What was the biggest professional challenge you faced in the last 12 months, and how did you overcome it?

The biggest professional challenge that I faced in the last 12 months was also the biggest opportunity: the merger of aera with Rouse, and now leveraging on the outreach in the Rouse group across the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East and Africa while maintaining our growth in Europe. I addressed this challenge and opportunity by applying curiosity to the Rouse group, and being fully present and engaged with our clients and colleagues at aera. It is also crucial to communicate, engage and communicate again.

You work with a variety of clients, ranging from multinationals to SMEs in a range of tech sectors. How do you adapt your approach depending on the type of client you are dealing with?

Adapting to each client based on size, technical field and maturity is key. I see myself as a chameleon; I become one with the client by constantly listening, so I can adapt seamlessly and support the client in pushing its mission forward. Each member of our team does the same, and such a personable and seamless approach has proven to be very beneficial for our clients. I push the client’s mission through my case work and leadership of the aera team that is serving the client. Patenting emerging technologies, such as generative AI, requires creative thinking, storytelling and pushing the boundaries of IP law and science.

What recent decisions or legislative developments are having the biggest impact on IP strategy in Denmark right now?

The UPC is the biggest recent development in Europe and thereby in Denmark and our practices in Sweden and Germany as well, where it has had a big impact on IP strategy. It is shaping how we prosecute and sometimes how we draft patents by following recent decisions. Other major developments are the continuous progress of the Patent Prosecution Highway and early certainty, which are really boosting international prosecution for key players that are ready to take such paths with us. It is competitively advantageous for industrial clients that truly want to leverage on the international prosecution to be close to a target or a product while maintaining speed.

One year after the launch of the UPC, preliminary decisions are already shaping litigation strategies. What impactful developments are you watching for from the court in its second year?

One significant development will be the impact of a recent decision on requesting security of funds for litigation filed by non-practising entities, as well as a recent decision on language of the proceedings. The decision on the security of funds may have a significant impact on litigation funding in Europe in the coming years.

In addition to your significant professional contribution to IP cases, what is your mission in this field?

DEI is very important to me. I truly believe that more diversity in a team and profession as a whole really increases the chances of producing solid work while having a strong resonating culture. Diversity inspires more diversity. It is all about visibility and highlighting what is possible in order to inspire those in the IP profession, both in private practice and in-house. When it comes to providing IP advice, it is essential to include diverse perspectives in pursuit of the best approaches or ideas, and this also contributes to a more inclusive environment.

For me, DEI is about leading with purpose and intention, and inspiring change that resonates and echoes with the IP profession and beyond. Diversity is key to aera and Rouse supporting society in tackling current challenges, such as climate change, inequality and adoption of technology. With IP services that are truly rooted in diversity, we can boost innovation in climate change and access to knowledge and technology in fighting inequality, and provide a worldwide IP platform that pushes missions for global clients.