CIPA’s new president aims to prioritise UK attorneys at UPC
Daniel Chew’s successor began his post on New Year’s Day, and is clear about his three main priorities for 2024.
The UK’s Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) has announced the appointment of its new president, Matt Dixon.
A long-standing CIPA Council member, Dixon becomes the Institute’s 115th president.
His top priority in post is the promotion of UK patent attorneys at the Unified Patent Court (UPC) to clients and stakeholders around the world.
A British and European patent attorney, Dixon brings more than 25 years’ experience and is currently a consultant at Cranach Patent Attorneys.
He assumed his presidential responsibilities on January 1, succeeding Daniel Chew, a partner at HLK in London.
Regulator and D&I focus
As well as the UPC, Dixon said that his other two main priorities for the year are supporting the work of the Intellectual Property Regulation Board ( IPReg) and the UK Intellectual Property Office; and supporting work to promote diversity and inclusion in the patent profession.
He said: “The position of UK attorneys as representatives before the UPC is a huge opportunity for members to increase their activities and influence in Europe.
“We must work harder than other European nations to ensure that our clients and colleagues around the world recognise the capabilities and expertise of UK patent attorneys before the UPC.”
Commenting on his second priority, he said: “We as regulated patent attorneys need to show that IPReg’s approach is correct, by embracing the provisions.
“In particular, I see the requirements for financial transparency as a significant development for patent attorneys and I look forward to supporting members adhering to those terms.
“Another thing I have a particular passion for is supporting SMEs and small businesses, and I think we could support them better by working with the IPO.”
Dixon’s third priority “is the excellent work being done in diversity and inclusion”, he said.
“Even by looking around the CIPA Council table, you see a lot of people who have risen into successful positions from perhaps quite humble backgrounds.
“This is enabled by the way that we train and develop patent attorneys. I think we must protect, celebrate and support that and I look forward to continuing this.”
CIPA’s vice-president for 2024 is Bobby Mukherjee, chief counsel for Intellectual Property and Technology Law at BAE Systems, and current president of the IP Federation.
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