After graduating in Mechanical Engineering from Manchester University, Francis joined a large London firm as a trainee. Shortly before qualifying as a Chartered Patent Agent in the early Seventies, he joined founder Laurence Sanderson in Colchester where they built on the success of the business.  Francis joined the partnership in 1984.

Though Francis takes primary responsibility for the engineering side of the practice, he has had a life-long interest in electronics and increasingly handles work in this field. He has several clients in the telecommunications industries, and optical-fibre telecoms in particular.

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James, son of the founder, joined the firm in 1996 after completing his Honours degree in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at Durham University.  He achieved full British qualification as a Chartered Patent Attorney in June 2001 and as a European Patent Attorney in 2003.  He joined the partnership in 2002.

His technical expertise lies in biotechnology and genetics but he also works extensively in the general mechanical and chemical patent matters, IT and the Internet.  He devotes a substantial part of his time to trade mark work, including the resolution of domain name disputes and cyber-squatting, and handles accounts for clients ranging from individual inventors to blue chip companies.

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Jerry graduated from the University of Manchester in 1995 with a BSc (Hons) degree in Chemistry with Industrial Experience. Following university, he joined the Research and Development division of Unilever, working particularly in surfactant and detergent chemistry, before leaving to join Sanderson & Co. in 1999, to train under the firm’s founder, Laurie Sanderson. Jerry joined Francis Gillam and James Sanderson in the partnership of Sanderson & Co. in 2005.

Jerry qualified as a Chartered Patent Attorney, European Patent Attorney and European Trade Mark Attorney in 2003, and as a Registered Trade Mark Attorney in 2008. In addition to his technical speciality in chemistry, Jerry also handles patents for general mechanical inventions, as well as some of the firm’s largest trade mark accounts.

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Graham joined Sanderson & Co. as an Associate in 2011, shortly after qualifying as a Chartered Patent Attorney. Prior to this, he trained at a large London firm after working for the Ministry of Defence for several years. Graham graduated with an Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering from Loughborough University in 2002 and obtained a Masters degree in Management of Intellectual Property from Queen Mary University of London in 2006.

In addition to his technical specialty in mechanical engineering, Graham covers a wide variety of technologies, including electronics and computer-implemented inventions, with particular experience in the areas of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) devices and fabrication methods. He also has a keen interest in vehicle technology and combustion engines.

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Caroline graduated from the University of Reading in 2005 with a BEng in Electronic Engineering and Cybernetics. She joined Sanderson & Co. in October 2006 as technical assistant to Jerry Walder and is now part-qualified and sitting the final exams towards a qualification as a UK Chartered Patent Attorney. Following this, Caroline aims to qualify as both a European Patent Attorney and Registered Trade Mark Attorney.

In addition to her technical speciality in electronic engineering, Caroline’s work includes handling patents for mechanical inventions and advising clients in relation to trade marks and designs.

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Sharon is Sanderson & Co.’s formalities and records manager, having originally joined the firm as a patent secretary in 1979 and worked her way up.

She has overall responsibility for monitoring the incoming and outgoing correspondence, maintaining the computerised records and diary system and attending to all formality matters, including renewals of all patents, trade marks and designs.  She was one of the first people to obtain an IP Administrator's Certificate, having completed the courses run by CIPA and ITMA.

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Jane joined the Accounts Department in 2001 and is now Accounts and Office Manager.

She has responsibility for many of the day-to-day operations within the firm, and is the first point of contact for clients with any queries regarding accounts matters.

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