Patent attorneys face the future - May 2010

THE three partners Peter Gemmell, Robert McLean and Alison Simons agreed that the change would create a more modern business ready for the future.

Leading up to this conversion to an LLP, a thorough overhaul of the business, involving the whole team, has been undertaken.

"It's been a considerable amount of work but well worth it, and has given us the opportunity to put our own stamp on the business since the retirement of the founding partners, Peter Dummett and David Copp," said Alison Simons.

"I think the change signifies the transition from a slightly old-fashioned partnership to a modern entity. It took a lot of work to get us ready by our April 1 deadline, but it will make moving the business forward much easier. It is better for our clients and also offers more protection for individual partners, as the LLP becomes the legal entity responsible for the company's activities."

As part of the process, Dummett Copp has reviewed its business processes and identified areas where significant improvements could be made. The firm has also contacted all of its clients to inform them of the good news.

"It's given us a chance to sweep away the cobwebs and archive many of the historical records we have here," said Alison.

"The change also has some far reaching implications for our branding and website. Reviewing our client records has been a very useful exercise, and reviewing our own internal procedures will make us more efficient and better able to assist our clients."

With 16 staff, including the three partners, three further fee earners and a full team of support staff Dummett Copp is a medium sized firm of

patent and trade mark attorneys the likes of which it is unusual to find outside of London.

However, the quality of life in Suffolk has tempted qualified staff and the firm's commitment to their onward development means they often stay for a good part of their career in offices tucked away at Martlesham Heath, just outside Ipswich.

Dummett Copp provides a full spectrum of services relating to intellectual property including patents, trade mark and design applications to more than 1,000 active clients across the world, principally in the UK and USA, including the world's largest horticultural company and an increasing number of operators in the off-shore oil and gas sector.

But as well as the multi­nationals protecting their ideas and components, Dummett Copp also sees a good number of entrepreneurs and inventors who need help in protecting their ideas or prototypes as they progress them to market, some inspired by recent legislation which promised to fast track patents for eco­friendly inventions.

"As ever our favourite topic is to advise people on how to protect their ideas and other intellectual property, and in the future we will have a smarter, more efficient ways of doing that," added Alison.

"We have come a long way since the business started back in the early eighties and while we value the name and reputation of the firm we felt it was important to move with the times and streamline our business model."

Originally published in the Suffolk Business Magazine, May 2010