Merseyside Meeting 2023

Audience

All

Programme & Speakers

Thursday 9 March 2023

• 12:30 - 13:30 - Registration & Networking Lunch
• 13:30 - 13:40 - Introduction from the chair

  Speakers

  

  Debbie Slater, Prevayl Ltd

  Debbie Slater, Prevayl Ltd

  Debbie works as a patent attorney with Prevayl Ltd: a new company developing wearable technologies.  She is a member of the CIPA Council, vice chair of the CIPA education committee and co-Editor of the CIPA Patents Training Manual.

• 13:40 - 14:25 - EPO and sustainability

  Speakers

  

  Roberta Romano-Götsch, European Patent Office

  Roberta Romano-Götsch, European Patent Office

  Roberta Romano-Götsch is Chief Sustainability Officer at the EPO and is passionate about UN SDGs and ESG. Prior to that she has served as Chief Operating Officer of the sector Healthcare, Biotechnology and Chemistry, and earlier of the sector Mobility and Mechatronics, where she was responsible for leading more than 1600 patent examiners, managers, formalities and administrative staff in Munich, Berlin and The Hague. Roberta has a obtained her PhD in organic chemistry from the Technical University of Munich and was R&D product manager at Procter & Gamble before joining the EPO in 1997.

  

  Theano Evangelou Senior Advisor- Director, President’s Office, EPO

  Theano Evangelou Senior Advisor- Director, President’s Office, EPO

  Theano has more than 21 years’ experience at the EPO. Before her current position as Senior Advisor, President’s Office, she has served in the Chief Sustainability Office, as advisor to the Chief Operating Officer in the areas of Mobility and Mechatronics and of Health, Biotechnology and Chemistry. She is passionate about environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Having studied law at UCL in London and qualified as a barrister (Gray’s Inn, UK) and advocate (Cyprus), Theano practiced law for five years before joining the EPO.

• 14:25 - 15:10 - The UP and the UPC – Are You Ready?

  Speakers

  

  Chris Mercer, CIPA Council

  Chris Mercer, CIPA Council

  Chris Mercer joined the patent profession in 1975 and passed the UK Finals exams in 1979. For the majority of his career, Chris was either a partner or a consultant for Carpmaels & Ransford, with a large practice in oppositions and appeals at the EPO and litigation before the UK courts. Chris is a member of Council for CIPA and is also on a number of CIPA committees, including the Education, Patents and Litigation Committees. He is also on epi’s Council and on various epi Committees and was a founding member of EPLIT. Chris is a former president of both CIPA and epi. He appeared as an advocate in a Moot Court event in 1977.

• 15:10 - 15:40 - Refreshment Break
• 15:40 - 16:25 - The UP and the UPC – Are You Ready?

  Speakers

  

  Chris Mercer, CIPA Council

  Chris Mercer, CIPA Council

  Chris Mercer joined the patent profession in 1975 and passed the UK Finals exams in 1979. For the majority of his career, Chris was either a partner or a consultant for Carpmaels & Ransford, with a large practice in oppositions and appeals at the EPO and litigation before the UK courts. Chris is a member of Council for CIPA and is also on a number of CIPA committees, including the Education, Patents and Litigation Committees. He is also on epi’s Council and on various epi Committees and was a founding member of EPLIT. Chris is a former president of both CIPA and epi. He appeared as an advocate in a Moot Court event in 1977.

• 16:25 - 17:10 - Extensions of Time and alternative remedies available at the IPO

  Speakers

  

  Andrew Bushell, IPO

  Andrew Bushell, IPO

  Andrew currently works in Patents Legal Section where he provides legal assistance on both PCT matters and the Office’s digital transformation. He recently played a prominent role in developing the IPO’s business processes in preparation for the introduction of the new patents fees. Prior to this Andy spent three years advising on patent formalities matters, including extensions of time, assignments, and litigation queries. Throughout his twenty three year career in the IPO Andy has worked exclusively in patents administration, managing various formalities sections and the Office’s litigation section before joining Patents Legal. Andy has spoken at the CIPA Paralegal Conference on numerous occasions.

  Nicola Payne, IPO

  Nicola Payne, IPO

• 17:10 - 17:20 - Closing remarks from the chair
• 17:20 - 19:00 - Drinks reception with canapes