Advice for FD1 (P2) Candidates and Mentors

Janet Chisem, Unilever PLC

Dr Janet Chisem is a senior Patent Attorney at Unilever plc, based at their R&D centre in Port Sunlight, Wirral. Janet gained a PhD in Physical Chemistry from Cambridge University before joining Unilever 22 years ago as a scientist in the Personal Care Group, where she developed a number of inventions. Janet moved to the Patent Group in 2001 and qualified as a Chartered UK and European Patent Attorney. She has since provided IP and related legal support to several different areas of the global Unilever business.

Janet has over a decade of experience as an Examiner for the Patent Examination Board on the FD1 paper, where she has been closely involved in many aspects of the examination process, particularly paper setting, script marking and review processes.

Outside of work, Janet likes to spend time with her family. She can also often be found in the gym.

Julia Gwilt, Appleyard Lees

Julia Gwilt is a partner at Appleyard Lees and specialises in software inventions.

She has had a passion for training for over 15 years.  As one of the patent attorney members who established the Patent Examination Board (PEB), she oversaw the UK professional examinations for over six years until her term ended in 2020.  She is now chair of the epi Profession Education Committee which oversees training and other aspects of the EQE for trainee European patent attorneys.  Several members of the PEC have been heavily involved in the proposal for a new digital EQE.