Careers

Having spent the last five years in the public sector, I was keen for a new challenge. I wanted to develop the skills I had gained and use them in a career that would enable to me develop and continually learn. IP was completely new to me but I was really interested in the scope and variety offered with this role. I was impressed by the personal and friendly nature of the company – everyone throughout the organisation was approachable and I was made to feel really comfortable. Every day continues to be challenging and I am constantly learning different aspects of IP, both with regards to patents and trade marks. I would certainly recommend working here for anyone interested in a career in IP. If you want a challenge and the rewards that come with hard work, this firm will certainly deliver.

When I joined the firm in 1996, I was the only trade mark trainee attorney, assisting two partners. Since then, the trade mark team has grown from three to 15 attorneys and trainees. I stayed with the firm for two reasons – my clients and the Barker Brettell team. I’ve formed deep working relationships with many of my clients and I would hate to lose those, while the team is like a close-knit family. We’ve been through a lot together over the years, professionally and personally, and there’s a very nurturing and supportive environment. We’re very collaborative and we offer a great training platform - our trainees are our future partners and so we do what we can to support them. As one of the largest trade mark teams in the country, we deal with some very exciting clients with challenging legal issues which means people joining the firm experience a broad spectrum of work. We provide excellent on the job training which results in trainees acquiring not only the technical knowledge they need to progress but more importantly, the ability to apply that technical knowledge in a commercial and practical way.

I was drawn to Barker Brettell because I thought the firm’s values and attitude closely matched my own and that we’d be a good fit for each other. I thought working here would enable me to pursue new opportunities, reach new goals and be part of a big and successful team. Since joining, I’ve been promoted to partner in less than a year; have launched the firm’s specialist designs group and work on a huge variety of cases. Moving to a new firm after more than a decade with a competitor was daunting, but I have no regrets at all. Barker Brettell provides many opportunities for budding patent and trade mark attorneys – it’s a forward thinking firm that never sits still and doesn’t take itself for granted. We always strive for more.

I joined Barker Brettell straight from college in 1977. I left in 1983 to have my children but was asked back a few years later to provide holiday and maternity cover, and I’ve been here ever since! I had no idea what patent attorneys did at first but found it all very interesting – and still do all these years later. The team I work in is kept very busy but there’s a good team atmosphere and we all get on well. The whole firm is a nice place to work; staff are friendly and the partnership looks after us well. We do our best to provide a good level of client care at all times so the firm’s reputation can be upheld. If you are prepared to work hard and go that extra mile you will find it really enjoyable and will do well.