Marks & Clerk appoints new International Chairman and UK Managing Partner

Both have been elected for three year terms and will be working with the International and UK boards, respectively, to lead the international and UK businesses. Marks & Clerk LLP is the UK’s largest firm of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, and its Cambridge office is one of the city’s most well established.

Based in the firm’s Edinburgh office, Kinsler joined Marks & Clerk in 2002 and was made partner in 2004. She has played an active role in the management of the business, sitting on the International Board and overseeing the international marketing and business development functions. A Chartered and European Patent Attorney, she specialises in physics, electronics and software, working with multi-national, SME and public sector clients (including many of Scotland’s universities).

Ward, based in the firm’s Birmingham office, also joined in 1996, becoming a partner in 2002. David has sat on the UK Board for five years, with responsibility for the firm’s HR function and also chairing its Business Infrastructure Committee. Also a Chartered and European Patent Attorney, his specialist fields are industrial chemicals, material science and food technologies. His clients include universities and multi-national companies.

On taking up her position, Kinsler commented: “This is a very exciting time to become chairman of Marks & Clerk’s international business. We have a young partnership, a strong reputation and a wide and diverse client base. I am very grateful to Keith Hodkinson, my predecessor, for all of his work during his eight years as chairman, helping steer the group through the global economic crisis and overseeing our continued expansion in Asia. Thanks to him and all of the staff across our group, we are in a very strong position.

“Our clients face an increased need for international, sound IP advice as globalisation continues and technological development accelerates. It is now my privilege to lead the business as we continue to work with existing clients and develop and grow our client portfolio. As a uniquely international firm with unrivalled strength in breadth and depth, it is our pleasure to help clients meet and exceed their commercial objectives. We are keen to continue our investment in services complimentary to our traditional patent and trade mark prosecution – particularly our litigation and consulting services.”

On taking his position, Ward commented:“As a firm, we are focusing on supporting innovation across the country – coming from SMEs, universities, multi-nationals and all other kinds of organisation. I am delighted to be taking on the responsibility of UK Managing Partner as we maintain this focus. I am extremely grateful to my predecessor, Bob Naismith, for all of his work over the last seven years.

“To enable us to support our clients, we are committed to investing in our people and contributing to the wider patent and trade mark attorney professions – as evidenced by our ground-breaking Training Academy for graduates.”

Kinsler and Ward were elected after Keith Hodkinson and Bob Naismith stepped down from their positions as International Chairman and UK Managing Partner at the end of 2015. Hodkinson had been chairman since January 2008 during which time he also served as a director of the insurance provider Pamia Ltd and as a member of CIPA Council and ECTA Council. He oversaw implementation of the merger with Lloyd Wise, the group’s move into LLPs, expansion in Europe, Asia and Australia and diversification into wider consulting services. He will be retiring later this year. Naismith was appointed Marks & Clerk LLP’s first Managing Partner in 2009 and oversaw restructuring of the UK business including provision of a common business platform for all UK offices. He will be also retiring in 2016.


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Richard Holme
Marks & Clerk
E: rholme@marks-clerk.com
T: +44 20 7420 0104
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