Who are Marks & Clerk?
Marks & Clerk is recognised as one of the world’s leading specialists in intellectual property. A global network with over 800 people worldwide, it advises clients in a full range of sectors in all aspects of intellectual property – patents, trade marks, designs and copyright. This includes obtaining protection worldwide, portfolio management, strategic advice, commercial advice, licensing, enforcement, due diligence, litigation, IP valuation and design consultancy.
Marks & Clerk has an expanding network of offices in the UK (eight locations), France, Luxembourg, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, and long-established relationships with other leading IP professionals around the world.
Our vision
To be the leading provider of IP services by putting our people and our clients at the heart of everything we do, and by delivering excellence as a minimum.
M&C+Me – our values
Trust – We conduct business with integrity and foster strong relationships with colleagues and clients. We communicate with clarity and honesty.
Collegiality – Our strength lies in the breadth of our skills, knowledge and experience. We work together for the success of our clients and maintain a supportive workplace so our people can flourish.
Resourcefulness – By nature we are innovators and are flexible in our approach. We are inquisitive, proactive and effective.
Excellence – Our standards are high without exception. We are diligent, dedicated and ambitious.
What projects / schemes / initiatives to support women’s recruitment, retention and progression in STEM are Marks & Clerk involved in?
Our diversity and inclusion group aims to identify initiatives and opportunities for improvements across a range of D&I areas. This group includes cross-sectional representatives to ensure a wide range of input and ideas. Initiatives that support women in the workplace include enhanced maternity leave provision and adjustments to how performance targets are set pre and post maternity leave to ensure women aren’t penalised for time out of the workplace.
We are also a founder member of ‘IP Inclusive’, which promotes diversity and inclusion amongst IP professionals. Our employees are involved in many of the community groups, providing input into initiatives and speaking at events. This includes the Women in IP group where we have contributed to such topics as mentoring and raising awareness of issues surrounding the menopause.
Why did Marks & Clerk join WISE?
“At Marks & Clerk, diversity is important to us and we are committed to addressing gender imbalance within STEM and the IP sector. Through our membership, we look forward to learning about new approaches, and contributing ideas, to encourage girls to study STEM subjects and progress female careers in IP.”
– Kirsteen Gordon, Partner and M&C Board
