a joint even hosted by Herbert Smith Freehills and WIPR
What is WIPR Influential Women in IP?
With issues such as the gender pay gap consistently hitting headlines, there has been a lot of negative press surrounding law firms in particular, but also within IP-focused corporations.
It can be argued that the legal sector is one of the professions which already enjoys the highest number of women within its ranks but, although women outnumber men entering the legal profession, men still greatly outnumber women in the most senior positions, in law firms as well as corporations.
WIPR have partnered with innovative law firm Herbert Smith Freehills on this important campaign to celebrate, promote and support influential women in IP, as well as to highlight achievements and identify any barriers that remain.
Please join us in an interactive panel discussion and roundtable event on 'Harnessing the power of diversity in IP', where we aim to facilitate an educational, networking forum to share best practice across sectors and work towards continuing to improve gender diversity across the IP industry.
This event is aimed at all genders and will be of most benefit to you if you work in an IP/ legal role and have an interest in championing and increasing diversity in your organisation.
Programme for the day
Time |
Session |
---|---|
08:45 - 09:00 |
Registration and coffee/ tea |
09:00 - 09:15 |
Introductions from HSF and WIPR |
09:15 - 10:00 |
Panel discussion: Harnessing the power of diversity in IP Moderators: Panellists: Nadia Whittley, CEO, Arquer Diagnostics |
10:00 - 10:45 |
Roundtable Discussions |
10:45 - 11:10 |
Coffee break |
11:10 - 11:40 |
Feedback from roundtables |
11:40 - 11:55 |
Room based discussion
Presenter: Sarah Morgan, Editorial Lead, WIPR |
11:55 - 12:00 |
Close from HSF and WIPR |
12:00 - 12:30 |
Networking and lunch |
speakers include:
Kilburn & Strode
Parnter
Called as a barrister, Carrollanne Lindley spent a year in pupillage with a Queen’s Counsel specialising in IP. She moved into industry, first in-house at Rothmans International and later at The Body Shop. She joined Kilburn & Strode in 2000 and heads the firm’s Trade Marks Group. Lindley is experienced in all aspects of trademark prosecution and enforcement in the UK and abroad. Her experience in-house makes her particularly aware of the commercial and practical needs of her clients. She has given presentations at various professional seminars and at the Institute of Directors.
World IP Review
Editorial Project Lead
Sarah Morgan is senior writer and editorial project lead at World IP Review, and its associated publications. As a journalist with more than five years of experience, she covers all aspects of IP around the world. Sarah has spearheaded the editorial aspects of WIPR’s Influential Women in IP.
Ball Packaging Europe
Senior Legal Counsel
Alexa Pickersgill is senior legal counsel at Ball Corporation, the world’s largest manufacturer of beverage cans. She is responsible for legal and compliance work across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. She established and leads Ball’s European Women’s Network which aims to attract, retain and develop female talent, particularly in operational/ STEM roles, and to promote greater gender diversity. Pickersgill has been at Ball for three years; prior to this she held senior legal roles at EasyJet and BP, with IP being a key area of focus
Arquer Diagnostics
Chief Executive Officer
Nadia Whittley is a high energy senior executive with an outstanding leadership record of growing revenues and motivating teams in the life sciences sector, with diverse geographical experience (Europe, the Middle East, the US and Australasia). After working for large multinational companies in international strategic and commercial roles, including boards, she has focused her experience in helping startups and SMEs achieve their goals. Building strong teams, a passion for her job, strong ethics and dedication are her greatest tools. Whittley’s philanthropic interests include supporting the development of women in leadership in life sciences.
Sky
Head of Litigation and IP
Emma Campbell is currently Head of Litigation and IP at Sky, responsible for Sky’s brand and content protection as well as its patent portfolio and all commercial and IP litigation. Emma has worked at Sky since January 2005 in a number of roles. She started in the Operations Legal team, as a commercial lawyer responsible for all Sky’s customer products and enjoyed a six-month secondment working in the business with Sky’s Supply Chain and Technology teams as part of Sky’s Home Service and Supply’s Leadership team. She became Head Counsel in 2013 and took on responsibility for the IP team in 2015. She recently added Litigation and Content Protection to her portfolio. Emma works closely with Sky colleagues in Switzerland, Italy and Germany and now also with Comcast and NBCU colleagues in the US and in the UK. Emma trained and qualified into general commercial litigation at Allen & Overy, moving to Travers Smith, again as a general commercial litigator, at 4 years PQE. She completed the Bristol postgraduate IP course in 1999 and went on to build a contentious IP practice at Travers Smith. She is married with three children.
British American Tobacco
Head of Patents
Tracey Cooke is head of patents at British American Tobacco (BAT). After completing a degree and DPhil in organic chemistry, Cooke worked for six years in research, splitting her time between pharmaceuticals and agrichemicals. She started as a trainee patent attorney at Glaxo Wellcome in 2000 and spent 12 years at GSK before moving to private practice to become managing director (patents) at Novagraaf UK. She loved the variety of private practice but missed being involved in commercial decision-making. This led to her current role at BAT which, she says, delivers both.