Yesterday our partners Fiona Nicolson, Alan Johnson and Sophie Lawrance participated in the LES Britain & Ireland Annual Conference, which focused on IP Licensing across industries and academia, and included key highlights of the latest legal developments as well as thought-provoking sessions on life science deals and tech transfer trends. Fiona was an invited guest as the recently-appointed President of the Licensing Executives Society International (LESI). Alan and Sophie respectively moderated and spoke at the session on SEP (Standard Essential Patents).

LESI is one of the world’s leading, not for profit IP organisations with over 9000 members in 90 countries, and is headquartered in the US.

Fiona, one of Scotland’s pioneering female legal brains and one of the leading IP legal advisers in the UK  is the first female President of the organisation from Europe and started her presidency on 26th May in Yokohama (see picture above). “My interest has always been about how best we can commercialise the brilliant science, research and technology which emanates from universities and innovative businesses,’’ she says.

Bristows IP-focusing lawyers have been involved with LESI for a long number of years and are keen supporters of the organisation in its aim to help businesses interested in the transfer or licensing of intellectual property rights. Fiona, who will remain President until May 2020, also announced her goal to involve more women in the sphere of licensing and IP.

“Only a third of our members around the globe are women and I see it as my role to encourage more women to become involved with licensing and commercialisation. LESI has just launched a Women in Licensing Alliance to help encourage and mentor more women members.”