About Tom Gregory: I’m Tom, a trainee patent attorney at Appleyard Lees IP LLP. My work is primarily focused on the mechanics and electronics sectors. I also have valuable experience in computer-implemented inventions and software. My recent work has been for clients in the aerospace and electronic consumer goods industries, and for university research departments across various fields of innovation.
When a company or individual is looking for IP advice, their first contact with us is typically a call to one of our offices, or sending an email to our ip@appleyardlees.com inbox. Their details are then passed on to a member of the new enquiries team who is best suited, based on their (technical or legal) background, to assist the client.
I began taking new enquiries as a “part-qualified” attorney after passing my UK foundation patent exams. I have a physics background, and work in the Electronics and Engineering team – so, most of the new enquiries I see are in these areas. However, I have experience with design rights, and familiarity with ownership and inventorship disputes, and have received a number of new enquiries in these areas, too.
One of my recent new enquiries involved a review of a substantial portfolio of patents, and we were instructed to prepare an additional two patent applications. Another recent enquiry related to an Amazon listing being taken down due to alleged infringement of a design right. After discussing the situation with the client and providing initial advice on how we could have the listing reinstated, we were instructed to proceed with the work, which we completed successfully.
New enquiries are an excellent way for trainees to develop the ability to quickly understand a situation and pick out the key legal points. When you are discussing a new idea, you need to put into practice your knowledge of the law relating to patentability, and sometimes use this knowledge in “invention spotting” to identify potentially patentable subject matter.
Of course, new enquiries do not always result in new clients. I know that the new enquiry calls I take may be only one of many, as the contact shops around for their preferred IP counsel. The new enquiry call is therefore the place to make a good impression, by listening to the person’s needs and proving to them that they are in safe hands.
Overall, new enquiries provide an invaluable opportunity for trainees to develop the necessary skills to be a well-rounded patent attorney.
