Mewburn Ellis promotes six to senior roles

IP firm  Mewburn Ellis has promoted three of its attorney’s to partnership and three to its new ‘director’ role.

Two patent attorneys, Sarah Kostiuk-Smith and Eliot Ward, have been named partners. Smith works with both domestic and international clients in the pharmaceutical and nanotech sectors.

Ward’s experience is primarily in the biotechnology sector, where he handles offensive and defensive opposition proceedings.

Jacqueline Pang, a trademark attorney, was also promoted to the partnership. Pang is a advises clients across a range of sectors including consumer products, food and beverages, computer software and retail.

The firm also introduced a new director position, which is comparable to a junior partner role.

Sofia Arenal, a trademark attorney, will take up the role of trademark director. Arenal has represented clients in opposition, revocation and invalidity actions.

Patent attorneys Elizabeth Dale and Rhiannon Wescott become the firm’s newest patent directors. Dale is a member of the firm’s chemistry practice group and is experienced in the industrial chemistry, nanotechnology and cleantech sectors.

Wescott, who joined the firm in 2011, predominantly works in the biotechnology, protein engineering and antibody technology sectors.

Joanna Cripps, partner at Mewburn Ellis said the new director role is an example of the firm’s commitment to looking for ways to modernise.

“We know that the traditional partner route may not be right for all our fee-earners, so this position was designed to provide an alternative structure to better fit their ambitions and work-life balance,” she said.

“Rather than expecting people to fit a certain mould, we strive to ensure that Mewburn provides the flexibility to ensure our professionals succeed in a way that suits them best,” she added.

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