Are YOU a junior IP practitioner?

The IPKat’s ears pricked up when he heard about IPSoc, a new society which will bring together junior barristers, solicitors, patent & trade mark attorneys in private practice for a spot of learning and socialising in a fun and relaxed environment. Although IPSoc may be new, it already has an impressive pedigree, with Committee Members drawn from establishments as august as 3 New Square, Bird & Bird, Bristows, Field Fisher Waterhouse, Gill Jennings & Every, Howrey, Lovells, Olswang, Roiter Zucker, Simmons & Simmons, Taylor Wessing and Wragge & Co.

Kicking off on 23 November with an inaugural speech from that anything-but-junior Lord Justice of Appeal, the Honourable Sir Robin Jacob, IPSoc looks set to be the number one forum for junior IP practitioners in private practice. Although membership applications will continue to be accepted for the membership year to November 2010, space at the inaugural event is limited to 150 attendees and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. According to IPSoc's organisers, who are not averse to putting a word or two into the IPKat's mouth

"IPSoc is the brainchild of a group of dynamic young lawyers from Bristows, Field Fisher Waterhouse, Howrey, Roiter Zucker and Simmons & Simmons. With an impressive speaker list, creative “educationals” to mop up those pesky CPD points and fun social events all on the agenda, IPKat wonders whether for £35 annual membership, any self respecting Kat-in-the-making can afford not to be a part of this exciting venture? Says the IPKat, Oh, to be a kitten again!"

For more information on IPSoc and on how to become a member please visit its website or email IPSoc chair Charlotte Weekes of Roiter Zucker, being sure to include the word IPSOC in the subject line.

The IPKat congratulates the organisation's founders and thanks them for the coffee they treated him to. Merpel is sure that Lord Justice Jacob will have no trouble finding a theme which is suitable for an infant organisation for the benefit of the profession's youngsters: the topic that springs most swiftly to her mind is that all-time classic for trade mark lawyers, the European Court of Justice ruling in the BABY-DRY case.