Event Listing

Caelia Bryn-Jacobsen, Kilburn & Strode

Caelia is recognised as one of the patent profession’s leading experts in contentious proceedings. IAM Patent 1000 describes her as “one of the finest European attorneys, a true credit to the profession”. Bringing 30 years’ experience in IP, Caelia specialises in complex, high-stakes contentious proceedings, including multi-jurisdictional cases, before the EPO and UP. Caelia’s physics degree and an award-winning doctorate from Oxford University provide a strong foundation for her passion, and expertise in a range of technical fields, particularly MedTech and healthcare. She works closely with CEOs, IP leaders, and investors, and is trusted for her strategic, commercially astute approach.

Caelia plays an active role in the wider profession. She is an elected Council Member of CIPA, a Chair of CIPA’s UPC Committee, Chair of its Professional Development Working Group, and is an Advisory Board Member for IP Inclusive. One of the founding members of the IP Ability Committee, Caelia champions inclusion with focus on neurodiversity, strengthened from both family, and profession contexts. She chairs Kilburn & Strode’s charity fund. In between IP, bringing up her family, and as much cycling as possible, she has run a small vineyard in Kent for several years.

Susan Kirsch, Carpmaels & Ransford

Susan Kirsch started her career at Unilever joining Carpmaels & Ransford in 2000 and becoming a Partner in 2005. She is a member of the Chemistry team and has a leading opposition and appeal practice, frequently representing clients before the Opposition Divisions and Boards of Appeal in hearings at the European Patent Office. She has conducted many such hearings by videoconference during the pandemic. Susan has particular experience in consumer products, medical devices, food science and formulation chemistry as well as industrial chemistry, catalysts, and polymers. Susan is a tutor for CEIPI for the EQE Paper C (opposition paper) and is a tutor on the CIPA course on EPO Proceedings.

Alexandra Wood, HGF

Alex works in all areas of Biotechnology, with a particular focus on immunotherapy and vaccine technology. Alex graduated from Durham University with an Honours degree in Biological Sciences, where she studied the different approaches to the Dengue Virus in her final year. Alex handles all patent related matters, and has extensive experience representing clients in opposition and appeal proceedings before the EPO. In most recent years, Alex has specialized in the CAR cell therapy field and the more recent FemTech movement.

Hannah Eccles, Page White Farrer

Hannah is a Team Leader at Page White Farrer, with management responsibility for paralegal and secretarial staff.  She has worked within the intellectual property profession for over 10 years.  Holding both CIPA and CITMA paralegal qualifications, Hannah has experience in all aspects of IP administration, along with expertise in training, law updates, systems and process implementation, and management. Hannah was elected to join the main CIPA IP Paralegal Committee in January 2025 and has also contributed to various CIPA sub-committees over the years.

Catherine Haworth, British Cycling

Catherine Haworth is a solicitor who has specialised in a range of intellectual property rights, specifically in relation to branding. This has led her to moving in-house to provide advice directly to the client. Catherine currently works at British Cycling, the national governing body for cycling in the UK. She is also a committee member of Women in IP (part of IP Inclusive) including the mentoring group sub-committee, and a director of BSAC (the British national governing body for scuba-diving and snorkeling).