Event Listing

Simon is chair of the CIPA computer technology committee and a director of Altair IP.  He has many years of experience working across the full spectrum of computing and has also performed research in electrical engineering and high energy astrophysics.  He started his career as a patent attorney with IBM and was a partner for many years at D Young & Co LLP.

Markus Volkmer is an Examiner at the EPO, The Hague, in Team 1203 – Core AI & Quantum Computing 2. He is also a member of the Working group on the Guidelines for Computer-Implemented-Inventions. Since joining the EPO in 2007, he works in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Quantum Computing. Markus has a computer science/engineering background (Dipl.-Inform./Dr.-Ing.).

Parminder is a patent attorney and Partner at Appleyard Lees.  She primarily handles physics-based technologies and computer-implemented inventions (CIIs), and she is well-known for her specialism in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deep tech. Her work in the AI space includes patenting AI and machine learning used for image analysis and object classification, human-computer interactions, text-to-speech systems, 5G networks, and synthetic dataset generation, as well as novel generative AI models, federated learning, and the use of AI to control processes or machines.

Iain is an experienced patent attorney who runs Russell IP; a Surrey-based patent practice specialising in helping UK-based companies protect their high-tech (e.g. AI, computer technology, telecoms) and music-tech innovations. He is the Chair of CIPA’s new AI Committee and actively tests, uses, and builds his own, AI tools for patent work. He also offers training and support (primarily to in-house patent attorneys) around risks and rewards of adopting AI in IP work.

Phil Thorpe is a Deputy Director at the UK Intellectual Property Office with responsibility for patent practice.  He is also an inter-partes hearing officer and has responsibility for the IPO’s Opinion Service During his 30 years with the IPO, Phil has been heavily involved in IP policy including representing the UK in the TRIPS Council. He has been seconded to the EU Commission where among other things he worked on the Community Patent Regulation and was also seconded to the secretariat for the UK Commission on Intellectual Property Rights.

Ignaz is a growth strategist at ElevenLabs and he was the company’s first hire. In the early stages of the company’s development, Ignaz oversaw communications, growth, and legal projects. He is currently focused on widening the company’s reach and on the legal side of operations. Prior to joining ElevenLabs, Ignaz worked in advertising. He holds a degree in law from King’s College London.

Dr Rachel Free is a partner in the patent team at International Law Firm CMS where she helps clients to protect their technology through patents. She has an MSc in Artificial Intelligence and a DPhil in Vision Science. She qualified as a European and UK patent attorney in the last century and has worked on AI patent drafting and prosecution through her career. Rachel is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on AI (APPG AI) which advises parliamentarians regarding AI. Rachel Free is a gold ranked individual – IAM Patent 1000, United Kingdom: England and Wales 2025, and is individually ranked as a next generation partner in Legal 500 2025. Rachel is recognized in the IAM global leaders 2026.

Edward is a UK and European Patent Attorney focussed on software, natural language processing and AI. Before founding Added Matter, Edward spent almost a decade in private practice, including at Marks & Clerk.

Outside Added Matter, Edward codes in his spare time, and is an all-round AI evangelist.

Edward has a degree in physics.

Simon is chair of the CIPA computer technology committee and a director of Altair IP.  He has many years of experience working across the full spectrum of computing and has also performed research in electrical engineering and high energy astrophysics.  He started his career as a patent attorney with IBM and was a partner for many years at D Young & Co LLP.