People

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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Chris graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2002 with a BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry.   He then completed a Masters degree in the Management of Intellectual Property at Queen Mary, University of London, before joining Sanderson & Co. in 2003 as technical assistant to James Sanderson.

Chris qualified as a Chartered Patent Attorney and European Trade Mark Attorney in 2008, and is currently awaiting the results of examinations to qualify as a European Patent Attorney.  In addition to his biochemistry background, Chris deals with clients in a range of industries, as well as handling trade marks and designs.  Chris is the first point of contact for many new enquiries approaching the firm, and is available to meet clients either in Colchester or in Chelmsford.

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Rob graduated from the University of Warwick in 2003 with a MEng in Mechanical Engineering and an MSc in Advanced Engineering. 

He then commenced a graduate training programme at Delphi Automotive Systems where he was involved in the design and development of injectors for diesel engines.  Rob joined Sanderson & Co. in 2004 as a technical assistant to Francis Gillam and is currently studying for the advanced level examinations to qualify as a Chartered Patent Attorney.  In addition to his specialist area of automotive technology, Rob also deals with patents for a wide range of inventions, as well as 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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