Ann Wright appointed Chief Executive of IP Regulator

Ann Wright, a solicitor and former partner of Nabarro from Blackheath in South East London, has been named Chief Executive of The Intellectual Property Regulation Board (IPReg), the recently-formed regulator for the intellectual property professions of trade mark and patent attorneys. 

Michael Heap, Chairman of IPReg, said that he was delighted that Ann had accepted the offer of appointment. “Ann Wright’s background in the legal world and her understanding of the nature of regulation in that environment are very relevant to making IPReg function smoothly when it goes fully operational in January 2010.”
IPReg was set up as part of the reforms of the Legal Services Act 2007 which creates a new system for legal complaints and an ombudsman scheme to deal with all consumer complaints about legal services.  It also paves the way for lawyers, including patent and trade mark attorneys, to set up in partnership with other professionals and to be owned or take investment from outside companies or individuals.

“I am delighted to join IPReg,” said Ann Wright. “After a 9 month ‘gap year’ I am ready to return to the world of law and look forward to leading the new body in a time of change.  The legal professions are demonstrating that they are putting the interests of the consumer at the very heart of the delivery of legal services and, whilst IPReg is a small board in comparison to others, I am sure that we, with ITMA and CIPA, will be able to contribute significantly to the models of best practice” 

Gill Deas, President of the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys, added: “I am delighted that IPReg now have all the systems in place to become operational on 1 January 2010. Implementing the requirements of the Legal Services Act has involved detailed deliberations between ITMA and CIPA. Meeting the January deadline is a testament to our joint efforts and ability to work effectively together to deliver an outcome that will meet the needs of consumers, as well as complying with the Act.”

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. Ann Wright

Ann Wright was selected for the role of Chief Executive in an open competition and replaces former IPO official Mike Knight, who steps down as IPREG’s Acting Chief Executive and will retire. Ann Wright has a degree in Jurisprudence from St Hugh’s College Oxford and is a Solicitor and was a partner at Nabarro for over 20 years.  She was previously a Director of The British Council for Offices and a committee member of the Westminster Law Society.

2. Intellectual Property Regulation Board (IPReg)

IPReg was established by CIPA, the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, and ITMA, the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys in April 2009, as an independent body with responsibility to the Legal Services Board (LSB) to comply with the regulatory provisions of the Legal Services Act of 2007.  IPReg is responsible for patent and trade mark attorneys and firms of trade mark and patent attorneys who are listed on the official Registers covering each profession. The Registers can be accessed at www.ipreg.org.uk. 

The UK is at the forefront of regulating legal services and the establishment of IPReg is believed to be the first instance in Europe of trade mark and patent attorneys coming under regulatory control. This ensures that consumers, not only in the UK, but also those from overseas using UK attorneys, get a top quality service and appropriate means of redress in cases of dissatisfaction.

3. The Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA) was established in 1934 as the professional body representing those persons qualified to act for the owners of trade mark and allied intellectual property rights (in particular, registered designs) both nationally and internationally. It now represents the vast majority of UK registered trade mark agents and all UK Trade Mark & Design Litigators.

Currently ITMA has approximately 500 practising members; it also extends associate membership to professionals in related fields of law and overseas membership to foreign trade mark attorneys. Its total membership (all classes) is about 1600 members, primarily located in the United Kingdom and Europe, but also in more than 50 other countries.

ITMA is regularly consulted by UK government and by international bodies when questions affecting trade mark and allied intellectual property rights arise. It has regular meetings with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), the Community Trade Marks Office (OHIM), the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and other sister organisations in Europe and beyond. For more information visit www.itma.org.uk.

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