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I am IP Operations Manager at Boult, with over 25 years’ experience in the IP industry.
I had my first real exposure to IP working in the IP department of a broad-service law firm. Having subsequently joined Boult, I have developed my experience across trade marks, records, renewals, formalities, systems and operational management. Over time, I have progressed to managing teams, supporting complex client portfolios, improving processes and helping shape the operational side of the firm’s IP services. I have also built my professional knowledge through formal qualifications, becoming CIPA- and CITMA-qualified in formalities and later lecturing on the CITMA course.
At Boult, we are proud to have a dedicated Inprotech team, a dedicated IS team, a dedicated IT team, as well as a practice committee, paralegal groups, client specialists, specialist practice partners and many others. That wider structure enables me to understand how a change may affect clients, workflows, other software, working practices and the people using the processes day to day.
What interests me most about my role is the opportunity to sit at the centre of the firm’s IP support structure and help make it work properly in practice. I genuinely enjoy having the opportunity to manage people, improve processes, develop systems and make sure the business has the right structures in place to deliver excellent client service. When a process improves, a system works better, a team becomes clearer on its responsibilities, or a client receives a smoother service, you can see the impact.
I am particularly interested in the way operational teams support the wider IP function. Records, renewals, formalities, client platforms, workflow tools and internal procedures may not always be the most visible parts of the business, but they are essential to accuracy, efficiency and client confidence. A strong operational structure reduces risk, avoids duplication and allows fee earners and support teams to work more effectively.
My role also allows me to combine my long-standing technical knowledge of IP formalities with wider management and strategic work. I enjoy being able to identify where something is not working as well as it could, understand the practical reasons behind it and then help design a better way forward.
For me, the appeal of this role is that it is not static. It involves people, systems, change, problem-solving and responsibility. That variety is what keeps it interesting.