INTERVIEW

How did you learn about the Patent Attorney profession and what inspired you to become a (European) Patent Attorney?

I came into the profession as a complete coincidence. I was about to finish my masters degree, and I was in desperate need for a job post-graduation, as I had a family to support. I applied for numerous positions as an R/D engineer, as I had only envisioned myself to get my fingers dirty, and try and use my education for new creations. However, at the time, my degree in Biomedical Engineering Degree unknown to companies, and nobody knew what to do with someone with my capabilities, which meant that I did not find the job I had hoped. However, a small firm in Private practice knew the value of a Biomedical Degree and offered me a job as a Patent Attorney. I decided to try it, and was absolutely convinced that I would find another job within one year, as I told myself that “I absolutely had no intention of working in front of a computer screen”. Within three months of working as a Patent Attorney, I was convinced that this job was my calling, and I have not looked back since.

Most people know that Patent Attorneys help clients obtain a patent. However, what other tasks are you responsible for? 

I would not classify my job as you state above. For us it is very important to inform our clients that the work we do is not to obtain patents, but to ensure that their investments in innovation is safe, and that our role is to ensure that they can conduct their business without too much interference from their competitors. Therefore, as we believe that we have to support the business strategies of our clients, it may be that we encourage our clients to pursue patents, but it may also be a strategy not to do so, if such a strategy is best for our clients.

If you had to split your role into science, law, and business, what is the proportion of each?

I think law is about 40%, business is about 40% and science is about 20%.

What does the team structure at your workplace look like?

We have patent attorneys that are primarily experienced within Mechanical Engineering, and have a support staff to assist us in the administrative work that is required by our professions. A very typical structure for a private practice firm.

What does your average workday look like?

A typical workday may be very varied, where a good portion of the day is to interact with our team with various legal or technical tasks, as we believe that input from multiple people improves the quality of our work. Interaction with clients is also very usual on a daily basis, where we believe it is important to understand what the client needs, in order to provide the best service.

What would a dream workday as a (European) Patent Attorney look like for you?

I think that I have a dream workday, with a lot of freedom and a lot of responsibility, which allows you to make a difference for your co-workers and your clients.

What is the most exciting aspect of being a (European) Patent Attorney for you?

I really enjoy when a highly complex case lands on my desk, whether it may be an opposition case, an infringement case or any case that requires the full use of your mental resources. It is very satisfying to find solutions to problems that seem difficult or impossible to solve.

What are your least favourite tasks?

My less favorite tasks are the repetitive tasks that are absolutely necessary in our business, as we have a lot of checks and balances that need to be handled. I see these tasks as the doorway to the more enjoyable tasks, as when these less favorite tasks are finished, I can focus on the fun stuff.

Does your job allow you to have time for your hobbies? Do you have any side projects related to patents?

Yes, the freedom within our profession allows you to manage your time quite effectively, and if you need time to carry out your hobbies, it is relatively easy to organize your work around this.

If you could start your career over, would you change anything?

Probably not. I really like that I have tried different things in my career, worked with different technologies and companies, which has allowed me to discover what I like and what I don’t like within our profession.

If the Patent Attorney profession suddenly disappeared tomorrow, what else would you do?

I would probably try to make a career of being a strategy advisor for businesses. My most enjoyable moments are when I have helped a business in achieving their goals, and where a part of my job has been to help them find suitable goals to pursue.

What advice would you give someone that wants to become a European Patent Attorney?

Welcome into the strange world of IP. I hope you will have the same enjoyment in the profession as I have, and that you are willing to invest a lot of your time get good at your job. I believe that the best attorneys are those that jump into the challenges with their both feet, and care about delivering quality.

What do you think about the future outlook of our profession?

I think that the work of patent attorneys will change continuously from one day to the next, or from one year to the next, and that our profession will always need to adapt to changing times. I do believe that the profession has changed a lot in the time I have been active, and I am sure that it will change a lot in the coming years. All the new technologies will assist us in improving our quality and the advice we give to our clients.