What was your first ever job?
I worked on the local Waitrose deli counter.
How did you get involved in intellectual property and what first attracted you to the field?
By accident – I took legal temp work when I graduated and my agency sent me to Olswang’s IP team, which had just started up. There were lots of opportunities there and so I stayed, studying part time for my legal practice course, and then took the ITMA trade mark attorney exams and qualified.
When did you join Potter Clarkson and why?
I joined Potter Clarkson in February 2019. My friend works in the Nottingham office and had recommended the firm as a good place to work. Because I was keen to work in an IP firm, when they opened an office in London I jumped at the chance to join.
What is your area of speciality and why did you choose it?
Trade marks. Once again it happened by accident, but I enjoy that it is such a developing area of law where good and convincing writing is very important. I like language and have always been very brand-aware, so looking back it is not that surprising I have ended up in this field.
What does a typical day in your role entail and what do you most enjoy about it/find most challenging?
I start work at 10.30am (I work part time) and usually begin by catching up with everyone and working through any urgent deadlines or emails needing an immediate response. I like working with other people and discussing ideas, so I enjoy that part of the role the most. Later in the afternoon, I work on any drafting, detailed advice or documents that I need to concentrate on. At the end of the day, I usually work through any admin, billing, internal emails and so on. That is the most challenging part of the day, but it is always satisfying to go home knowing it has been dealt with.
What has been the highlight of your career at Potter Clarkson so far?
I recently spoke at a conference with a colleague – it was stressful but good fun. We really felt the benefit of working in a team where everyone is so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about trade marks.
What advice would you give anyone looking to enter the field?
Get some relevant work experience in trade marks so you have a real understanding of what the everyday work is like. Being interested in brands and marketing is really helpful when talking to clients about what they really care about rather than just the specific trade mark issues.