Dr Nora Croft

Nora holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry and was excited to discover patent law as a career path because it offered her the opportunity to apply her science skills to a different context. She currently divides her time between working as a Patent Attorney and Intellectual Property (IP) Advisor at UniServices and consultancy work in the intellectual property space. She also sits on the Return on Science Biotech and Pharma Investment Committee, a nation-wide commercialisation and investment advisory panel.

On a day-to-day basis, Nora’s work entails meeting with innovators to hear about their technologies and strategic priorities and advise them as to how the patent system can help them achieve these priorities. She undertakes technology assessments and patentability searches to underpin her advice. Nora also enjoys applying her skills in intellectual property to contracting, to strengthen collaborations and support the protection of valuable IP assets arising from research. Having worked in the IP space for 12 years, she likes that being a Patent Attorney allows her to “stay close to the science, while helping innovators leverage their intellectual property to translate research into real-world impact”.

Nora has taught on the Master of Intellectual Property (MIP) for four years and feels the most valuable aspects of the course are the parts that encourage students to think about the application of the law to practice. “It is one thing to know the theory, but for clients there are often numerous considerations at play – commercial, financial, strategic and operational. The patent system provides levers you can pull to meet client needs. However, levers that may be a good option for one client won’t necessarily be for another. By applying theory to a factual scenario, students get a glimpse into the breadth of situations within which patent attorneys typically have to advise.” One of the things Nora enjoys most about teaching is seeing the way students respond to real-life scenarios and the reasoning they give to support their perspectives.

For students considering a career in IP she says, “Do it! With a career in intellectual property, you never stop learning and my main advice would be to take every opportunity to learn and to improve your practice”.