As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to patent paralegal, Sydney Phillips about time management, travel and brunching.
Sydney is a patent paralegal at Mewburn Ellis and has been at the firm for five years. Having worked in IP since the age of 18, Sydney is certain it’s the career for her. “I did want to work in fashion originally,” she says. “Then I fell into IP and haven’t looked back. I really love it and it’s definitely something I want to stay in for the long-term.”
Sydney, who had always been a Londoner, has an enviable commute to the office. “I’m really lucky to have always lived in central London. I live not far from Oxford Circus so I can actually walk to work and it only takes around 40 minutes,” she explains. “I might have to move further out soon to keep it affordable so I’m not looking forward to having to get public transport. It will be a shock to the system but I know I’ve been very fortunate to grow up so close to the centre of town!”
Having received her CIPA qualification in 2019, Sydney is looking forward to studying further now she’s made the move into a paralegal role. “I’m early on in my career so there’s lots more I can do to enhance my knowledge,” she says. “I’d really like to take the European patent administration certification course so hopefully that’s something I can do in the near future.”
Evolving role
As a patent administrator in her previous role, Sydney has relished how her day-to-day work has evolved. “The work I do has changed massively since I became a paralegal. I really enjoy interacting with the rest of the team, the attorneys and the clients,” she explains. “Every day is different and there is always something new to work on. It’s really rewarding to be able to make my own decisions, juggle different tasks and make sure the job gets done. It’s also really varied as I deal with lots of matters, from billing to answering queries and liaising with agencies in the US for applications across multiple jurisdictions.”
It's not only Sydney’s role that has changed in her five years with the firm. “I’ve really seen a growth in Mewburn Ellis while I’ve been here,” she says. “When I joined, I could see there were lots of changes happening which was exciting, and since then the team has grown and become much more established.”
Culturally, Sydney feels Mewburn Ellis is a great fit for her too. “There’s a really diverse range of backgrounds and ages in the team so there’s a lovely supportive atmosphere,” she continues. “The option to interact with all the other teams is one of the things I really like, whether that’s the team around me in London or the network of other paralegals in other offices that I can send a quick message to if I have a question.”
The work can be challenging though and Sydney relies on her organisational skills to help manage a busy workload. “I am old school when it comes to managing my time,” she says. “It’s pen and paper all the way for me, and I plan out my day meticulously. I have a fairly set routine and that really helps to stay on top of the workload and juggle the various tasks I need to complete.”
Outside of work, Sydney loves to socialise with friends and keep fit. “I box once a week at the gym. It’s a great way to release any tension and meet new people, and I always feel great after a session,” she says. “At the weekend I am a big fan of going out for brunch, especially the bottomless kind,” she jokes. “Thai and Indian food are my favourites so that’s something I love to do with friends.”
For Sydney, travel is also one of her big passions. “My last trip was to Malta, which I really enjoyed,” she says. “I love visiting new places and ticking off a country I haven’t been to before. I am really trying to get my total up to 30 countries before I get to my 30th birthday so I’ve got other trips planned this year to Greece, Portugal and Morocco.”
