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Dr Rachel Free is a partner in the patent team at International Law Firm CMS where she helps clients to protect their technology through patents. She has an MSc in Artificial Intelligence and a DPhil in Vision Science. She qualified as a European and UK patent attorney in the last century and has worked on AI patent drafting and prosecution through her career. Rachel is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on AI (APPG AI) which advises parliamentarians regarding AI. Rachel Free is a gold ranked individual – IAM Patent 1000, United Kingdom: England and Wales 2025, and is individually ranked as a next generation partner in Legal 500 2025. Rachel is recognized in the IAM global leaders 2026.

Yasemin holds an MSc in computer engineering. She joined the EPO in 2003 and worked as an examiner in the fields of bioinformatics, business methods and payment systems. She passed the EQE in 2011. After working in the procedural support unit where she contributed to design of procedures and drafting of Guidelines and work instructions, she now leads a team responsible for legal and procedural matters related to search, examination and fee processes. She was a member of an internal task force which proposed content for the sections of the Guidelines relevant for computer-implemented inventions.

Nigel has led three patent examining groups over the last 9 years, specialising in electrical and mechanical technology. Prior to that he spent 16 years as a Patent Examiner working on computing inventions.

He has always retained an active interest in this area, and as a senior expert Nigel leads a small team involved in setting Examination Practice and training of examiners in the sometimes contentious area of the patentability of computer programs. He is a regular speaker and presenter on the subject.

More recently, he led the team that produced the updates to the Manual of Patent Practice on computer programs, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the new section on Quantum Computing. He also leads the team responsible for the AI Guidelines and Scenarios which were first published in September 2022 with the third edition being published in January of this year. He leads the team working on the Emotional Perception case both before the Court of Appeal, previously in the high court and now pending before the Supreme Court.

Alasdair has an unrivalled breadth of experience across the IP professions. A science and law graduate, he originally qualified as a barrister in the late 70s before going on to qualify as a patent attorney, a solicitor and a trade mark attorney.

Alasdair worked to introduce and structure the then new professional regulator, IPReg, travelling the country as Vice-President, President and Immediate Past President to gain consensus across the profession over the implementation of the new regulatory regime.

Since then he has kept an eye on regulation while promoting UK patent attorneys’ litigation skills (including working on CIPA’s first Litigation Skills Course and representing CIPA on the IP and Intellectual Property Enterprise Court User Committees), editing the CIPA Journal, assisting in organising Congress, chairing various CIPA committees, speaking at seminars and generally working to ensure CIPA and the UK patent attorney profession both remain world class.

Simon is chair of the CIPA computer technology committee and a director of Altair IP.  He has many years of experience working across the full spectrum of computing and has also performed research in electrical engineering and high energy astrophysics.  He started his career as a patent attorney with IBM and was a partner for many years at D Young & Co LLP.

Mike is a Partner and European and UK Patent Attorney at Venner Shipley LLP. This follows the combination of Venner Shipley and AA Thornton in December 2024, which created the current team of 230 IP specialists operating from 6 UK offices plus Munich and Madrid. Mike is Vice Chair of CIPA’s Computer Technology Committee and a member of the CIPA AI Committee. Mike’s work covers a wide range of technologies including computer-related inventions (such as AI, quantum computing, computer simulation and modelling software, imaging, hardware and networks) and using his background in physics for measurement, sensing and instrumentation. He is often praised by clients for his commercially-relevant strategic advice and for resolving their most complex legal challenges. Mike is an invited member of the Standing Advisory Committee before the EPO, advising on their Guidelines and Quality, and is frequently invited by CIPA to present to IP associations on topics such as best practice for patenting AI and other rapidly evolving technologies.

Caitlin is the Co-Head of the International IP Group at CMS. She is an IP litigator and solicitor advocate focusing on multi-jurisdictional patent disputes. With experience across a range of industry sectors focusing on technology and life sciences Caitlin has been instrumental in several landmark cases across the full spectrum of IP rights.

Dr Rachel Free is a partner in the patent team at International Law Firm CMS where she helps clients to protect their technology through patents. She has an MSc in Artificial Intelligence and a DPhil in Vision Science. She qualified as a European and UK patent attorney in the last century and has worked on AI patent drafting and prosecution through her career. Rachel is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on AI (APPG AI) which advises parliamentarians regarding AI. Rachel Free is a gold ranked individual – IAM Patent 1000, United Kingdom: England and Wales 2025, and is individually ranked as a next generation partner in Legal 500 2025. Rachel is recognized in the IAM global leaders 2026.