President election: candidates’ statements

Watch Greg’s election video.

Qualifications: 

BSc (Hons) Physics with Astrophysics – Keele University

Chartered Patent Attorney

European Patent Attorney

European Trade Mark Attorney

Registered Trade Mark Attorney (Ireland)

Professional Career:

I joined Dehns as a trainee in 2007 and became partner in 2022.  I am based in the Munich office.

Services to the Institute:

Member of Council since 2016

Chair of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Committee since 2021

Election Address:

Ever since I began training to be a patent attorney in 2007, I have always admired and been engaged with the work CIPA undertakes for its membership.  Despite living in Munich and being based here for the majority of my career, the institute has never felt distant or too far away – a testament to CIPA’s excellent communication and network.

I joined CIPA Council in 2016 and travel to the UK frequently for various CIPA events. In more recent times this has included attending Council meetings in person and Council’s strategic planning workshop in Cambridge in 2023.  I want to assure voters that living in Germany will in no way detract from my ability to effectively carry out the responsibilities of President.  In today’s connected world, geographical location is no barrier to Presidential duties. The pandemic ushered in the acceptance and freedom of meeting virtually, a change which I embrace – though I still see the importance and enjoy meeting in person when necessary.  I am fully committed to dedicating the time, energy, and attention needed to serve the Institute and its members.

Joining Council gave me greater insights into the patent profession as a whole and I have enjoyed engaging with the CIPA membership at all levels, while working to support the training and continual professional development of our members.  Enhancing learning and strengthening the CIPA community are themes close to my heart and these themes would form the foundation of my Presidency, if I were elected. I would also continue to review and update our strategic goals to ensure that we are aligned with the goals set by Council during our strategic workshop.

I have been Chair of the CIPA EDI committee since its inception in 2021. The goal of the EDI committee is to understand the needs of our members and ensure the IP profession is inclusive, equal and diverse – qualities that will only enhance our profession and our offering in the market. The EDI Committee continues to be virtual to ensure that members can access our meetings and we are making progress to support CIPA to ensure that members can enjoy an equal, diverse and inclusive environment.

I will continue to champion the importance of EDI.  As part of this effort, I would like to explore opportunities for school leavers to enter the profession (for example, by offering T Levels in Records administration, or similar). Bobby Mukherjee (Vice-President) is currently making great strides with apprentice schemes and, if elected President, I would continue on this path of making IP more accessible to school leavers who may want to pursue a career in Patent Administration.

Europe is also seeing growth in the number of CIPA members living and working on the continent and I believe it would be useful for this growing community of CIPA members to have representation in CIPA council.  Before the pandemic, CIPA networking events were held in Munich for local attorneys and I’d like to reinstate these activities for members in regions outside of the UK, while still strengthening the CIPA community resources and infrastructure in the UK.

I look forward to what the next CIPA Presidency may bring and I hope members will support my bid for 2026.

Watch Simon’s election video.

Education and Professional Qualifications

University of Bristol, Honours Degree in Chemistry (with Biochemistry)  –  1983-1986

CIPA Honorary Secretary 1989

Chartered Patent Attorney  –  since 1989

European Patent Attorney  –  since 1991

Trained at Kilburn & Strode  – 1986-1993

J A Kemp   –  1993 (made partner in 1999) -2021

Consultant/Of Counsel at Schlich – January 2022 to date

Membership of Professional Bodies

Chair of Life Sciences Committee (LSC) of Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA):  2003 to date

Member of CIPA Governing Council:  2009 to date

CIPA Professional Guidance Committee:  2003 – 2012

CIPA International Liaison Committee: 2016 to date

CIPA EPO Liaison Committee: 2022 to date

CIPA Patents Committee: 2016 to date

UNION Life Sciences Commission (Chair): 2016 to date

epi Biotech Committee Chair:  2023 to date (Secretary from 2006)

epi Disciplinary Committee:  2003 – 2011

epi Professional Conduct Committee:  2011 – 2015

epi Council member for GB:  2002 to date

epi Board member for GB:  2011 – 2017 (and invited member since 2023)

epi Member of SACEPO:  2011 – 2017

epi By Laws member: 2017 to date

epi Patents Committee (working group): since 2021

Election Statement 

Having been active in the profession for 38 years, I would like to stand for the position of President of CIPA in 2026. I am lucky enough that this profession has given me a fantastic career and it’s time to give something back.

If I am elected for President, my goals for CIPA would be

• Improve IP education, especially for the new EQEs (including resisting the German position that all trainee patent attorneys must have a Master’s Degree)
• Continue to promote UK experience and excellence in UPC litigation
• Promotional campaign of CIPA members internationally, as well as educating UK businesses in IP to protect their creativity
• An improved epi (my long-term involvement in epi and its committees mean I have the connections to influence this)

My background and beliefs

I specialise in Life Sciences and have Chaired CIPA’s LSC for 20 years now. This is a rapidly moving field, often with its own unique and complex legal problems. I have been privileged in my career to handle key issues specific to the biotech arena (for example, patenting of plants at the EPO, plant varieties at the UK and EU level, the EU proposal for a pan-EU SPC (Supplementary Protection Certificate), Nagoya and digital sequence/genetic resources and Sequence Listings, to name just a few ongoing matters).

These topics can be technically complex and often require detailed technical knowledge. I have been involved in high level political diplomatic negotiations, often via WIPO and DEFRA (and even the Australian Patent Office!) earlier this year on the Nagoya/genetic origin legislation. The LSC has had an annual meeting with high level officials from the UK IPO to discuss such matters as well practice issues for over a decade. These issues can have a profound effect on UK business and our practice.

The EU is increasingly reaching into IP matters as can be seen from the proposal to a have a single pan-European SPC, causing concern to pharma companies. SPCs are a very specialist (and high risk!) area, and we want to ensure that we have rights to representation our clients here (whether it’s the EPO or EU IPO that handles any future pan-EU SPC). Biotech often hits the headlines (such as Covid) and there are rumours of compulsory licensing for vaccines and other products. In addition, this area can be highly litigious with multi-party (Opposition and UPC) proceedings (the Nobel prize winning CRISPR technology, for example).

I have a wide range of experience in various professional bodies, but in particular at CIPA (and the epi) at the top level. I started early with my education with CIPA and have experience of many of the different committees, so am familiar with how CIPA is run and managed for its members. This ranges not only from the biotech and patents committees but those dealing with professional standards and ethics.

I have similar roles to those at CIPA in the epi. I now also Chair of the epi biotech committee and sit at Board (as well as Council) level. The epi is a very important sister body and one that we should increase ties and influence with. This is especially given the major upcoming changes to the EQE (and the worrying push from the Germans to increase the degree level to Master’s for EPA qualification).

CIPA has a special dedicated epi liaison committee which fosters exchange between the two professional bodies, but being placed high in the epi gives me knowledge and (hopefully!) influence. I want to see the epi improve its services to members, exert more influence at the EPO and be more pro-active and visible in the IP world.

Education is critical, in particular with the big changes to the EQE. CIPA (and indeed the epi) should continue to assist, train and educate candidates, so that we maintain the enviable high level of success the UK has, with more candidates passing at the EQE and being able to act before the UPC.  We should try to gain more control over the EQE so that we can continue to improve the examination system and pass rate for our candidates, while maintaining quality and the skill set that is needed to keep the UK profession in high regard.

The Unitary Patent and the Court represents one of the biggest changes we have seen in European patent law in decades, and arguably the largest change since the EPC itself, 50 years ago. The UPC system presents UK attorneys with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to become expert court representatives, especially as the system has strong EPO similarities. We should embrace the UPC, use it to develop our businesses and skills, and deploy those for the benefit of our clients and employers. I want to continue to put UK CPAs at the forefront of the UPC, and provide support and qualifications so that we can continue to (out)compete our European neighbours, and be the first port of call worldwide for UPC matters.

I also want to strengthen ties with other international attorney professional bodies, such as in the USA (I have ties with the AIPLA, plus the Canadians) and Asia (not least the Chinese, Japanese and Koreans), foster co-operation and to assist in the exchange of business, assistance and information. We need to persuade attorneys and applicants from outside Europe to first come to UK attorneys for their IP needs, and to promote CPAs as their go-to advisors for IP, and not just for national and EPO matters.

I will work to obtain greater influence with the UK IPO and the EPO.  I want CIPA to build those relationships and its members to become more persuasive and important, to the benefit of both CPAs and applicants alike.  We should continue to encourage both the UK IPO EPO to consult with and listen to CIPA, to act on our advice and to engage in constructive consultation with us, in particular on future practice and legislative changes that can considerably affect our business.

At the UK IPO we need to tackle the issue of the mushrooming trade mark filings (we suspect from China) and the address for service rules which need reform post-Brexit to level the playing field with other national Patent Offices. I would like to secure the UK IPO as an ISA for PCT applications that we file (not only because the UK IPO is cheaper). This is one of many initiatives I have in mind for encouraging SMEs to realise their IP rights, not least by reducing costs.

I plan to publicise and promote IP in general to UK plc, not only to increase awareness (especially of patents and trade marks) but also to increase filings by UK industry which seems to lag a little behind our European neighbours. This is not only to protect the UK’s considerable scientific capability and creativity and generate wealth for UK business but to place CIPA at the forefront for providing advice and services in this area. Such an initiative will benefit not only the UK economy but CIPA’s standing, too.

We have had, in the past, a sometimes difficult relationship with our regulator body, IPreg, and although there are signs of improvement we still need to manage this carefully. The new CPD rules seem sensible, but more guidance and assistance would be most welcome. I want to ensure that IPreg delivers a fast and efficient service to members with minimal increase (if any) in fees. No taxation without representation, I hear you cry…..

On the social/education side I have considerable experience in organising attorney events and conferences, not least the LSC’s annual conference (started in 2003) that now attracts about 180 biotech specialist attorneys every year. I have spoken at CIPA Congress in the past and fully support this flagship event, which I will encourage to flourish.

I am a frequent visitor to Munich, not only for epi committee and Board meetings, but also hearings and meetings with or at the EPO.

Finally, on a personal note, I split my time between St Albans and Brighton, both of which provide easy access to central London (Thameslink permitting, of course). This allows me to attend and chair meetings in person. I think this is very important: as President, I believe one needs to be physically present to chair meetings (especially Council, as recent Presidents have endeavoured to achieve). It also allows me to attend meetings in the UK (especially in London) in person, some of which are arranged at short notice and are urgent. Many meetings are with officials (UK IPO, EPO, Government, foreign delegations, etc) where face-to-face is either essential or clearly warranted.

Thank you for considering my candidacy. It’s not often that there’s an election for CIPA President – the last was probably a decade ago – so please go and vote!