The Spotlight Series: Birmingham Part Three
In the last of our Spotlight series focused on Birmingham we speak with Jennifer Bailey, a dual qualified patent attorney working in the Birmingham office of Marks & Clerk.
What first attracted you to a career at Marks & Clerk and to working in the Birmingham office?
I wanted to join a firm with a global reputation for IP, a great variety of work, excellent career prospects and a good support structure during my training years. I knew that M&C would tick all of these boxes! Having completed my PhD at the University of Birmingham, I was also keen to continue to enjoy city life without the expense of London.
What does a typical working week look like?
I tend to focus on client work in the mornings – drafting patent applications, reviewing reports from patent offices around the world, advising clients by phone or email, and preparing arguments to challenge third party patents. There is a huge variety of work so each day is different. In the afternoons I catch up on admin – the excellent IT infrastructure makes it easy to keep on top of deadlines and access files electronically from any office. I also supervise trainee attorneys, reviewing their work and answering any questions they may have. I quite frequently travel to the University of Birmingham to talk to academics about new inventions. We also hold regular office and team meetings to keep up to date with legal developments.
Give us an idea of the range of clients you work with and the variety of technologies?
My clients include large multinational companies such as Mondelez, Universities, small start-ups and overseas attorneys. Although my academic background is in chemistry and microbiology, I handle subject matter across technical fields ranging from biotechnology (e.g. diagnostic assays, therapeutic peptides and nucleic acid synthesis) to materials (including nanoparticles, semiconductor layers and foundry), food science (such as emulsions and confectionery) and medical devices (e.g. prosthetics and wound dressings).
What is most enjoyable about working for the Marks & Clerk Birmingham office?
The Birmingham office is friendly, supportive, social, and has a really nice office environment (including a large break-out area for lunch, bake-a-thons and Friday drinks!). The office is centrally located so is close to the train station (and the shops), while the beautiful countryside of Warwickshire and Worcestershire is only a short distance away. We are in the centre of the country, and close to the airport, which means that London, the North and Scotland are all easily accessible.
Tell us about your career highlight to date
In February 2016 I represented a high-profile client against one of their main competitors at an Opposition hearing at the European Patent Office in Munich, and successfully argued for revocation of the competitor’s patent. This was my first hearing without the support of a Partner, and instead I took a trainee attorney with me. It’s a great feeling when you realise that you are finally independent after all of the years of training, and that you can now pass on your skills and knowledge to the junior members of the team.
What opportunities are there for development and progression at Marks & Clerk?
There are so many opportunities to get involved in things that spark your interest at Marks & Clerk, whether it’s training, business development, marketing, recruitment or infrastructure. As a trainee I was lucky enough to travel to Hong Kong and Japan to meet existing and prospective clients, and this year I will be attending a biotechnology conference in the US. I have been involved in delivering training to support staff and trainee attorneys, as well as clients and university students. The Partners I work with have been hugely supportive in providing me with a wide range of experiences which have allowed me to develop not only as a patent attorney, but also to provide me with the case management, supervisory and advocacy skills that I will need to progress further in my career.
What makes you stay at Marks & Clerk?
At Marks & Clerk I enjoy a level of independence and responsibility that you do not always get in other firms. I am largely responsible for my own clients, cases and deadlines, yet I have the support of a team of attorneys if I need a second opinion. I think the career opportunities at Marks & Clerk are unrivalled. I also love belonging to a large firm with a network of colleagues around the world. If I have a question about biotechnology patents in China, or a recent decision in the Canadian courts, I just have to pick up the phone.
If you had to describe Marks & Clerk in just three words, what would they be?
Supportive, client-focused, quality
Do you have something you would like us to shine the Fellows Spotlight on? Get in touch with us on [email protected].