Simon Wright explains why the UK should embrace the possibility of rejoining the UPC, and reveals how CIPA is reacting to this month’s historic Emotional Perception AI case at the UK Supreme Court. 

In the latest episode, we are joined by Simon Wright, the 2026 president of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys.

Wright, who became president in January, shares what he has been up to in his first two months and outlines his priorities for the year.

Chief on his agenda is maximising UK attorneys’ use of the Unified Patent Court. The UK, he argues, should explore whether there is an appetite for rejoining the system. He says CIPA is well placed to help in this regard. 

We explore how he became involved with the association and other main themes for 2026, including navigating the potential opportunities arising from the UK Supreme Court’s ruling in the Emotional Perception AI case.

We also discuss Wright’s passion for engaging with SMEs.

In this Managing IP podcast, recorded in collaboration with Maiwald, leading European patent attorneys unpack what it takes to patent AI successfully in a field where technology and regulation are moving at speed.

Reflecting the pace of change in this area, the EPO issued an updated preview of its AI-related guidance after the podcast was recorded, underlining how quickly examination practice continues to evolve.

The following speakers from Maiwald share their insights based on deep technical and strategic experience across software, machine learning, and industrial applications:

• Dr Ian Weaver, partner;
• Dr Fabian Kiendl, counsel; 
• Attila Kimpan, of counsel; and
• Lutz Kietzmann, partner.

They explore how the EPO approaches AI-related inventions and address the following key issues:

• The question of whether an AI invention is truly technical;
• What patent offices expect to see regarding training methods, data sources, and model structure – and why enablement can reveal hidden claim opportunities;
• How narratives can help open the ‘AI black box’ to guide examiners, judges, and future enforcement; and
• The importance of matching filing strategies to the speed of AI innovation.

Listen to the podcast for practical insights on turning AI ideas into defensible intellectual property rights.

Deborah Hampton talks through her hopes for the year, INTA’s patent focus, London 2026, and her love of music. 

In this episode, we are joined by Deborah Hampton, the 2026 INTA president.

Hampton, global brand enforcement and trademark leader at the Chemours Company, started her one-year term on January 1 2026. She succeeded Elisabeth Stewart Bradley of Bristol Myers Squibb.

Hampton sat down with Managing IP’s senior reporter, Sanjana Mishra, to discuss her plans for the year.

We explore how she became involved with the association, the main themes for INTA during 2026, and how the association is preparing for the 2026 Annual Meeting in London.

We also discuss what it means for Hampton to become INTA’s first African-American president and what the IP profession lacks when it comes to equal opportunities.

Lastly, our guest takes on a ‘quickfire’ round to give us a flavour of the person behind the president.

Lawyers at Zacco join Managing IP to discuss the shifting world of online IP enforcement.

In this episode, sponsored by Zacco, we delve into Online IP Protection and how the concept of protecting brands online is evolving.

Many of you will have heard of Online Brand Protection, a service typically involving the removal of illegal infringements or misleading content in order to protect a company’s brand or reputation.

While traditional OBP makes use of trademarks as an enforcement tool, this podcast explores the next natural steps - the concept of Online IP Protection, or OIPP.

Our guests introduce the concept of OIPP and outline how it makes use of an organisation’s entire IP portfolio, rather than just trademarks, to strengthen and enforce their innovation and their reputation online.

We explore some potential use cases, the tools available, and discuss what organisations should consider if they want to make better use of IP rights. 

Finally, our guests present a few practical examples of OIPP and how you can adopt a broader approach to online enforcement.

In the final episode of a podcast series celebrating the tenth anniversary of IP Inclusive, we discuss the IP Inclusive Charter and senior leaders’ pledge.

Managing IP is proud to publish the final episode in a series of 10 podcasts celebrating the tenth anniversary of UK-based diversity network IP Inclusive.

In our final episode, we discuss how to formalise support for IP Inclusive and why the IP Inclusive Charter and the senior leaders’ pledge are a good place to start. 

For this episode, we are joined by Andrea Brewster, lead executive officer at IP Inclusive and Gwilym Roberts, a partner at Kilburn & Strode and a dedicated supporter of IP Inclusive.

In this episode, we delve into what the IP Inclusive Charter and senior leaders’ pledge are, what they require from businesses and how organisations can flourish from committing to them.

IP Inclusive was set up in 2015 to promote and improve DEI and wellbeing throughout the UK’s IP profession.

It aims to ensure that the UK’s IP profession is open and welcoming to all those with the necessary aptitude, regardless of their age, gender, race, sexuality, religion, physical and cognitive ability, wealth, and background.

Previous episodes in the series have focused on ‘IP Out’, a network for LGBTQAI+ people and their allies working in the IP professions, ‘IP Ability’, a community for disabled people, carers and their allies working within the IP professions, and ‘IP & ME’, which supports ethnic minority IP professionals.

The entire podcast series is also available on the IP Inclusive YouTube channel.

In the ninth episode of a podcast series celebrating the tenth anniversary of IP Inclusive, we discuss IP & ME, a community focused on ethnic minority IP professionals. 

Managing IP is proud to publish the latest episode in a series of podcasts celebrating the tenth anniversary of UK-based diversity network IP Inclusive.

In this episode, the ninth of 10, we discuss IP Inclusive’s ‘IP & ME’ network, which celebrates ethnic diversity and inclusion in the IP professions. 

We discuss the challenges and opportunities for minority ethnic professionals in IP.

For this episode, we are joined by Lianne Da-Cunha, co-lead of IP & ME and an associate at Forresters. 

IP Inclusive was set up in 2015 to promote and improve DEI and wellbeing throughout the UK’s IP profession.

It aims to ensure that the UK’s IP profession is open and welcoming to all those with the necessary aptitude, regardless of their age, gender, race, sexuality, religion, physical and cognitive ability, wealth, and background.

Previous episodes in the series have focused on the ‘Careers in Ideas’ network, ‘IP Out’, a network for LGBTQAI+ people and their allies working in the IP professions, and ‘IP Ability’, a community for disabled people, carers and their allies working within the IP professions.

The entire podcast series is also available on the IP Inclusive YouTube channel.

In this Managing IP podcast, Adams & Adams partners Mohamed Jameel Hamid and Alicia van der Walt demystify African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement and provide a roadmap for protecting trademarks on the continent.

The agreement creates the largest free trade area in the world, covering 1.3 billion people and with a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion. For intellectual property (IP) owners, Jameel notes, increased intra-African trade means greater exposure – making robust, forward-looking trademark strategies more critical than ever.

The Intellectual Property Rights Protocol of the AfCFTA is also highlighted. Adopted in 2023, the protocol’s goal is to harmonise IP frameworks across the continent. Jameel stresses that businesses should prepare for greater alignment and enhanced border measures in the years ahead.

Turning to trademark protection in practice, Alicia presents a concise guide to the African filing landscape. She explains the strengths and limitations of Africa’s two regional IP systems – the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) – as well as the variable reliability of the Madrid System. The advice is clear: national filings remain the “golden standard”, particularly in first-to-file jurisdictions and markets where enforcement challenges persist.

As Africa’s trading environment evolves, both speakers say that brand owners who plan early and file smartly will be best placed to unlock the continent’s increasing opportunities while mitigating risk.

For the full discussion, listen to the podcast now.

In the eighth episode of a podcast series celebrating the tenth anniversary of IP Inclusive, we discuss IP Ability, a network for disabled people and carers active in the IP profession. 

Managing IP is proud to publish the latest episode in a series of podcasts celebrating the tenth anniversary of UK-based diversity network IP Inclusive.

In this episode, the eighth of 10, we discuss IP Inclusive’s ‘IP Ability’ network. IP Ability is the community for disabled people, carers and their allies working within the IP professions. 

We are joined by Marianne Privett, co-chair of IP Ability and a partner at Venner Shipley and Victoria Barker, a member of the IP Ability committee and an associate at Finnegan. Also joining the episode is Tom Leonard, partner at Kilburn & Strode.

We explore the challenges faced by IP professionals impacted by disabilities and neurodiversity, and the opportunities for the sector from those in this group.

IP Inclusive was set up in 2015 to promote and improve DEI and wellbeing throughout the UK’s IP profession.

It aims to ensure that the UK’s IP profession is open and welcoming to all those with the necessary aptitude, regardless of their age, gender, race, sexuality, religion, physical and cognitive ability, wealth, and background.

Previous episodes in the series have focused on unconscious bias, the ‘Careers in Ideas’ network and IP Out, a network for LGBTQAI+ people and their allies working in the IP professions.

The entire podcast series is also available on the IP Inclusive YouTube channel. 

In the seventh episode of a podcast series celebrating the tenth anniversary of IP Inclusive, we discuss IP Out, a network for LGBTQAI+ professionals and their allies. 

Managing IP is proud to publish the latest episode in a series of podcasts celebrating the tenth anniversary of UK-based diversity network IP Inclusive.

In this episode, the seventh of 10, we discuss IP Inclusive’s ‘IP Out’ network. IP Out is the community for LGBTQAI+ people and their allies working in the IP professions by providing support and networking opportunities.

We are joined by Tom Leonard, partner at Kilburn & Strode and a co-founder of IP Out. Also joining us for the podcast are Victoria Barker, an associate at Finnegan and Marianne Privett, a partner at Venner Shipley. 

We discuss the experiences of LGBTQAI+ professionals in the IP sector, challenges and progress and what more is needed.

The podcast is hosted by Managing IP editor Max Walters, alongside Jodie Bates, a member of the IP Inclusive advisory board and an IT trainer at patent and trademark attorney firm Boult Wade Tennant.

IP Inclusive was set up in 2015 to promote and improve DEI and wellbeing throughout the UK’s IP profession.

It aims to ensure that the UK’s IP profession is open and welcoming to all those with the necessary aptitude, regardless of their age, gender, race, sexuality, religion, physical and cognitive ability, wealth, and background.

Previous episodes in the series have focused on Women in IP, unconscious bias, the ‘Careers in Ideas’ network and IP Futures, which seeks to support early-stage to mid-level professionals.  

The entire podcast series is also available on the IP Inclusive YouTube channel. 

In the sixth episode of a podcast series celebrating the tenth anniversary of IP Inclusive, we discuss IP Futures, a network for early-career stage IP professionals.

Managing IP is proud to publish the latest episode in a series of podcasts celebrating the tenth anniversary of UK-based diversity network IP Inclusive.

In this episode, the sixth of 10, we discuss IP Inclusive’s ‘IP Futures’ network, which supports those building their career in IP, from early-stage to mid-level. The network typically works with professionals within the first 10 years of entering the profession.

We are joined by Chelsea Chung, a trainee trademark attorney at Finnegan, and Chris Burnett, a partner at Knights and an ally for trainees.

We discuss tips and guidance for young professionals starting in the IP sector, including how they and colleagues can help develop an inclusive community through mentorship opportunities and career growth.

We also delve into some of the early-career challenges.

The podcast series is hosted by Managing IP editor Max Walters, alongside Jodie Bates, a member of the IP Inclusive advisory board and an IT trainer at patent and trademark attorney firm Boult Wade Tennant.

The entire podcast series is also available on the IP Inclusive YouTube channel.

IP Inclusive was set up in 2015 to promote and improve DEI and wellbeing throughout the UK’s IP profession.

It aims to ensure that the UK’s IP profession is open and welcoming to all those with the necessary aptitude, regardless of their age, gender, race, sexuality, religion, physical and cognitive ability, wealth, and background.

Previous episodes in the series have focused on Women in IP, unconscious bias and the ‘Careers in Ideas’ network.