What it takes to reach FT Gold

Read the Q&A below to discover more about Mark’s strategic insights and his fascinating sci-fi memorabilia collection that often stars in his popular IP videos.

 

Keltie recently achieved its best-ever result in the Financial Times Europe’s Leading Patent Law Firms 2025. With that success in mind, have you had the sort of career that eighteen-year-old Mark would have expected?

Eighteen-year-old Mark was blissfully unaware of anything beyond going to uni with the opinion that “science is cool.” I had no real feel for what career I’d end up doing at that age, and nothing much changed by the time I finished three years later!

 

What first drew you to becoming a patent attorney?

I was actually taking a year out after finishing my studies to work out what I wanted to do when a chance connection through a family member led me to a discussion with a patent attorney. After a bit of research, the role of a patent attorney seemed to tick a lot of boxes for me, and here I am, roughly three decades later!

 

Do you prefer working with clients who know a lot about IP already, or with clients that you have to educate about IP from scratch?

Having a good mix of clients means I get to see a wide range of different IP issues. Working for both types of clients is rewarding. I do like the aspect of educating new clients on IP and working with them to flesh out a strategy that works for them. You also get entrusted with working with their core IP, which carries a lot of responsibility, but also, a lot of satisfaction that you’re helping them grow their business. Working with IP-savvy clients is a slightly different experience, but you tend then to get familiar with repeat inventors and really get into their technology areas.

 

 

How are global shifts in AI and digital innovation shaping IP strategy?

AI has been part of the innovation landscape for years—whether in the form of machine learning, predictive analytics, or automation—but the rapid rise of generative AI seems to mark a new chapter. The accessibility and versatility of these tools seems to have unlocked new ways of approaching problems and enabled cross-disciplinary solutions.

 

As far as the impact on IP strategy is concerned then this might mean innovation emerges from unexpected corners of organizations. As a result organisations should have clear internal processes in place to capture innovation regardless of where it comes from.

 

Generative AI isn't in my view replacing human ingenuity, but augmenting it. As a result, strong IP strategy today means being proactive, nimble, and ready to protect innovation that doesn’t always fit into traditional silos.

 

How much do you expect AI to change in the next 5 to 10 years?

At the moment I think we’re still finding our way with AI and the best ways it can help us out. So over the next 5 to 10 years, I’d expect AI to become more integrated into the fabric of how businesses operate and innovate.

 

Beyond that, AI will increasingly assist in the IP process itself. We’re already seeing tools that promise to impact many of our workflows, bringing efficiency improvements and allowing us to spend more time working on delivering high-quality work products for our clients.

 

How much do you expect AI to change in the next 5 to 10 years?

At the moment I think we’re still finding our way with AI and the best ways it can help us out. So over the next 5 to 10 years, I’d expect AI to become more integrated into the fabric of how businesses operate and innovate.

 

Beyond that, AI will increasingly assist in the IP process itself. We’re already seeing tools that promise to impact many of our workflows, bringing efficiency improvements and allowing us to spend more time working on delivering high-quality work products for our clients.

 

In short, the next decade will redefine not just what we protect as intellectual property, but how we go about protecting it.

 

You have some clients in relatively mature industries, and others in industries that are barely commercial at this point.  Do they need very different types of advice, or do the same principles apply?

The core principles of IP, protecting what makes you unique and creating defensible value, will apply across the board. But the advice may look different in practice depending on the maturity of the industry.

 

In a mature industry, IP strategy can sometimes be more about navigating around crowded patent landscapes, building defensible positions, and identifying incremental innovations. You’re playing a game where the rules are well established, and the competitors are savvy.

 

For emerging technology areas, advice tends to focus more on staking out broad, foundational claims, moving quickly before standards emerge, and thinking about IP not only as protection but also as a signal to investors, partners, or regulators. So, the principles, building value, protecting strategically, and aligning IP with business goals are constant. But how you execute them can vary based on where the industry is in its lifecycle.

What’s a common IP question you wish more people understood better?

“What’s IP?” is a frequent question I’m asked! IP plays a role in many different aspects, and almost every business will encounter one or more forms of IP in some way. I’d like to see greater education around patents, designs, and trade marks, why they matter and how to use them effectively, so that in the future, instead of “What is IP?” I’m asked, “How can I best use, develop, or protect my IP?”

 

What advice would you give to businesses filing a patent for the first time?

People sometimes jump straight to “Should I get a patent?” without considering that patents are one piece of a much larger toolbox. In many cases, copyright, trade mark, or trade secret protection, alone or in combination, might need to be considered along with broader issues relating to IP in contracts or agreements. I think it’s important to constantly review your IP strategy to make sure it’s always aligned with your business goals.

 

 

What technology field are you most looking forward to drafting a patent for?

Possibly something within the quantum field, as it’s a technology field that promises so much and is getting closer and closer to the mainstream. Also, I’m a sucker for anything science fiction so anything in the space field!

Oh yes, your collection of sci-fi memorabilia shines in your IP videos. Which video do you think was the most fun to make, and why?

Ha! Yes, the lockdown era… Most of those videos were conceived as a bit of fun and a way of introducing some IP to my LinkedIn connections. I think the 2001 homage or the IP in music videos are probably my favourite, as I managed to persuade my son to appear!

 

A personal, practical voice in European IP

At Keltie, we’re proud to pair technical excellence with a human touch. The Financial Times recognition reflects not only our legal and technical achievements across six specialisms, including five Golds, but also the relationships we build and the way we work.

 

To read more about our FT success and what sets Keltie apart, see the full press release here. https://www.keltie.com/knowledge/keltie-celebrates-record-success-with-five-gold-rankings