Trainee Patent Attorney since 2016
BEng, PGC Intellectual Property
Telephone : +44 (0)121 456 0045
Tom is a pleasure to work with
“Tom is a pleasure to work with, and great at getting up to speed with new ideas.”
David Combes, Patent Attorney & Partner, Barker Brettell LLP.
Why did you want to become a patent attorney? I have always been fascinated by the way things work. After finishing my degree, I wanted a career where I could use the skills I gained studying mechanical engineering, but without the constraints of a design role. This lead me to patents and I haven’t looked back since. What would your advice be to others looking to become a patent attorney? Be ready to learn. Approaching the procedures and practices of patent law when your background is in science or engineering is a challenge. Also be patient; qualification takes time, and becoming a fully autonomous and accomplished attorney takes even longer. What aspect of the job do you enjoy the most? I loving listening to inventors talk passionately about their inventions, and knowing that I can help protect the time and effort they have put in to developing them. What’s the best bit of advice you’ve had? Work out how long you think a task will take you to complete, and then triple it! What technological developments excite you at the moment, and why? I have been close to automotive technologies throughout my career in patents. I am always excited to see glimpses of what personal transport will look like in the future, from alternative powertrains to driverless cars. Networking is part and parcel of today’s professional life. Where do you do yours? I regularly attend events and conferences in the automotive and other engineering sectors. I am also a member of Future Faces, the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce young professional network. If you see me at an event, please come and say hello. How do you relax? If I am not working or asleep, I will most likely be out running or riding my bicycle.