Senior in-house lawyer leaves IBM for Lotus

Computer scientist and patent attorney joins the car maker as it embarks on a shift towards a lifestyle brand | AI expert spent more than 20 years at the tech company.

Anita Shaw has joined Lotus as senior IP counsel.

Shaw made the move from IBM where she spent nearly 24 years working as a patent attorney and, most recently, she was the European regulatory lead for IP and cybersecurity.

Shaw's move comes as Lotus is set to undergo a transformation into a global lifestyle brand, and her role will aim to protect and advance the company's IP assets on an international scale.

Shaw’s role at IBM saw her gain experience in safeguarding and monetising IP through various deals, collaborations, and licensing agreements.

She is also a chartered UK and European patent attorney.

“Lotus' engineers are world-renowned and their impeccable reputation precedes them. I can't wait to start working with our global innovation teams—the application of tech to automotive surely has to be the most exciting sector to be in right now!” Shaw wrote of her appointment on LinkedIn.

“A huge thanks to Pui-Yee Tang and the legal team for this unique opportunity—buckle up—this is going to be one heck of a ride!”

WIPR interviewed Shaw in 2020, where she provided an insight into her career background.

Shaw has had an international upbringing and initially planned to follow in her father's footsteps as a doctor in the UK's NHS, but ultimately chose to study computer science at the University of Portsmouth, sponsored by IBM.

“I first came across IP at university and was intrigued by the mix of law and technology. I discovered that IBM had an in-house IP department and I joined it after graduation, starting the long path towards dual qualification as a UK and European patent attorney,” said Shaw.

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