I recently started as a trainee patent attorney at Appleyard Lees, based in our Manchester office (check out the other blog I wrote about starting in the profession).
One exciting part of my work involves attending the monthly technical lunches or “TekTalks”. These meetings are a chance to get everybody in Manchester together, from trainees to partners, and exchange important updates over a delicious lunch kindly provided by the firm. In-person attendance is not essential, but virtual food isn’t quite as tasty!
The TekTalks generally consist of three main sections. The first part is a marketing and business development update, where recent and upcoming events are discussed, and volunteers are found for attending future events. I have found event attendance is highly valued at Appleyard Lees, with numerous opportunities to attend interesting conferences and marketing/networking events on offer.
The second part of the lunches covers highlights from the most recent issue of the Official Journal (OJ) of the European Patent Office (EPO). While this is usually brief, the implications of changes made by the EPO can be far-ranging and the input of everyone is valuable in realising them.
Once plates are clean and stomachs are full, the meeting moves on to the main and final section: trainee presentations. These presentations are often about recent decisions of the EPO Boards of Appeal, but they can also cover any recent developments in the broader IP world. Attending and delivering these talks is great for continuing professional development. The choice of topic is up to the trainee and preparing for a presentation is an excellent opportunity to dive deeper into recent cases and IP news. For example, I delivered a presentation about the recent T 1688/20 decision, relating to establishing novelty before the EPO. Following this Appleyard Lees published an article I wrote on the topic.
While presenting to a group of experienced professionals in an area where you are relatively inexperienced can be daunting, it is a superb way to accelerate your understanding of complex topics within IP law. Moreover, the technical lunches have a relaxed atmosphere where the focus is on open discussion. When presenting as a trainee with three months’ experience, I found the environment supportive and the ensuing discussion fascinating.
Other offices at Appleyard Lees have similar arrangements and people often time their inter-office visits to coincide with these types of meetings.
Overall, attending and contributing to TekTalks is a brilliant aspect of working at Appleyard Lees and a fantastic way to interact directly with partners and associates from different technical fields.
