesting and different,” she says. “It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of that journey and know that the work I’m doing is feeding into something that’s actually going to help people.”
Australian innovation with global ambitions
Michelle believes Australia produces world-class research and innovation, particularly in MedTech and healthcare. “We’re a relatively small country, but in this area we often say that we punch above our weight.”
Australia benefits from a strong academic research environment. Michelle also points to the country’s growing appeal as a destination for clinical trials. Together, these factors create opportunities to develop ideas, generate evidence and validate technologies.
The greater challenge can come in moving from an innovative idea to a successful global business.
Access to capital can be more limited than in larger markets. Australian companies also often need to consider international expansion much earlier in their development. That makes joined-up strategic thinking particularly important.
Michelle believes businesses that align their IP, regulatory and commercialisation strategies early are generally better positioned for long-term success.
The relatively small domestic market also means even early-stage Australian businesses may see themselves as global companies from the outset.
“Long-term growth often means looking beyond our shores,” she explains.
Manufacturing capability, international partnerships and global networks can all influence where a company goes next. In turn, those choices have implications for IP.
Michelle therefore encourages clients to think early about where they intend to develop, manufacture and sell their products. Those decisions influence both protection strategies and the third-party risks they may encounter.
“Having that global perspective from the beginning really helps to ensure that the decisions they’re making now will support that journey as they expand.”
Looking beyond the patent
As Michelle’s career has developed, so has the nature of the advice she provides.
Early in a patent attorney’s career, she explains, much of the focus is naturally on drafting and prosecution. Deep technical and legal expertise takes years to build, often with guidance from experienced practitioners and mentors.
Those skills remain fundamental. However, Michelle’s own work increasingly involves helping clients navigate a much broader innovation ecosystem.
“In MedTech particularly, IP is one important piece of a much larger puzzle.”
Regulatory strategy, reimbursement, investment, manufacturing, market entry and commercial partnerships can all influence whether a technology ultimately succeeds.
For Michelle, an important part of her role is helping clients understand where IP fits within that bigger picture. “It’s about how you can use IP, not just to tick a box and say, ‘we’ve got a patent’, but to support your broader business objectives.”
Those conversations often start with two deceptively simple questions: where is the client now, and where do they want to go?
The answer may depend on whether a business is raising capital, building value ahead of an acquisition, seeking strategic partnerships or pursuing another commercial objective. Some clients arrive with a clear strategy. Others are still working it out.
Michelle sees her role as working alongside her clients. She cannot determine their business strategy for them, but she can help them understand the IP component and how it connects with their wider plans.
When IP unlocks something bigger
For Michelle, some of the most satisfying moments are when IP contributes to a wider commercial milestone. “I love those moments where you see IP working to help unlock something bigger.”
That could mean supporting a funding round, progress towards an IPO or a commercial partnership. The value comes from knowing that protecting important aspects of a technology is helping the client move towards a larger goal.
With established organisations, the relationship can look very different. Michelle enjoys working with in-house counsel and business leaders to understand how individual technologies fit within much larger portfolios.
This might involve tailoring prosecution strategies to broader commercial objectives. It can also involve freedom to operate work to help businesses understand and navigate third-party risks.
In both cases, the patent attorney becomes part of executing a wider strategy rather than working on IP in isolation.
Asking why nobody has done it before
There is one question Michelle particularly likes asking engineers at an early stage of developing a new medical device:
“Why hasn’t anyone done this before?”
The answer can reveal far more than might initially be expected.
If nobody has thought of the idea before, that is interesting. But Michelle finds it even more revealing when others have tried and failed.
Understanding why previous approaches did not gain traction can expose critical points of innovation. It can identify commercial risks and unexplored opportunities. It may also reveal which elements of a new technology are most important to protect.
Sometimes the previous barrier was technical. At other times, the problem was a failure to understand what the eventual users actually needed.
For Michelle, understanding the end user is an important part of looking at an innovation more broadly. Considering who will use a technology, what they need and why previous approaches may have fallen short can reveal valuable insights into both the innovation and its commercial potential.
It can also help identify which aspects of a new technology may be particularly important to protect.
Supporting the next generation in STEM
Michelle is passionate about STEM education and diversity, partly because she remembers the support she received from others.
“I really see the benefit that I’ve gained from other people investing in me, particularly other women who are more senior in the profession.”
She now wants to offer that same encouragement to others.
Michelle also believes perceptions of STEM careers can be unnecessarily narrow. Engineering and science can lead in many different directions, as her own career demonstrates.
She is involved in supporting early-stage accelerators within the MedTech sector, including through IP education and early-stage due diligence. She enjoys helping young companies understand IP while they are still finding their feet.
There is also a personal motivation.
Michelle has three daughters and wants them to grow up seeing STEM as somewhere they can fully belong, should they choose that path. As they get older, she has become increasingly interested in engaging with girls at school level.
“I’ve got a lot of good stories to tell and I’d like to share those, I think, with the next generation.”
Building careers for the long term
Michelle’s perspective on careers has also been shaped by balancing professional development with family life.
Her biggest lesson is that people have different levels of capacity at different stages of their lives. “The best workplaces are ones that are flexible enough to see someone’s value, not just in the moment, but over the long term.”
She credits FB Rice with providing the flexibility that has helped her build a sustainable career alongside raising her family. Parental leave has been particularly important. Michelle believes equitable parental leave matters not only for mothers, but for their partners too.
The leave available to her partner gave Michelle greater capacity to concentrate on returning to work. It also allowed him time to focus on family.
She would like to see more organisations offer, and encourage people to take, equitable parental leave, allowing caring responsibilities to be shared more evenly.
Life beyond IP
Outside work, family naturally occupies much of Michelle’s time. But she also enjoys finding new ways to challenge herself.
Around five years ago, she took up the cello as an adult beginner. She had learned piano growing up but had always wanted to play cello. When her eldest daughter began learning, Michelle decided to join her.
Learning together has been rewarding, although Michelle suspects her daughter may soon overtake her. Her second daughter has now started too, meaning there are currently three cellos in the family home. Her eldest has ambitions to add a double bass, creating what Michelle laughingly describes as a potential logistical problem for the car.
She also loves being outdoors. Living around an hour west of Sydney in the Blue Mountains gives her plenty of opportunities for hiking, trail running and swimming in the creeks during summer.
Her favourite local walk is Mount Solitary. Rising from the Jamison Valley, it offers expansive views back towards Katoomba and the Three Sisters, and across the surrounding landscape.
Further afield, Tasmania is somewhere she returns to repeatedly. She particularly recommends the Three Capes Track, describing Tasmania as “the most magical place I’ve ever been”.
Whether learning an instrument or heading into the mountains, stepping away from work gives Michelle a chance to use her mind differently. “I always find when I return that I’ve got new perspectives and new ideas.”
Staying open to unexpected opportunities
For engineers considering IP, Michelle’s advice reflects her own unconventional route into the profession: find mentors, talk to people and remain open to opportunities that were never part of the original plan.
She also recommends trying to understand what the work really involves before committing to it. “Find a patent attorney and ask them out for coffee,” she suggests. Ask them to explain the fundamentals of patent drafting. “It’ll either really fascinate you or you’ll quickly realise it’s not for you.”
If it is fascinating, Michelle encourages people not to assume they need to fit a particular mould. The profession combines technical expertise with communication, strategy and commercial thinking. That creates room for different backgrounds and different ways of approaching problems.
“If you’re curious and you enjoy learning and solving problems, then it can be a really rewarding career.”
For Michelle, that curiosity has taken her from engineering into a profession she had never originally considered. It now allows her to combine the technical thinking she enjoys with a much wider view of innovation, helping businesses understand not simply how to obtain IP, but how it can support the journey from an idea to commercial success.
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
Paul Renwick is a Patent Attorney at Marks & Clerk Singapore whose career has taken him from engineering in the UK to patent practice in New Zealand and Singapore. Qualified as an Australian and New Zealand Patent Attorney, he helps innovators protect commercially valuable inventions while bringing an international perspective to intellectual property.
Patent drafting and prosecution, AI and software, Semiconductor technologies, Deep technology, International patent strategy
Finding engineering, and discovering IP
Paul’s interest in engineering began long before he knew intellectual property existed.
Growing up, he was always taking things apart, fixing bicycles and motorbikes and generally wanting to understand how things worked. Engineering felt like a natural choice, helped by having an engineer as a father.
It wasn’t until university that another career path emerged.
As part of his engineering degree, a patent attorney visited to explain the profession and how engineers could apply their technical knowledge in a completely different way. That presentation planted a seed.
“I did a PhD involving some IP and my supervisor was spinning out a company, so there were patents being filed. Then I worked for a semiconductor start-up that was beginning to build its own patent portfolio.”
That combination of academic research, commercial engineering and first-hand exposure to patents made the transition into intellectual property feel like the obvious next step.
Interestingly, his former employer became one of his earliest clients after he entered private practice. “It was nice seeing both sides of it. I had worked inside the company before helping them protect their technology.”
One move that changed everything
Paul began his patent attorney career in Sheffield, where he trained for three years before taking an opportunity to work in New Zealand.
Initially intended as a one-year overseas experience, the move quickly became something much bigger. “I thought I’d spend a year in New Zealand, gain some different experience and then see what happened.”
The opportunity to stay arose naturally, and one year became almost seven. During that time, Paul qualified as an Australian and New Zealand Patent Attorney under the Trans-Tasman system, building expertise in a market where international patent filing is an integral part of daily practice.
The move to Singapore was another opportunity to broaden his experience, this time within one of Asia’s leading centres for innovation and technology. Working closer to emerging industries, fast-growing companies and international clients has given him an even broader perspective on global IP strategy.
Looking back, each move has broadened both his professional experience and his understanding of how innovation develops in different parts of the world.
Although patent law across the UK, New Zealand and Singapore shares common roots, each jurisdiction applies it slightly differently. Seeing those differences first-hand has helped shape the way he approaches complex international portfolios.
“You see how each jurisdiction has implemented the law. The outcomes are often similar, but the different approaches give you a stronger background.”
Supporting innovation across Asia
Today, Paul is a Patent Attorney with Marks & Clerk Singapore, where his work centres on helping universities, start-ups and small to medium-sized businesses protect their innovations. While many of his clients are based in Singapore, his work frequently extends across Southeast Asia, reflecting Singapore’s role as a regional gateway for technology businesses.
His technical practice focuses on artificial intelligence, software, semiconductors and deep technology, sectors that continue to evolve at an extraordinary pace.
“Singapore is a bit of a hub,” he explains. “Companies from Thailand and Malaysia, and even further afield in Korea, China and Japan, often work with Singapore firms.”
English also plays an important role. Many businesses choose to draft their first patent application in English before pursuing protection in key international markets, particularly the United States and Europe. This makes Singapore an attractive base for companies with global ambitions.
For Paul, the work remains as engaging today as it was when he first entered the profession.
“I think it’s why I got into IP in the first place. You’re constantly learning about new technology and talking to inventors about the things they’re creating. You’re involved right from the start.”
Every new invention presents another opportunity to understand a different technology and help shape how it is protected commercially.
Why Singapore continues to attract innovation
Having worked in the UK, New Zealand and now Singapore, Paul has seen how different innovation ecosystems develop. While every country has its own strengths, he believes Singapore has created an environment where technology businesses can grow rapidly.
Much of that success comes from a combination of government support, universities, private investment and venture capital.
“There seems to be a lot of support for technology and innovation, from the universities through to government institutions and VC funding.”
He has also noticed how quickly Singapore embraces emerging technologies. Whether it was blockchain several years ago or artificial intelligence today, the country’s investment priorities tend to follow the leading edge of innovation.
“They really get behind new technologies. They’re trying to upskill the whole country.”
That commitment has helped establish Singapore as a significant centre for semiconductor manufacturing while also encouraging rapid growth in AI-focused businesses.
“The IP landscape evolves alongside the technology,” Paul says. “Wherever the technology is heading, the start-ups, investors and government support tend to follow.”
Thinking globally from day one
One of the biggest changes Paul has witnessed throughout his career is the increasingly international outlook of technology businesses. For many companies in Singapore and New Zealand, expansion beyond domestic markets is expected from the outset.
“The first conversation is usually about their plans. Where are they going? Which countries matter to them?”
Those answers shape the IP strategy from the very beginning. Rather than treating patents as country-specific assets, Paul works with clients to develop filing strategies that reflect manufacturing locations, future licensing opportunities and long-term commercial ambitions.
That approach has become even more important as international trading conditions continue to evolve. Recent geopolitical uncertainty and changing global trade relationships have added new layers of complexity for technology companies planning international growth.
At the same time, Paul has noticed clients increasingly seeking advice beyond patents alone. Artificial intelligence has prompted new discussions around copyright, trade marks and the protection of data.
Working alongside colleagues across the wider Marks & Clerk group, he has become involved in advising businesses on data governance and privacy issues linked to AI technologies.
Many AI businesses collect and process information from users around the world, making compliance with international privacy legislation an important consideration.
“You can’t only think about one country. If people are accessing your technology globally, you have to think globally.”
Turning innovation into valuable IP
Among the many projects Paul has worked on, two stand out for very different reasons.
The first involved an entrepreneur in New Zealand who, after suffering a serious horse-riding accident, set out to design a safer equestrian helmet.
Starting in a workshop at home, the inventor developed the product from first principles before working with manufacturers to bring it to market. Paul helped protect both the patents and the registered designs as the business grew.
“It was really rewarding to work with him over many years as he commercialised the technology.”
At the other end of the spectrum was a major semiconductor company in Singapore undertaking an extensive intellectual property audit. The project involved identifying commercially valuable innovations before developing a coordinated patent filing programme covering multiple technologies.
“It was a huge amount of teamwork,” Paul recalls. “We became deeply involved in understanding both their technology and their commercial goals.”
Although the projects differed enormously in scale, they shared something important. Both required understanding not only the technology itself, but also how intellectual property could support each client’s wider business objectives.
That combination of technical knowledge and commercial thinking continues to be one of the aspects of patent practice Paul enjoys most.
Commercial thinking makes the difference
When asked what clients value most in a patent attorney today, Paul’s answer comes without hesitation.
Commercial awareness.
It’s a lesson he learnt early in his career from one of his first mentors, and one that still shapes every conversation he has with inventors.
“My original trainer always used to ask, ‘Where’s the money coming from?'”
At first glance, it sounds like a simple question. In reality, Paul believes it changes the entire way a patent attorney approaches drafting an application.
It’s not enough to understand how an invention works. You also need to understand how the business intends to make money from it. That might influence where protection is sought, how claims are drafted or which aspects of the technology deserve the greatest emphasis.
“Understanding the technology is important, but so is understanding how you create a commercially valuable patent.”
Sometimes that means focusing on manufacturing rather than the eventual sales market. Other times it means thinking ahead to licensing opportunities or international expansion.
For Paul, intellectual property is most effective when it supports a company’s commercial objectives rather than existing in isolation.
Outside the office
Away from work, Paul enjoys activities that offer a different kind of challenge.
Rock climbing and cycling help him switch off, while Singapore’s warm climate means much of his climbing now takes place indoors or across the border in Malaysia.
Before moving to Singapore, he climbed regularly in New Zealand and the Peak District, both places that still hold special memories.
Another favourite pastime is board games. One recent favourite is Power Grid, a strategy game that rewards planning, negotiation and adapting to changing circumstances. “I think there are probably some transferable skills,” he says. “Negotiation and dealing with potential conflicts.”
His favourite hiking memories, however, belong to New Zealand. Among the many walks he recommends, the Mercer Bay Loop and the surrounding coastal trails near Muriwai and Piha stand out for their dramatic scenery.
“They’re stunning on a good day.”
Looking ahead
Looking back over a career spanning the UK, New Zealand and Singapore, Paul sees a profession that is becoming increasingly global.
Technology moves quickly, businesses often think internationally from their earliest days and intellectual property continues to evolve alongside new developments such as artificial intelligence.
Yet despite those changes, one principle has remained constant throughout his career. Never lose sight of the commercial purpose behind the technology.
For Paul, understanding innovation is only half of the job. The real value lies in helping inventors turn good ideas into commercially successful assets that support long-term growth.
It is an approach that has guided his career from his earliest days in Sheffield to advising technology businesses across Southeast Asia today.
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.
From pharmaceutical patents to international policy, Claire Gregg has built a career that combines scientific expertise, legal insight and professional leadership. As a Principal at Davies Collison Cave in Australia, she is passionate about complex patent disputes, mentoring the next generation of practitioners and strengthening Australia’s contribution to the global intellectual property community.
Areas of Expertise: Chemistry and pharmaceuticals, patent strategy, litigation support, IP policy, mentoring and professional leadership
Finding the perfect balance between science and law
Growing up, Claire Gregg imagined a very different legal career.
Inspired by the criminal law dramas she watched with her mother, she initially set out to become a lawyer. After starting a law degree, however, she found herself increasingly drawn to science instead, eventually pursuing organic chemistry and completing a PhD.
Everything changed when another researcher in her laboratory mentioned they were leaving to become a patent attorney.
“They started telling me about it and I was like, ‘Wait, so I can do law and science without being a lawyer. That’s great.’ It really spoke to me that I could combine both in one profession.”
From that point onwards, Claire knew she had found the career she’d been looking for.
More than two decades later, she says that same combination of science and law continues to keep her engaged.
“The science is always changing. The law is always changing. You learn something new every day. I love that constant intellectual stimulation.”
Drawn to the most challenging work
Today, as a Principal at Davies Collison Cave, Claire specialises in chemistry and pharmaceutical patents, with a particular focus on patent strategy, disputes and litigation support.
While many patent attorneys enter the profession as an alternative to academia, Claire’s motivation was different. She had always wanted to return to law, and intellectual property gave her the opportunity to combine legal reasoning with scientific expertise.
Litigation, in particular, appealed because of the complexity involved.
“That’s where the deepest, most challenging intellectual arguments, reasoning and opportunities come from,” she explains. “I like the depth of knowledge that’s required.”
She also enjoys knowing that her work can make a genuine difference to clients who have invested years of research and significant resources into developing innovative technologies.
One recent highlight was being part of the team that secured Australia’s first preliminary injunction in a pharmaceutical patent case for eight years for Johnson & Johnson, an achievement she describes as particularly rewarding.
Her motivation stems from the enjoyment she has found throughout her own career.
“This profession has given me so much,” she says. “I wanted to give back.”
Professional organisations provide opportunities to help shape law and policy, but just as importantly, they create opportunities to learn from others.
“Everyone you connect with, you learn something new from them and you can teach them something new as well.”
For Claire, stepping outside the immediate environment of her own firm has broadened both her thinking and her understanding of the profession.
Why Australian patent attorneys stand out
Although Australia’s patent attorney profession is relatively small, Claire believes it consistently makes a significant contribution internationally.
She describes Australian practitioners as naturally outward-looking, something shaped by the country’s need to work closely with overseas jurisdictions.
“We’re relatively sophisticated for our size,” she says. “We really have to invest in learning about other systems and being across all of that for our clients.”
That international mindset has also given Australian practitioners an important voice in global discussions.
Claire believes Australia’s patent system strikes a thoughtful balance between protecting applicants’ rights while recognising the interests of third parties. Through her work with international organisations, she has seen elements of the Australian approach recognised as valuable examples during discussions on harmonisation.
More than anything, she believes Australian practitioners understand how their jurisdiction fits into the wider international IP landscape.
Looking beyond Australia’s borders
International collaboration has become one of the most rewarding aspects of Claire’s career.
Through organisations including IPTA and FICPI, she has worked alongside practitioners from many different jurisdictions, contributing to discussions on policy while learning how different countries approach similar legal and commercial challenges.
“It teaches you the value of having a perspective that’s bigger than your own jurisdiction,” she says. “There are so many different ways of practising, different commercial problems and different historical angles on the law.”
Those experiences have reinforced her belief that Australia has much to contribute internationally. Although relatively small, she believes Australia’s patent system has developed a strong balance between the rights of applicants and third parties, and she has been encouraged to see aspects of the Australian approach considered in wider discussions around international harmonisation.
For Claire, international collaboration is most valuable when every jurisdiction has the opportunity to contribute. Different perspectives strengthen policy, improve understanding and ultimately benefit the global IP profession.
Turning great research into global success
Australia has a long history of producing world-class scientific research, and Claire believes the country’s greatest opportunity now lies in turning more of that research into commercial success.
“We’ve got world-leading universities, world-leading research and world-leading science going on here,” she says.
The challenge, in her view, is supporting innovators to take those discoveries beyond the laboratory.
She believes government policy, investment and increasing awareness of intellectual property all have important roles to play in helping Australian innovation reach global markets.
Recent initiatives focusing on commercialisation give her confidence that progress is being made, while research institutions are becoming increasingly strategic in how they manage intellectual property and build partnerships.
If that momentum continues, Claire believes Australia is well placed to strengthen its role within the international innovation landscape.
Investing in future talent
Developing future professionals is something Claire regards as both a responsibility and one of the most rewarding parts of her career.
“The ongoing viability of our profession depends on it,” she says.
She credits many of her own achievements to mentors who invested time in her development and believes supporting the next generation is simply paying that investment forward.
Mentoring also provides opportunities to learn.
“They think about things really differently,” she says when discussing younger professionals entering the IP profession.
Claire has noticed that newer generations often place greater emphasis on work-life balance and wellbeing, while seeking meaningful work much earlier in their careers. Rather than viewing those differences negatively, she believes every generation has something valuable to contribute.
“I don’t think any of those things are good or bad. It’s just different.”
Understanding people as well as patents
Alongside her legal and scientific expertise, Claire has also studied psychology and trained as a Mental Health First Aid Officer.
Rather than fundamentally changing her leadership style, she believes it has helped her better understand how people respond differently to pressure, motivation and challenging situations.
“Everyone responds differently to pressure and challenges. Everyone’s motivated differently.”
The training has also helped her recognise when colleagues may not be okay and, importantly, how to help them access appropriate support while maintaining healthy personal boundaries.
It reflects a leadership approach built on empathy, understanding and recognising that no single management style works for everyone.
Outside the office
When work allows, Claire enjoys slowing the pace.
Her three cats are, she says with a smile, “the best part of my life”, and spending time with them provides the perfect way to switch off.
She also enjoys writing, although she admits that even when she sits down to write for pleasure, she often finds herself producing articles about patent law.
Home improvement projects provide another creative outlet, from decorating to tackling practical jobs around the house.
Travel remains another passion. Although conferences regularly take her around the world, Claire always tries to extend work trips so she can experience more of the places she visits.
Europe is a favourite destination because of its history, culture and food, while countries such as Egypt, India and Cuba have left equally lasting impressions.
Looking ahead
Reflecting on her career, Claire finds it impossible to identify a single achievement that stands above the rest.
Becoming a Principal at one of Australia’s leading IP firms, contributing to a landmark pharmaceutical patent case, serving on the IPTA Council, becoming Vice President and writing for respected IP publications have all brought different kinds of satisfaction.
Yet perhaps the strongest thread running through her career is something less tangible.
She has never viewed intellectual property as simply a profession or a personal career path. Instead, she sees it as a community that benefits from curiosity, collaboration and a willingness to invest in others.
“I don’t see it as just being about me and my career,” she explains. “I love this profession and it means a lot to me. It’s part of who I am, so I want to make sure it’s in really good shape when I eventually leave it.”
Whether advising clients, mentoring future patent attorneys, helping shape policy or representing Australia internationally, Claire continues to be driven by the same curiosity that first led her to intellectual property: the opportunity to keep learning while helping others do the same.
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.
For Tom Gaunt, Head of Intellectual Property at Lewis Silkin, intellectual property is about far more than filing patents. Drawing on international experience and a commercial mindset, he works with businesses to build IP strategies that support innovation, investment and long-term growth in an increasingly complex technology landscape.
Areas of expertise: Patent strategy, IP portfolio management, commercialisation, licensing, innovation strategy, software, telecommunications, automotive and clean technologies
Discovering a career through Japan
Tom’s route into intellectual property began with a desire to experience life overseas rather than a carefully mapped-out career plan.
Having completed a research master’s in materials engineering, he spotted an opportunity to work in Japan, where companies were filing large volumes of patents in consumer electronics, semiconductor manufacturing and LCD technologies. The role combined his technical background with the opportunity to live abroad, making it an easy decision.
What surprised him was how quickly he fell in love with the profession.
“After spending so long focused on one research project, suddenly I was exposed to new technology every day. I could apply science to commercial problems, think about business strategy and get paid to write arguments. It was an incredible job in an incredible place.”
Working in Japan also shaped the way he approaches clients today. Communicating with non-native English speakers taught him the importance of expressing complex ideas clearly, while long-standing client relationships demonstrated the value of trust built over time.
The experience also gave him a valuable perspective on different approaches to working. Seeing first-hand how dedicated and hardworking his colleagues were reinforced his own belief that sustained performance comes from balancing ambition with wellbeing.
“You can be ambitious and hardworking, but work-life balance is essential if you want to do your best work.”
That philosophy has stayed with him throughout his career and continues to influence the way he leads his team today, creating an environment where people can perform at their best while maintaining a healthy balance outside work.
Looking beyond individual IP rights
Today, as Head of Intellectual Property at Lewis Silkin, Tom leads one of the UK’s largest IP practices within a law firm. Rather than viewing patents, trade marks and litigation as separate disciplines, he believes businesses benefit most when IP advice starts with commercial objectives rather than legal processes.
“Clients don’t come to us asking for patents or trade marks in isolation. They come with business problems and business objectives.”
That shift in thinking has transformed the way his team works.
Instead of treating patent filing as a standalone service, Lewis Silkin brings together specialists from across intellectual property to develop coordinated strategies that reflect each client’s commercial ambitions, budget and long-term plans.
The result is a more integrated approach where patents, trade marks, licensing, enforcement and commercial advice all work together to support growth.
Innovation is becoming increasingly interconnected
Much of Tom’s work sits at the intersection of multiple technologies.
Software, communications, automotive engineering and clean technologies increasingly overlap, creating opportunities but also greater complexity.
“What we’re seeing is a convergence of technology. Businesses that historically had very little overlap are now colliding.”
Modern vehicles, for example, increasingly rely on software, communications and perception technologies alongside traditional engineering. That means organisations need IP strategies that help them navigate collaboration, overlapping technologies and increasingly competitive markets.
Rather than focusing solely on protecting inventions, Tom helps businesses build portfolios that give them options for future commercial negotiations, partnerships and growth.
Thinking strategically from the outset
One of the biggest changes Tom has seen over the past decade is the growing recognition that intellectual property extends far beyond patents.
When working with innovative businesses, particularly those establishing R&D functions for the first time, he encourages them to think about all forms of intellectual property together.
“Businesses often see innovation as producing patent applications. We encourage them to think about a whole thicket of IP.”
That wider perspective includes trade secrets, confidential know-how, design rights, employment arrangements and governance processes alongside patents.
By considering these elements from the beginning of an innovation project, businesses retain greater flexibility as technologies develop and commercial opportunities evolve.
Importantly, every conversation starts with the same question.
“What is the business trying to achieve?”
For Tom, the answer should always shape the IP strategy rather than the other way around.
Helping businesses realise the value of innovation
Protecting innovation is only one part of the process.
Tom is particularly interested in helping organisations understand how intellectual property creates commercial value, whether through licensing, investment, partnerships or direct commercialisation.
Businesses may begin with one objective before changing direction as markets evolve, making flexibility essential.
Sometimes that means deliberately choosing not to patent every innovation if retaining proprietary knowledge provides greater long-term advantage.
It also means looking beyond individual patent filings when demonstrating value to investors.
Tom describes work analysing inventor performance by examining historical grant rates, publications and commercial success, helping organisations demonstrate the strength of both their innovation and the teams behind it.
“The value isn’t just in a single patent. It’s much broader than that.”
Collaboration delivers stronger outcomes
For Tom, successful IP advice depends on collaboration across multiple disciplines.
At Lewis Silkin, patent attorneys, trade mark specialists, litigators and commercial lawyers work together throughout the innovation lifecycle, from early horizon scanning through to commercialisation.
Clients also benefit from regular strategic discussions that go beyond individual projects.
Rather than reacting to issues as they arise, these conversations explore market developments, emerging competitors and future technologies that may influence business decisions years ahead.
“It’s about partnering with clients and building the most effective long-term plan.”
The patent attorney of the future
Artificial intelligence is already changing the profession, but Tom believes its greatest value lies in helping patent attorneys spend more time where they add the greatest value.
Routine tasks can increasingly be completed more efficiently, freeing attorneys to focus on strategic thinking, commercial judgement and creative problem-solving.
“It should help you focus on what’s really valuable.”
For those entering the profession, Tom sees learning how to use AI critically and effectively as becoming just as important as developing technical expertise.
In his view, commercial awareness, strategic thinking and the confidence to bridge technical innovation with business objectives will define the next generation of patent attorneys.
Outside the office
Tom believes maintaining a healthy work-life balance is fundamental to performing well professionally.
Outside work, he enjoys hiking, snowboarding and travelling, making sure he always has at least one mountain adventure planned.
Having hiked across the Himalayas, Japan, Korea, Norway and the Alps, one destination continues to stand out.
“Scotland is honestly one of the most beautiful places in the world.”
For Tom, spending time outdoors provides the opportunity to recharge before returning to the demands of leading a large team and advising clients in a fast-moving sector.
Looking ahead
Reflecting on the profession’s evolution, Tom believes intellectual property advisers are becoming increasingly strategic.
Technical excellence remains essential, but today’s clients also need advisers who understand business, investment and commercial growth.
As innovation becomes more interconnected and technologies continue to converge, the role of the patent attorney will increasingly be to help organisations make informed strategic decisions rather than simply protect individual inventions.
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.
Alex Brown and Alex Bone are Partners and Patent Attorneys at Venner Shipley, specialising in mechanical engineering inventions and MedTech innovation. Drawing on decades of combined experience, they help businesses ranging from early-stage startups to multinational organisations develop intellectual property strategies that support innovation, investment and commercial growth.
Areas of Expertise: Mechanical engineering, MedTech innovation, patent strategy, patent prosecution, opposition and appeal proceedings, startup support, Unified Patent Court matters
Different routes into the same profession
Although they now work side-by-side within Venner Shipley’s Mechanical Engineering team, Alex Brown and Alex Bone arrived in the patent profession through very different routes.
For Alex Brown, intellectual property was familiar from an early age. His father was a patent attorney, giving him an unusual insight into a profession that many people only discover after university.
After studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Manchester and spending a short period in IT, he realised he wanted a career that combined technology, law and commercial strategy.
“I knew with the intersection of the technology and the law, a career in the patent profession would tick all the boxes that I was interested in.”
Nearly 25 years later, he remains with the same firm, now leading Venner Shipley’s Mechanical Engineering team.
Alex Bone’s journey was more typical of many patent attorneys. While studying Chemical Engineering at the University of Cambridge, he attended a lecture delivered by a patent attorney who happened to be recruiting.
The profession immediately appealed to him.
After qualifying in private practice, he moved in-house to Novartis, where he worked with medical device technologies before returning to private practice through A.A. Thornton, which later combined with Venner Shipley.
Together, their different backgrounds provide clients with a blend of private practice, in-house and leadership experience.
Why MedTech continues to inspire
Both attorneys have spent much of their careers working with mechanical inventions and MedTech technologies.
For Alex Brown, mechanical engineering has always held a particular fascination because inventions can be seen, touched and understood through physical interactions.
He points out that despite predictions that software and electronics would dominate innovation, mechanical engineering remains highly active and competitive.
This is especially true in MedTech, where seemingly simple devices often contain highly sophisticated engineering.
Drug delivery systems, safety syringes and inhalers may appear straightforward, but tiny mechanical differences can determine whether a device performs reliably and gains acceptance from healthcare professionals and patients.
Alex Bone shares a similar enthusiasm.
He remains fascinated by the ingenuity required to create mechanical solutions to complex healthcare challenges.
Particularly rewarding are the stories behind many MedTech startups.
Often, innovation begins when an entrepreneur encounters a real-world healthcare problem affecting a family member or friend and decides to solve it.
“They go away and come up with a widget that makes their family member’s life better in some small way, and then they try to make that into a product.”
The changing face of MedTech innovation
Over the course of their careers, both attorneys have witnessed significant changes within the MedTech sector.
One of the most notable developments has been the growing integration of engineering, software, electronics and healthcare data.
Alex Bone highlights the rise of personalised medicine, where treatments and delivery systems are increasingly tailored to individual patients rather than broad populations.
Modern devices often combine mechanical delivery systems with sensors, monitoring technologies and connected applications that track patient compliance and treatment outcomes.
At the same time, the availability of health data generated through wearable technologies has opened new opportunities for innovation.
Alex Brown has seen a similar convergence of disciplines.
Where patent matters were once separated into distinct technical areas, many modern innovations now require collaboration between mechanical, software and life sciences specialists.
Artificial intelligence is also beginning to influence product development, intellectual property management and innovation processes across the healthcare sector.
Helping startups avoid costly mistakes
Supporting startups and spin-outs is a significant part of both attorneys’ work.
While innovation may begin with a strong technical idea, both emphasise that intellectual property should be considered from the earliest stages of business development.
According to Alex Bone, one of the most common mistakes is postponing IP discussions until significant time and money have already been invested.
By that stage, businesses may discover third-party patent barriers or realise they have inadvertently disclosed valuable innovations before obtaining protection.
Alex Brown sees similar challenges, particularly among university spin-outs and academic founders.
Researchers are often accustomed to publishing their findings as quickly as possible. However, public disclosure before filing a patent application can seriously undermine protection opportunities.
Ownership issues can also create difficulties.
Without clear agreements regarding who owns newly developed intellectual property, problems may emerge later when businesses seek investment or commercial partnerships.
Both attorneys stress the importance of establishing a clear IP strategy early, even if formal filings come later.
Building confidence for investors and partners
A well-developed IP strategy does more than protect innovation. It can also play a crucial role in attracting investment.
Investors want confidence that the technology they are supporting can be protected and commercialised successfully.
“If there isn’t IP protection around the technology, it’s difficult to persuade someone to invest in something that someone else could easily copy,” explains Alex Brown.
Alex Bone adds that a strong strategy can also reduce uncertainty.
Freedom-to-operate reviews, competitor monitoring and ongoing IP planning help demonstrate that risks have been assessed and managed appropriately.
For startups seeking funding, partnerships or acquisition opportunities, that reassurance can be invaluable.
Navigating a changing patent landscape
The introduction of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) has added another dimension to European patent strategy.
According to Alex Brown, the UPC offers significant opportunities through centralised enforcement across multiple jurisdictions. However, it also introduces strategic decisions regarding risk and protection.
Some businesses embrace unitary patents and central enforcement, while others prefer a more cautious approach using traditional national validations.
Alex Bone notes that many smaller companies are attracted by the cost-effectiveness of obtaining broad European coverage through a unitary patent.
For larger organisations, strategic considerations around enforcement and revocation often play a greater role.
As with many aspects of intellectual property, there is rarely a one-size-fits-all solution.
What makes the profession rewarding
Despite decades in the profession, both attorneys remain enthusiastic about their work.
For Alex Bone, much of the enjoyment comes from problem solving.
Patent prosecution, oppositions and hearings often involve finding creative solutions within strict legal and technical constraints.
Every case presents a new puzzle.
He also enjoys working closely with smaller businesses where intellectual property can have a direct and significant impact on commercial success.
Alex Brown values the trusted relationships he has built with clients over many years.
Being involved early in the innovation process and working alongside research, development and commercial teams provides a deeper understanding of the technologies and businesses he supports.
He also continues to enjoy opposition and appeal work, where high-stakes disputes bring additional challenge and excitement.
Beyond client work, he finds fulfilment in helping to grow teams, develop people and contribute to the strategic direction of the firm.
Outside the office
Away from intellectual property, both attorneys enjoy staying active and spending time outdoors. But perhaps their most obvious shared interest is a passion for cars and motorsport.
For Alex Brown, much of his free time revolves around his three children and their activities. He also plays squash and enjoys track days, combining his engineering background with a love of driving. Over the years he has owned and driven a variety of performance and track-focused cars. Although these days he particularly enjoys extracting the maximum performance from smaller, lighter vehicles.
Alex Bone shares a similar enthusiasm for cars and track driving. While he jokes that some of his automotive adventures have not always gone entirely to plan, including the loss of a TVR during a particularly wet track day, he remains on the lookout for his next classic car project.
Beyond motorsport, Alex Bone enjoys running, walking and spending time outdoors. Regular walks along the South Downs and the Seven Sisters coastline provide a welcome opportunity to switch off. While running offers a chance to clear his mind away from the demands of client work.
Their shared enthusiasm for engineering extends well beyond the office. Reflecting the curiosity and problem-solving mindset that first drew both of them into the patent profession.
Looking ahead
When asked for one piece of advice for MedTech startups, both attorneys returned to a common theme: think about intellectual property early.
Understanding what makes an innovation valuable, identifying the true “crown jewels” of a business and creating a clear IP strategy from the outset can prevent costly mistakes later.
As MedTech continues to evolve through advances in engineering, data, software and artificial intelligence, those foundations are likely to become even more important.
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.
Saiful Khan is an Owner at Potter Clarkson with more than 25 years of experience in intellectual property. Working across a diverse range of technologies and international markets, he combines technical expertise with a strong commitment to education, diversity and inclusion, and helping clients make informed strategic decisions.
Name:Saiful Khan Role: Owner, Patent Attorney Firm / Organisation:Potter Clarkson Location: United Kingdom Areas of expertise: Patent strategy, software and AI inventions, telecommunications, international patent prosecution, licensing, diversity and inclusion
Finding the right path into IP
Like many people in the profession, Saiful’s route into intellectual property was not entirely planned.
After completing a PhD, he explored a number of possible career options, including academic research and management consultancy. One opportunity even involved research into spray technologies that reminded him of the needleless injections featured in Star Trek, a programme he readily admits being a fan of.
Ultimately, IP appealed because it brought together technical, commercial and legal thinking. It also played to one of his strengths: translating complex concepts into something others can understand.
“I’ve always been at the interface where I can work with people who are really smart and bring things down to something that can be understood by a wider audience,” he explains.
What convinced him he had found the right profession was the people. Early in his career, he recognised a shared way of thinking and problem-solving among his peers, and that gave him confidence that he belonged in the profession.
Leading through service
Saiful has been an Owner at Potter Clarkson for nearing two decades and previously served on the firm’s Board during a period of significant growth and transformation.
Looking back, he describes leadership as both a privilege and a responsibility. Rather than focusing on personal achievement, he sees leadership as an opportunity to serve others and help create the conditions for collective success.
“It is all about service,” he says. “How do you best serve, given the talents that each person has?”
His approach combines attention to detail with an understanding of the bigger picture. Whether advising clients or helping shape business strategy, he believes successful decision-making requires a deep understanding of people, systems and long-term objectives.
The attraction of variety
One of the aspects Saiful enjoys most about his work is the sheer breadth of technologies he encounters.
His background in engineering and materials science provided a foundation that has allowed him to work across disciplines ranging from medical devices and nanotechnology to telecommunications, software and artificial intelligence.
For Saiful, the appeal lies in the opportunity to continually learn.
“I’ve enjoyed knowing a little bit about this and a little bit about that,” he says. “It’s about understanding.”
That curiosity remains central to his work today and is something he believes is essential for anyone considering a career in patents.
Technology, AI and the importance of critical thinking
Having worked extensively with software-related inventions throughout his career, Saiful has observed first-hand how approaches to patenting software and AI continue to evolve across different jurisdictions.
While examination practices differ between patent offices around the world, he believes many of the established principles used for software inventions will continue to shape the treatment of AI-related technologies.
Beyond the legal and technical questions, however, he is particularly interested in the wider societal impact of AI.
For Saiful, access to information has never been greater, but information alone is not enough.
“Knowledge is at our fingertips, but it is not a substitute for critical thinking,” he says.
He believes education remains as important as ever and is concerned that overreliance on technology could reduce opportunities for people to develop the experience and judgement that come from solving problems themselves.
Rather than replacing human capability, he hopes AI will enhance it.
“What I’d like is for AI to make us smarter and better, not replace our capabilities.”
Understanding what matters to clients
Saiful’s client base ranges from multinational corporations managing extensive patent portfolios to SMEs and individual inventors making critical early-stage decisions.
While the scale may differ, his approach remains consistent: understand what the client is trying to achieve and provide advice that reflects their circumstances.
One question he frequently asks smaller businesses is simple but revealing: “Why is this important to you?”
For larger organisations, conversations often focus on how a particular patent fits within broader commercial and technology strategies. For smaller clients, each decision can carry greater significance.
What he enjoys most is helping clients navigate those choices and becoming a trusted adviser rather than simply a service provider.
The value of an international perspective
International collaboration has been a defining feature of Saiful’s career. Through his work with organisations including CIPA, AIPPI and IP Inclusive, he has developed a global perspective on both the profession and the issues shaping it.
He believes international engagement is fundamental to modern IP practice.
Although patent systems are not fully harmonised, he sees significant commonality across jurisdictions and believes understanding different perspectives leads to better outcomes for clients and the profession alike.
Perhaps more importantly, he says international collaboration reinforces a shared sense of humanity.
“What I find in the IP profession is that there are very, very many like-minded people in the international domain.”
Creating opportunities through diversity and inclusion
Alongside his client work, Saiful is widely recognised for his commitment to diversity and inclusion.
His motivation is straightforward: talent exists everywhere, and the profession should do everything possible to ensure people have the opportunity to succeed.
“For me, it’s always been about talent,” he explains.
Having progressed from what he describes as a position of low privilege to one of significant professional privilege, he feels a responsibility to help others access similar opportunities.
He is particularly passionate about ensuring people are judged on their abilities and potential, rather than their background or personal characteristics.
“What I’d like is for everybody who’s outstanding to be given that opportunity to progress.”
Supporting the next generation
Education and mentoring are also important parts of Saiful’s professional life.
As a tutor and international workshop leader, he values the opportunity not only to share knowledge but also to learn from others.
Teaching reinforces his own understanding while exposing him to different perspectives and approaches.
For those considering a career in patents, he highlights curiosity, analytical thinking and strong communication skills as essential attributes. Technical expertise matters, but so does the ability to understand complex information and confidently defend your own position.
Ultimately, he believes professionals must take responsibility for developing their own judgement rather than relying on others, or technology, to provide the answers.
Outside the office
Away from work, walking has become one of Saiful’s favourite ways to unwind.
Whether enjoying local walks with friends or taking part in guided walking holidays with his wife, he values the combination of exercise, conversation and time outdoors.
Travel also plays a role in helping him recharge. Recent highlights have included walking in Switzerland and exploring the Canadian Rockies, while future plans include a guided walking holiday in Jordan.
Although he admits he does not play as often as he would like, tennis remains another long-standing passion. Given the choice of an alternative career, he jokes that becoming an international tennis player might have been an attractive option.
Looking ahead
When asked what he hopes to see from technology over the next decade, Saiful returns to a theme that runs throughout both his career and his outlook on life: connection.
Drawing on his experience working in telecommunications, he believes the best technologies bring people together rather than drive them apart.
His hope is that future innovations, particularly in AI, will help people become more informed, thoughtful and capable, while maintaining appropriate safeguards and accountability.
“I’d like to see technology make us better human beings.”
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.
Peri Jones is a Chartered UK and European Patent Attorney at Abel + Imray, where she works across physics, engineering, and technology patents. Alongside her IP career, she has built a strong interest in STEM outreach and science communication, helping make complex subjects feel more accessible and encouraging more young people, particularly girls, to consider careers in science.
Quick Profile
Name: Peri Jones Role: Chartered UK and European Patent Attorney Firm / Organisation:Abel + Imray Location: Cardiff, Wales Areas of expertise: Physics, engineering and technology patents, science communication, STEM outreach
Finding the right blend of science and communication
Peri’s route into intellectual property began with a long-standing interest in science. Growing up in North Wales, astronomy was always present at home thanks to her father’s passion for telescopes and astrophotography.
“My dad had, and still has, a big interest in astronomy and astrophotography,” she explains. “The house always had telescopes in spare corners.”
She went on to study physics at Cardiff University before completing a PhD in the astronomy instrumentation group. During that time, she also realised she enjoyed communication and writing just as much as the technical side of science.
At university, a talk from a trainee patent attorney changed her perception of what a STEM career could look like.
“I remember thinking this sounds like the perfect job,” she says. “I could combine technical expertise with communication, writing and working with inventors.”
What appealed most was the variety. Rather than focusing on one narrow technical field, she was drawn to the idea of working across a wide range of technologies and industries.
Now part of the Physics, Engineering and IT team at Abel + Imray, Peri works with clients across diverse sectors, from optics and lenses through to aircraft technologies.
Leaving academia behind
Although she enjoyed academic research, moving away from university life was not an easy decision.
“There was a little hesitation,” she admits. “Once you step away from academia, it can be difficult to go back.”
She enjoyed the research process and the collaborative environment of university life, but also recognised the uncertainty that often comes with academic funding.
“I didn’t want to spend my future constantly fighting for funding every couple of years and always worrying about what would happen next.”
The move into patent law gave her a chance to apply the skills developed during her PhD in a more commercially focused environment. Those transferable skills quickly became apparent.
“Writing a thesis helped with writing patent applications, reading research papers helped with reading prior art, and collaborating with different departments helped with dealing with inventors.”
She was also surprised by how quickly trainees become involved in client work.
“I naïvely thought I’d spend the first couple of years training in the background,” she says. “But from day one, you’re involved in real client work.”
The qualification process also brought its own challenges.
“I underestimated how difficult the exams would be,” she admits. “Failing an exam for the first time was a shock, but it definitely made me more resilient.”
Bringing science to wider audiences
Alongside her legal career, Peri has remained heavily involved in STEM outreach and science communication. That interest developed during university, where she became increasingly aware of the gender imbalance in physics.
“I started realising there was quite a big divide between males and females in physics when I was at university,” she says.
During her PhD, she began giving talks and media interviews, often in Welsh, to help make science feel more approachable and visible to wider audiences.
“I really get a kick out of trying to communicate difficult topics to the public,” she explains. “If you break things down properly, they don’t need to feel complicated.”
After completing her doctorate, she spent a year working with science communication company Science Made Simple, delivering talks and workshops in schools and at public events across Wales and beyond.
Peri was also the first Welsh-speaking science communicator employed by the organisation. This allowed them to deliver outreach activities through the medium of Welsh for the first time.
That experience left a lasting impression, particularly when visiting small rural schools across Wales.
“It was really rewarding going into these schools and showing children what they could potentially do,” she says. “A lot of the pupils came from similar backgrounds to mine.”
She believes representation and accessibility are both important when encouraging young people into STEM.
“We need to abolish STEM stereotypes and make science feel fun and accessible to everyone, particularly young girls.”
Communication at the heart of IP
Peri sees strong communication skills as central to both outreach work and intellectual property law.
Recently, she visited a Cardiff primary school where pupils were challenged to invent solutions to everyday problems.
“They came up with brilliant inventions,” she says. “Some were a bit far-fetched, but they were creative and they solved a problem, which was the brief.”
Experiences like these have reinforced the importance of explaining technical ideas clearly and confidently.
“When discussing complex topics, I always try to relate them to something day to day,” she explains. “I think about how I’d explain something to my family.”
That same approach carries through into her work with clients.
“I think being a patent attorney has made me a clearer science communicator,” she says. “You always have to think carefully about your audience.”
Balancing innovation with caution around AI
Like many within the profession, Peri sees artificial intelligence as one of the biggest developments currently shaping the IP landscape.
She believes AI has genuine potential to improve efficiency, particularly when reviewing or summarising prior art documents.
“I’m hoping AI can help make some parts of the process to be more efficient and cost effective,” she says.
However, she is cautious about relying too heavily on the technology.
“AI is a useful tool, but it needs to be used carefully because it isn’t always right.”
She believes the strategic and human elements of patent work remain difficult to replace.
“Writing a good patent application is about much more than describing an invention,” she explains. “You need to understand the client, their business goals and what they want from the patent.”
For Peri, relationships and trust remain central to the profession.
“Patent attorneys work closely with clients and build trust with them. I don’t think that human element can be replaced by AI.”
Life beyond IP
Outside work, Peri enjoys running, cycling and spending time in the mountains of North Wales.
One of her proudest achievements was completing an ultra-marathon along the Welsh coastal path from Penarth to Ogmore.
“It was tiring, but fantastic,” she says. “The weather behaved for once, which was a miracle.”
She is currently focused on returning to pre-baby fitness and hopes to complete the Swansea Half Ironman in the future after postponing the event during pregnancy.
Whenever possible, she still heads back to Snowdonia.
“If you get a clear day in the Welsh mountains, you can’t beat it,” she says. “I’m probably biased because it’s home, but they’re just fantastic.”
Looking ahead
Reflecting on her career so far, Peri believes resilience has been one of the most valuable lessons she has learned.
“Being a patent attorney has definitely made me more resilient,” she says. “It’s a challenging profession, but also a very rewarding one.”
She also hopes more young people will become aware of intellectual property careers earlier in life.
“I didn’t know anything about the IP profession until university,” she says. “That’s why outreach and visibility are so important.”
Contact Details
LinkedIn: Peri Jones LinkedIn Firm Website:Abel + Imray
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.
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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.
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.
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