Mark is an experienced patent professional having qualified as a patent attorney in 1981, after training in both private and industrial practices. His degree, in Oceanography and Zoology (University of Wales, Swansea), is unusual in the profession, but in fact gave him wide exposure to biological, chemical and physical sciences that have since proved useful background for many of the inventions he has handled.
Mark spent six years with a multi-national as their European Patent Manager responsible for power tools in Europe. This gave him a strong commercial sense of what intellectual property is for, and how it can best be exploited. This was both from the perspective of acquiring and enforcing rights, as well as avoiding infringement of third party rights.
Now returned to private practice, this wealth of experience is available to all Mark’s clients. They range from private individuals, SMEs and publicly listed companies and universities, through to some household names (e.g. Mothercare).
Mark’s current fields of technology include oil industry drilling and process apparatus, plastics pipes, medical devices, power / hand tools, electric motors, gear trains, infants’ requisites – all generally mechanical in nature, but not without the occasional chemical, metallurgical or electrical twists. Indeed, medical devices and related methods of diagnosis and treatment often involve an interdisciplinary approach requiring a combination of a number of different scientific, medical, and engineering skills that Mark’s varied background provides. Mark’s educational and work background enables him to communicate with clients efficiently, to understand their goals and to provide them with an excellent service.
Mark joined Harrison Goddard Foote as a partner in their Sheffield office in 2000. Although now specialised in patents, Mark has handled all areas of IP and is, for example, a registered trade mark agent; so well-rounded IP advice can be expected from him.