Dummett Copp welcomes a new partner in its 25th year

Nick joined Dummett Copp three years ago as an associate, after starting his career in Halifax and then Sheffield.

Already familiar with Suffolk as a holiday destination, he was pleased to have the opportunity to join the firm at its Martlesham Heath offices and relocate his family in the East of England.

“I was tempted down by the company and the quality of life here,” he says. “Suffolk is a great place to live and there are lots of places to visit with my family. Becoming a partner shows my commitment to the firm and also a willingness to take responsibility for its development.”

Nick’s partnership comes at a busy time for Dummett Copp. The firm provides a full spectrum of services related to intellectual property rights including patents, trade marks and designs to clients across the world. Last year it became a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) in an exercise designed to modernize the company and prepare it for future growth.

Nick’s area of expertise is engineering, including the offshore oil and gas sector and wind farms. “We continue to see a diverse range of clients,” said Nick, “ranging from the man inventing in his shed to big companies developing electronic components or pharmaceuticals. Our job remains the same, to examine what they have and see how best to protect it, as well as advising if what they have is unique and whether they are infringing on someone else’s intellectual property rights.

“My days largely involve writing and prosecuting patent applications, meeting with inventors and really getting to grips with what they are working on. It’s a common assumption that our background is legal but, whilst intellectual property law is essential, we actually come from the technical side, because you have to understand the invention to really get to the core of what makes something tick.”

Nick graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Physics and Sports Science before completing a Phd in Medical Biophysics at Manchester University.

In a bid to make the process easier and in order to connect with more overseas clients, Dummett Copp is working on a new website and will include 25 year branding throughout 2011.

The four partners, Peter Gemmell, Robert McLean, Alison Simons and Nick are also planning a summer celebration involving founding partners David Copp and Peter Dummett who formed the company in 1986.

“It is a real achievement to reach this milestone,” said Nick. “Our success is something to celebrate and build on for the future.”