DUMMETT COPP - Key Persons
I joined Dummett Copp 1994 as a Partner's secretary and moved into the Formalities Department a couple of years later. I am now the Formalities Manager with overall responsibility for the Formalities Team, which monitors incoming and outgoing correspondence, maintains the computerised records-keeping and diary systems and the renewal of clients' patents, trade marks and designs. I also make sure the Fee Earners meet their deadlines and deal with patent and trade mark assignments and licensing. I have recently completed an NVQ 3 in Management.
Outside the office my time is filled with looking after my two children. I am a member of two Parent Teacher Association committees.
I try to keep fit and relax by swimming and walking my two dogs. We also enjoy family weekends away camping during the summer.
Qualifications
CIPA Paralegal
CITMA Paralegal
NVQ3 Management
I joined Dummett Copp as the Practice Manager in 2021, having previously worked as a Finance Director/Practice Manager in a Central London law firm and relocating to Ipswich in 2019. As the Practice Manager I have overall responsibility for the smooth running of the Firm, promotion of the business and responsible for the firm's administration team.
I completed AAT Levels 2, and 3 Accounting qualifications whilst working and living in Cornwall, and almost completed Level 4, but had to put on pause due to relocating to Kent in 2016.
I joined Dummett Copp in 2001 as Secretary to the Practice Manager. During my time with the firm, I have worked with all the Partners both past and present as well as all the associate patent attorneys. I am now the Senior Secretary working closely with Rob McLean, Derek Holmes, Matt Jacobs, Verity Rosher-Hutton and Sam Exton. I have completed the Patent Administrator training course as well as various telephone and reception techniques courses. I am also a fully qualified office First Aider.
I am very involved with the training of new secretarial / administrative staff, which is something I really enjoy doing. I am also a member of the firm's Marketing Committee and it is my job to keep all Dummett Copp activities up to date on our social media sites!
Job Titles:
- Formalities / Accounts Administrator
I joined Dummett Copp in the Autumn of 2018 as a Formalities/Accounts Administrator. My responsibilities include the processing of supplier invoices, daily banking, client statements and assisting with accounts payable. In addition, I provide administrative support to the Formalities and Renewals Departments.
Before joining Dummett Copp, I worked in the car insurance industry as a senior member of a claims support team.
Job Titles:
- Partner / Head of Trade Marks
I joined Dummett Copp in 2002 having graduated from the University of Nottingham with a first class honours degree in Biology in 2001. I qualified as a UK Trade Mark Attorney in 2005 and am a member of the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys. In 2018, I became a Partner as well as Head of the Trade Mark Department at Dummett Copp.
I joined Dummett Copp LLP in 2017, having spent over eleven years in private practice in London. I am a fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys.
My practice extends across a range of technology areas, including automotive, mechanical and electrical engineering, materials science, medical devices, pharmaceutical technology, building products and logistics. As well as drafting and prosecuting patent and registered design applications, I provide advice on portfolio management, contentious and commercial issues, and I am an experienced advocate in European patent opposition proceedings.
Before joining the patent profession, I obtained a first-class Master's degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University, specialising in Materials Science and Metallurgy. I also completed a PhD in Ceramic Processing at Cambridge, where my research on the sintering and drying behaviour of engineering ceramics encompassed scientific instrument design, software programming and device fabrication techniques. The multidisciplinary nature of my studies and a passion for new technology led me to a career as a patent attorney.
Outside work, I enjoy music, walking, car mechanics and motor racing.
Qualifications
Chartered UK Patent Attorney
European Patent Attorney
MA Natural Sciences
PhD Materials Science
I originally Joined Dummett Copp in 2006 as a Finance Assistant, assisting the Finance Manager with all the day to day accounts tasks. In this time I passed my AAT qualifications. I left Dummett Copp after five years but returned 10 years later as the Finance Manager. My role is very varied and I take on all the accounts tasks.
In the 10 year between working for Dummett Copp, I worked within an Accounts practice, preparing accounts, tax returns and completing bookkeeping for sole traders, partnerships & Limited companies.
Outside of work I have a young family that keeps me busy, we love spending time with friends and family and spending time at our happy place, the beach.
Qualifications
MAAT
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Trade Mark Assistant
I joined Dummett Copp in September 2022. Prior to joining the firm, I studied BA (Hons) Fashion Management and Marketing and graduated in 2021 with a first class honours degree.
During my time at University, I worked backstage at London Fashion Week, in the studio at editorial fashion magazines and as a PR, Events and Marketing intern at a Luxury Sample Sale venue in Mayfair, London. At the end of my internship, I joined the team as a Freelance Luxury Sample Sale Events Coordinator.
Poised with a creative background and coupled with my eye for detail, I am looking forward to applying my fashion and marketing expertise to trade mark law.
I joined Dummett Copp as a Secretary, having previously worked as a Secretary and Paralegal with local Solicitors for over 24 years, which included a short time working for a large law firm in London to gain some city experience. I have worked in all areas of high street law over the years. I felt ready for a change and a new challenge in Trade Marks and Patents, where my skills would be transferrable.
I joined the patent profession to find an outlet for my broad interest in science and technology. I aim to help inventors and companies navigate the patent application process, while always keeping in mind their specific business needs.
I graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2002 with a Master's degree in Natural Sciences. After studying General Engineering for two years, I specialised in Materials Science, continuing to study a diverse range of subjects including metallurgy, composites, polymers and biomaterials. I completed a PhD in 2005, in collaboration with a large pharmaceutical company, researching drug crystallisation and delivery, and then continued in the field of pharmaceutical materials science to complete a three year project as a Research Associate studying peptide self-assembly for pharmaceutical and medical applications.
In addition to my research, I spent time teaching undergraduate materials science, both running practical classes and as a tutor.
I joined Dummett Copp in 2008 and became a partner of the firm in 2015. I am also a fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys.
I work with a broad range of clients in a number of technical areas including medical devices, offshore equipment, packaging and building materials, as well as advising on other general mechanical and consumer product inventions. I am also able to advise clients regarding trade mark and design protection.
I joined the firm in 2009 having previously worked in the City of London for various International Banks in the Foreign Exchange Department and finally running the Futures desk. I left the City to raise my family, and returned to work after four years - working part-time on the counter of a local bank and then for a local department store running the Complaints Department on the Heavy Household section where I was awarded Employee of the Season for my hard work and commitment. I have also worked in a local Pharmacy as Office Administrator, and also completed a Pharmacy Counter Assistant course.
Since joining Dummett Copp as a Secretary in 2009, I have completed an NVQ in Business Administration and passed both the CITMA and CIPA Paralegal courses.
During my time, I have worked closely with several of our attorneys, assisted with the training of new secretarial/administrative staff, and was responsible for maintaining the archiving system. I am now working as a Paralegal, assisting our attorneys and the Formalities department of the firm, and enjoy the new challenges this role brings.
Job Titles:
- Formalities Administrator
I graduated from Anglia Ruskin University (Chelmsford) in 2008 with a LLB (Hons) in Law. I then joined Dummett Copp in 2009 as a Formalities Administrator and passed the Patent Administrators course in 2010 and the Trade Mark Administrators course in 2012. I have also obtained an NVQ in Business Administration and am a member of the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys.
I have responsibility for dealing with incoming and outgoing correspondence, maintaining the case management and diary system, the administration of new patent and trade mark applications, and setting up new files. In addition to general trade mark and patent formalities administration, I also have responsibility for maintaining the firm's client databases and trade mark watching services. I also assist with the renewals department.
Job Titles:
- Associate / Trade
- Associate, Trade Mark Attorney
I joined Dummett Copp in May 2018, having trained and qualified whilst working in private practice in London.
Before becoming a trade mark attorney, I obtained a first class honours degree in Biochemistry (with professional placement) from the University of Bath in 2014. After graduating, I was keen to pursue a career, which would allow me to use the technical skills from my degree, but with a commercial focus. This led me to trade mark law.
I have acted for a broad range of clients, and particularly enjoy getting to know each client's brand and how they foresee it developing in the future, so that I can provide tailored advice to suit their needs.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate, European Patent Attorney
I joined Dummett Copp in August 2018, having graduated earlier in the year with a PhD in plant optics and photosynthesis from the University of Bristol. I assist with all aspects of patent drafting and prosecution and qualified as a European Patent Attorney in 2022.
I obtained an honours degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University in 2013, where I studied a variety of subjects, specialising in Plant Sciences. During my studies, I enjoyed the crossover between scientific disciplines, and the challenge of communicating new ideas, which pointed me towards the patent profession.
I joined Dummett Copp LLP in 2008, having worked in private practice for over 10 years where I also gained my patent qualifications.
I graduated in 1992 with a first class honours degree in Physics and Sports Science and completed a PhD in Medical Biophysics at the University of Manchester in 1997.
I have worked for a wide range of clients and advise on all aspects of Intellectual Property, including patents, trade marks, designs and copyright. I have also attended and represented clients in opposition and oral proceedings before the European Patent Office.
I am a fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys.
I became a partner with the firm in 2011.
Qualifications
Chartered UK Patent Attorney
European Patent Attorney
PhD Medical Biophysics
BSc (Hons) Physics and Sports Science
I joined Dummett Copp in 1993 and qualified with the firm as a UK and European Patent Attorney before becoming a partner in 1997. I retired in 2020.
From an early age, I was interested in science, and particularly in chemistry. After achieving a first class honours degree in chemistry I completed a PhD at Hull University on liquid crystal polymers. Following post-doctoral work on ferroelectric liquid crystals, I joined ICI as a research and development scientist.
During my time with ICI I worked in a variety of product development areas, including large-area display devices, optical data storage media, dye-diffusion thermal transfer printing media and novel xerographic films.
I found working as part of a multidisciplinary team to be a valuable aid to developing technical communication skills, as also was the process of taking a new product from a bench experiment, through pilot-scale trials, to a handover to full-scale production.
Originally from Canada, I came to study at the University of St Andrews where I was awarded the McEuen Scholarship. After obtaining a BSc in joint Physics and Electronics, which included specialisations in optics, laser physics and opto-electronics, I returned to Canada to obtain a Masters in Physics from the University of Western Ontario. My research was in the field of Atomic and Molecular Physics, specifically high-resolution spectroscopic studies of the sodium molecule using a molecular beam apparatus, tuneable dye lasers and applied rf fields. To better interpret the results, I developed a computer model of the interactions of the molecules with the applied optical and rf fields and which included quantum coherence effects.
After university I was a Senior Research Physicist with ICI, and helped to develop optical data storage products, including a 1 TB optical data storage tape which was commercialised to store satellite imagery. For two years I was seconded to a subsidiary of Iomega Corporation in the US developing a disc drive for a removable 1 GB flexible optical disc cartridge.
Following this, I joined Dummett Copp LLP in 1995, and in my professional qualifying examinations was awarded the CIPA Drafting Prize for the highest mark in the paper dealing with the preparation of UK and overseas patent specifications. I became a Partner with the firm in 2000.
As a patent attorney, I have experience across a wide range of technologies, including optics, fibre optics, opto-electronic devices, display technologies, automotive technologies, computer related inventions, medical devices and automated packing systems.
I also regularly advise clients regarding trade mark and design protection, and assist with licencing, assignments and enforcement of IP rights, and I am an experienced advocate in European patent opposition and appeal proceedings.
I retired in 2024 and now act as a Consultant to the firm.
Qualifications
Chartered UK Patent Attorney
European Patent Attorney
MSc Physics
BSc (Hons) Physics and Electronics
I joined Dummett Copp in 2023 after working in both private practice as an IP Consultant and as an Associate within a university technology transfer in London. I am currently training to become a UK and European Patent Attorney.
Before joining the IP profession, I studied master's degrees in chemistry and pharmacology from Oxford, in which I focused my research on lithium mimetics for the treatment of bipolar disorder and the study of natural product inhibitors of UV-induced skin damage. I'm particularly interested in metabolism and using small molecules to influence metabolic pathways related to aging.
Job Titles:
- Formalities Administrator
I joined Dummett Copp in the Summer of 2018 as a Formalities Administrator within the busy Formalities Department. I am involved in all aspects of Trade Mark and Patent administration and enjoy the challenges and interest that my role brings.
Before joining Dummett Copp, I worked at the largest rail freight company in the UK for 20 years, most recently as an Accounts Team Leader.
In my spare time, I like to go to the gym and I am also an active member of a local hockey club.
Qualifications
CITMA Paralegal
I joined Dummett Copp in the summer of 2013 as a Secretary. I had significant prior legal experience having worked for several firms of solicitors in Ipswich, but I was new to the world of patents and trade marks. I very much enjoy following the procedure of patents and trade marks from application to registration. I work closely with Jacqueline Holmes, Lewis Jones and Jeff Morris.
Job Titles:
- Associate / Trade
- Associate, Trade Mark Attorney
I joined Dummett Copp as an Associate in 2022 having worked in Intellectual Property for almost 9 years. My journey in trade marks began as a paralegal, and I qualified as a UK Chartered Trade Mark Attorney at a Cambridge firm in 2021.
I have experience of working with businesses of all sizes, from small start-ups to large international brands. I have represented clients across many sectors including fashion, sport, health and hygiene, television production and food. I enjoy learning about my clients' businesses and brands as a better understanding of what is important to my clients helps me to provide clear and commercial advice.
I have experience in handling and enforcing trade mark portfolios of all sizes, with experience in conducting strategy reviews, clearance searching, advising on filing projects and prosecuting trade mark applications. I also have experience with contentious proceedings such as oppositions and cancellation actions.
Outside of work, I am an enthusiastic (but not very successful) gardener, and I enjoy live music and spending time at the beach with a good book.
Qualifications
Chartered Trade Mark Attorney
LLB (Hons)