We are delighted to confirm Esther Ford and Simon Portman of Marks & Clerk as our Guest Speakers for the 8th workshop in the MERLIN ICT series dedicated to Intellectual Property.

Marks & Clerk has long been recognised as one of the leading intellectual property firms across the globe, with eight offices across the UK and a further nine in North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific.

The firm offers a comprehensive range of intellectual property services - covering patents, trade marks, designs and copyright. This includes obtaining protection worldwide, portfolio management, strategic and commercial advice, contract – drafting and negotiation, enforcement, due diligence and litigation.

Today’s local is tomorrow’s global: Innovation is the life-blood of business and it’s vital that you do not overlook the need to protect your intellectual property. From the capture of an idea, to the enforcement or defence of rights in disputes Marks & Clerk is your expert partner to ensure your IP is protected and fully exploited.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Esther Ford
Esther obtained an MEng in Electronic Engineering after studying at the University of Kent and the Technische Hochschule Darmstadt. Having been awarded an Engineering Prize from the Royal Academy of Engineering, she then went on to obtain a PhD in Microelectronics from the University of Cambridge.

After completing her PhD, Esther worked as a research engineer in Nortel Networks and subsequently in a telecommunications design consultancy. She joined the patent profession in 2004 and has extensive experience in managing international patent portfolios. She also has significant experience representing clients at the EPO in oppositions and appeals (both defending and opposing). Esther is highly proficient in German.

Esther joined Marks & Clerk in 2008, and in 2011 enjoyed a secondment as an in-house attorney for a valued client in the Oil/Gas industry. Her recent focus has been in the fields of Internet Service Provision, Oil/Gas recovery, Power Electronics, and the Internet of Things.

Esther has been recognised as a rising star by Managing Intellectual Property, IP Stars.

Simon Portman
Simon specialises as a commercial contract lawyer for technology companies. He works for clients in the electronics, bioscience, defence, software and entertainment industries, advising companies ranging from small start-ups to big multinationals as well as individuals, public bodies and charities.

He advises on a wide range of contracts, including licenses, R&D collaborations, manufacturing agreements and procurement documentation. On the regulatory front he has advised on compliance with clinical trials legislation and novel food applications, as well as freedom of information and data protection issues.

Simon has co-written two business textbooks, Commercial Issues for Life Science Companies and Intellectual Property: the Lifeblood of your Company and has contributed articles to numerous publications, including the Financial Times, Patent World and Managing Intellectual Property. He regularly gives seminars and workshops at pharmaceutical conferences in the UK and internationally. He was also part of a UK IPO steering group putting together policies and contracts suitable for R&D collaborations in China.

Simon has been recognised as a leading practitioner in Who’s Who Legal: Life Sciences 2019 and a rising star by Managing Intellectual Property, IP Stars, 2018.

TO FIND OUT MORE AND SECURE YOUR FREE PLACE, PLEASE CLICK HERE