About the IP Federation

Improving the IP Framework to Meet the Needs of Innovative Industry
The IP Federation represents the views of UK industry in both IPR policy and practice matters within the EU, the UK and internationally. It believes that a cost effective, high quality IPR framework is a critical component in industry's present and future successes in the global economy.

The policy papers on this website represent the views of the innovative and influential companies which are members of this well-established trade association.

Influential and Respected: A History of Success
The Trade Marks Patents and Designs Federation, as it was called from inception until 2009, when it changed its operating name to IP Federation, was the first UK pan-industry intellectual property trade association established to represent member companies nationally and internationally. It was founded in 1920 in order to co-ordinate the views of industry and commerce in the United Kingdom, and to make representations to the appropriate authorities on policy and practice in intellectual property matters.
Its input into both IP policy and practical IPR strategies continue in the 21st century, striving to ensure that governments and regulatory authorities in Europe and nationally meet the needs of industry.

James Hayles, President
James took over from Roger Burt as President in July 2010. He is a UK and Euro­pean Patent Attorney with over 20 years’ experience of IP work gained in private practice, Fisons plc and Pfizer Limited. He has represented his employers on both the Patents Committee and Council of the IP Federation for many of those years, and latterly also the IP Expert Network of the ABPI. His career has mostly been spent in the pharmaceutical field, obtaining and defending patent protection for new products globally. He gained a first degree in Chemistry with Bio­chemistry from Oxford University in 1987, and an LL.M. in IP Litigation from Not­tingham Trent University in 2009.

In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, walking and sailing.

David England, Company Secretary
David joined the IP Federation as Secretary in June 2010. He is a UK and European patent attorney with 25 years' experience gained at Reckitt & Colman, Astra Phar­ma­ceuticals and BTG International. During his career, he has worked extensively on the creation, defence and licensing of intellectual property (mainly patents, but also designs and trade marks), and has represented his employers on both the Patents and Designs Committees of the IP Federation. 

In his spare time, he sings with the highly-regarded BBC Symphony Chorus, performing regularly at venues including the Barbican and the Royal Albert Hall. 

Connie Garrett, Administrative Assistant
Connie has been employed by the IP Federation as a part-time Admin Assistant since March 2006. She previously worked within education as a PA / sec­re­tary supporting Heads of Schools.

She is married with two grown-up children and enjoys cycling, dancing, swimming, yoga, knitting, sewing, cooking, gardening and running her allotment.
 

Vice-presidents

Dr R. J. Burt
Mr T. Frain
Dr M. Jewess
Mr D. O. Lewis, OBE
Mr A. Sugden