Trainee patent attorney George McCanney and executive assistant Grace Holliday have joined intellectual property firm Secerna.
McCanney (pictured) earned a degree in bioscience from the University of Liverpool before undertaking a PhD in neuroscience at the University of Glasgow.
His PhD project focused on the repair of the central nervous system, particularly working on drugs that may be able to help MS sufferers. At Secerna, he will apply his expertise to help biotechnology companies protect their intellectual property.
A highly experienced and a fully trained legal secretary, Holliday worked in conveyancing for Leeds law firms before spending two years living and working in Australia.
On moving into intellectual property law at Secerna, McCanney said: “Whilst I enjoyed my time in academia, I always felt that my future lay elsewhere once I had completed my PhD. Working in IP law appealed as no two cases are the same, you’re constantly learning about new technology and facing different challenges.”
Holliday said of her move to Secerna: “When I returned to the UK, I was looking for a new challenge in a new area of law. As soon as I sat down with Jason [Boakes] and Charlotte [Watkins], I knew that intellectual property law was where I wanted to be. There has been lots to learn and take in but working with a tremendous team has helped that process.”
Secerna partner Charlotte Watkins said: “Despite challenging times, the firm is experiencing continued growth, and we are committed to providing clear development paths for talented young science and technology graduates who, like George, are looking for an alternative to a career in academia.”
“We are very happy to welcome two new starters to the team of George and Grace’s calibre. Both bring a wealth of knowledge to their roles and are already proving incredibly valuable to our work with clients across the UK and beyond.”
