This webinar aims to start the conversation on working in the IP sector, while raising a family. Join us as we discuss some of the highs and lows, and the steps firms can take to help make the sector more inclusive and supportive for working parents.
Returning to a demanding career, while navigating the responsibilities of parenthood is a challenge that remains largely unspoken within the legal profession. From the sleepless nights of caring for a newborn to re-engaging with high-pressure caseloads, the transition back to practice can be both emotionally and professionally taxing - yet the realities of this journey are often overlooked.
While all mothers and fathers in the UK are entitled to maternity and paternity leave, the length, structure, and accessibility of this leave vary widely across firms. Shared parental leave legislation offers a more flexible and equitable option, allowing parents to split time off - but how inclusive and effective are these policies in practice? Are they equally accessible to male, female, and non-binary legal professionals? And how do they differ between large firms, small practices, in-house teams, and the public sector?
We’ll explore these questions through honest and reflective discussion, focused on the unique demands of working in IP. CITMA Council Member, Leanne Hall will chair the session, joined by panellists Robert Milligan, Triona Desmond and Kay Szawlis, who will share personal experiences of navigating parental leave within their respective firms.
Key learning outcomes:
- Gain first-hand insights from IP professionals on navigating parental leave and returning to a demanding legal career
- Explore current parental leave policies across various legal settings - how these differ, their effectiveness, and any challenges
- Learn practical ways firms can better support returning parents, from flexible working to shifting workplace culture
Whether you're planning to take parental leave, have recently returned to practice, or are shaping policy within your organisation, this session will offer valuable insights into how the IP sector can evolve to better support working parents.
Meet the panel:
Leanne Hall, Wilson Gunn - Chair
Leanne is a trade mark attorney at Wilson Gunn. Having worked both in-house and in private practice, Leanne has experience in all areas of trade mark law, including contentious and non-contentious issues, management of trade mark portfolios and global filing strategies. She has worked with a variety of clients in a number of different sectors.
She has an interest in education and the development of it within the trade mark industry and sits on the CITMA Education, Qualification and Standards committee. She is also a member of the CITMA Council.
Triona Desmond, Pinsent Masons
Triona is a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney and Legal Director at Pinsent Masons LLP. She manages extremely large trade mark portfolios and deals with a high volume of contentious matters. She also enjoys pro-bono work.
She has in-house experience, seconded as Head of IP for a global clothing and household brand.
In addition, Triona is very active in the D&I sector, speaking on LGBT+ issues at conferences, webinars, schools and events. She is also a CITMA Council member and chairs the D&I working group. Furthermore, she is also a member of IP OUT, CITMA Education, Qualification and Standards and CITMA Paralegal Committees.
Robert Milligan, Bird & Bird
Robert is a Senior Associate in the IP team at Bird & Bird, specialising in advising on all aspects of brand management and product design. He's also editor of the firm's international brands publication, BrandWrites, and part of its Product Design Group.
His experience includes advising on all aspects of international brand protection and portfolio management, working with a range of clients from start-ups to well-established international brands. Robert also supports clients with commercial aspects of IP and has experience negotiating and drafting commercial agreements including co-existence agreements, assignments and domain name transfers.
Kay Szawlis, Springbird IP
Having spent over a decade in the world of trade marks and patents, Kay is an expert Trade Mark Paralegal with extensive experience in portfolio management for a variety of clients. With a history of working in both large and small firms, Kay is a highly adaptable paralegal well versed in both the commercial and pragmatic thinking required to effectively protect client’s most valuable assets.
