He becomes just the third CIPA President in our 139-year history to return for a second term, having first served as President in 2010-11.
He joins John Brown (2002-03 and 2009-10) and Tim Roberts (2001-02 and 2011-12) in this rare honour.
Alasdair said that his main priority as President would be to get behind the institute’s practical support of the Government’s innovation strategy to help make Britain a global science and innovation superpower.
He said:
I want to promote the important role that patent attorneys play both as facilitators of the UK’s innovation ecosystem and also as an important partner to Government’s broader global strategy in this area.
“A world-beating innovation economy requires a world-beating IP infrastructure and the UK patent profession plays an integral role. We generate around £1bn p.a. gross value added to the British economy through representing clients internationally. This global expertise provides the UK innovation sector with a patent profession that is the envy of the world.”
His other priorities will be to support CIPA’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee to make further progress and to ensure that the IP regulation regime is continuing to work well for the profession and the public.
Alasdair works as a Consultant at Mills and Reeve, having set up the law firm’s IP department upon his arrival in 1995.
Council member Daniel Chew, a leading member of CIPA’s International Liaison Committee and Head of Asia Group at Haseltine Lake Kempner, was elected as Alasdair’s Vice-President.
Daniel, a mobile and telecoms expert who has led the China Working Group of the International Committee for a number of years, said he was honoured to be elected Vice-President and was excited at the prospect of supporting Alasdair and being able to promote the profession abroad on behalf of CIPA.
Alasdair and Daniel were elected at the Institute’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, 3 November. Alasdair will succeed current President Alicia Instone, of Cleveland Scott York.
Published Date: 4 November 2021
