Keltie's success in delivering its renowned IP services to the Irish market has been recognised by being named among leading Irish and UK firms in the recent IAM Patent 1000 and IP STARS rankings.
In addition, Sean Cummings, Partner in Keltie LLP and Director of Keltie's Irish practice, has been ranked as a Recommended practitioner by IAM Patent 1000 in both Ireland and the UK and has been named again as a Patent Star in IP STARS.
Since opening Keltie's first Irish office, Sean has played a leading role in shaping the firm's presence and building its Irish team. We caught up with him over a Guinness to talk about the significance of these recognitions and what's next for IP in Ireland.
Congratulations on featuring in the IAM Patent 1000 and IP STARS. What do these acknowledgements mean to you and your team?
Thank you! When Keltie opened in Ireland in 2016, we were determined to build a full-service IP practice with real strength in depth, blending a local presence with an international footprint. Now we have offices in two Irish cities, with qualified staff and experienced assistants in both, and we're continuing to recruit.
It means a lot to the whole team that our efforts have been recognised, and that we've earned the right to be mentioned beside long-established Irish firms we respect greatly. But it's only the start - our journey continues!
You've played a key role in building Keltie's presence in Ireland. What's been most rewarding about leading that growth?
Helping to build Keltie's practice from scratch in the UK was so satisfying, so the opportunity to do that again in Ireland has been a joy. For me, a key measure of success is to offer an exciting future to the people who are building our firm with us. We've been privileged to attract some great attorneys and assistants, and their presence will help us to attract more.
How would you describe the current IP landscape in Ireland? Are there sectors or trends you're seeing gain momentum?
It's dynamic! AI inventions are a particularly hot topic, which we support with Keltie's AI Patent Group. We see continued strength in MedTech, FinTech, and AgriTech. Trade mark activity remains strong across all commercial sectors.
We remain hopeful that the Irish government will support a referendum soon to enable Ireland's overdue ratification of the EU's Unitary Patent System, including the Unified Patent Court.
Keltie has earned a strong reputation for technical excellence and client care. How do you approach delivering value to clients in a competitive space?
When we opened in Ireland, I was keen to emphasise that Keltie isn't an old-fashioned law firm obsessed with billing. For us, helping businesses and creating assets come first. We've always taken the approach of developing long-term relationships and helping clients thrive in balance with their changing needs and resources. And judging by the relationships we've built already, the Keltie approach has been a great fit for the Irish market. I'm only half joking when I say that we're an Irish firm that started in the wrong country!
What do you think makes the Irish IP community unique, particularly in comparison to the UK or wider European markets?
The business community in Ireland is incredibly energetic, supported by fantastic infrastructure for start-up and scaling companies. Above all, though, it's focused on people and personal relationships. We help each other, invest for the long term, and have fun doing business together.
The IAM Patent 1000 focuses on firms that combine expertise with commercial impact. How do you and your team strike that balance in your day-to-day work?
IP may be a legal and technical discipline, but it's a commercial tool first and foremost. As a rule, something that's commercial will always beat something that's merely clever. And focusing on what matters commercially is a great way of cutting through complexity. So, we start by understanding the commercial context and then tailor our advice accordingly.
How do start-ups and scale-ups in Ireland approach IP, and how can they make smarter decisions early on?
It's about capturing and assessing IP to work out what should be protected and what shouldn't; and what must be done now and what can be done later. Young businesses need to create IP options that can scale with the business, making the best use of international IP filing systems to contain costs while keeping options open. They must also ensure that good contracts are in place with employees and contractors to capture IP and to resolve questions of ownership at an early stage. And they should take a sensible approach to freedom to operate.
Keltie's presence in the UK and Ireland gives clients access to cross-border expertise. How does that benefit businesses operating in both jurisdictions?
Irish clients often expand into the UK first, whether across the border into Northern Ireland or across the water into Great Britain. And it's a two-way street because Ireland is an attractive gateway for UK clients seeking to trade with the EU. Clients in both jurisdictions have found our seamless cross-border services to be invaluable.
You've been advising clients across industries for many years. What's the one piece of advice you give most often?
That's easy: always run your business as if you're about to sell it. Remember that the value of a business is determined by people outside it - so focus on the things that will impress potential investors or acquirers.
Finally, what excites you about the future of IP in Ireland?
I read recently that Ireland's population has a higher proportion of graduates than any other country. So, we can be sure that our clients will never lack expertise or creativity!
Looking ahead
As Sean says, this is only the beginning. With a dynamic market, exceptional local talent and growing cross-border opportunities, Ireland is a natural home for Keltie's commercial, collaborative and deeply human approach to IP services.
With offices in Galway and Dublin, you can get in touch with Sean and the team here.