Experience
Marie is a Registered Irish Patent Attorney, European Patent Attorney and Chartered (UK) Patent Attorney with over 25 years of experience in advising clients including start-ups and SME’s to large corporations. Marie has worked across a number of technology areas and specialises in industrial chemistry, materials science, polymer chemistry, and pharmaceutical chemistry. Marie also has in-depth experience in obtaining Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs).
Marie has strong focus on providing commercially relevant, pragmatic advice based on individual clients’ goals and works to listen and actively engage in understanding those goals so as to tailor advice and action consistent with those goals. Marie has an MBA from the Open University which supports her commercially focused approach to advising on IP strategy.
Marie has worked with clients across the globe, including local firms in Ireland, as well as US and Chinese clients and her objective is on clear communication with the clients’ commercial aims as the central focus. Marie has previously worked with another leading firm of patent attorneys in Ireland where she had the role of Director of Operations for China and Chief Representative of the local China office.
Marie also has extensive experience of providing opinions and advising in relation to freedom to operate (FTO). In addition, she has represented clients at Oppositions and Appeals at the EPO and achieved successful outcomes for clients.
Marie has a strong ethos of being responsive and her values are aligned with striving for excellence at the core of HGF’s values.
Qualifications
Patent Attorney
Chartered (UK)
Europe
Ireland
Trade Mark Attorney
Europe
Ireland
BSC
BSc (Hons) Industrial Chemistry
MBA
MBA (Open University) specialised in strategy and managing innovation
POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA OR CERTIFICATE
Diploma in coaching for well-being and mental health
POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA OR CERTIFICATE
Microcredential in Mentoring for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
OTHER
Diploma in Executive and Personal coaching
Recognition
IAM 1000
Marie Walsh is a European patent attorney, a UK chartered patent attorney, an Irish patent attorney, and a Community design and EU trademark attorney. She has over 25 years’ experience in private practice.
Ms. Walsh graduated from the University of Limerick with a BSc (Hons), with a specialisation in industrial chemistry. She went on to work in the research department of a multinational pharmaceutical company in the United Kingdom, where her experience placed her at the fulcrum of exploratory research in polymer synthetic routes.
Ms. Walsh joined the patent profession in 1989 and qualified as a UK chartered patent attorney and European patent attorney. She studied with the Open University and obtained an MBA with a focus on strategic management and management of innovation. Ms. Walsh’s work involves devising IP strategies for patent portfolios, including preparation and prosecution of patent applications primarily at the EPO and UK Intellectual Property Office for entrepreneurs, small and mid-sized enterprises and other organisations.
Ms. Walsh works with US clients, local Irish clients, as well as a growing number of Chinese clients. Ms. Walsh led the firm’s China team and in 2018, was appointed Chief Representative of the China office of another leading firm in Ireland and carried out that role until 2021.
Ms. Walsh practises in technologies across a number of sectors – in particular, in the chemistry and life sciences sector, including agrochemicals, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, medtech and food technology – in relation to IP portfolio management and strategy; drafting and prosecution of patent applications, supplementary protection certificates, due diligence and freedom-to-operate opinions. During her career, Ms. Walsh has been directly responsible for the patent portfolios of several major multinational companies.
Ms. Walsh is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys and a member of the Irish Association of Patent and Trademark Attorneys.
Ms. Walsh is Vice-Chair of the Unitary Patent (UP) and Unified Patent Court (UPC) Committee of the Association of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys (APTMA) of Ireland.
View recognition online
Substitute delegate - Ireland - on European Patent Institute (EPI) Litigation Committee
Publications
16-Year-Old Inventor Awarded Irish Patent Certificate for her Innovation for Visually Impaired People
View publication online
HGF continues to grow across Europe with office relocation and expansion in the Island of Ireland
View publication online
Guest lecturer on the Law Society of Ireland's Diploma in Technology and IP since 2013
Conferences: 2024
20-06-2024
The Innovation Exchange - members' meeting
Speaker
Event details
04-06-2024
IDA Innovation Forum - IP strategy and Innovation Management
Speaker
Conferences: 2023
20-09-2023
Medical Technology Ireland Conference
Speaker
Event details
20th - 21st September 2023
Medical Technology Ireland 2023
Speaker
Event details
6th July 2023
The Life Science Industry Awards
Attended
Event details
03-05-2023
Life Sciences North America - Boston
Speaker
Event details
3rd - 4th May 2023
LSPN North America Spring 2023
Speaker
Event details
20-04-2023
Polymer Processing Conference 2023
Attended
Event details
Conferences: 2022
06-10-2022
Panel discussion on UP/UPC discussing the ramifications of the UP and UPC system for Irish businesses
Speaker
Event details
6th October 2022
UPC event in Ireland: Maintaining commercial relevance of your European IP strategy with the new Unified Patent Court system
Speaker
Event details
21st - 22nd September 2022
Medical Technology Ireland 2022
Speaker
Event details
21-09-2022
Medical Technology Ireland Conference
Speaker
Event details
05-04-2022
Irish American Business Chamber Network
Speaker
Event details
CSR
Marie is a mentor on the STEM Passport for Inclusion programme. The STEM Passport for Inclusion contributes to the achievements of equality and diversity in STEM careers by supporting and promoting STEM education and careers to SocioEconomically Disadvantaged (SED) girls across Ireland. The programme makes a huge impact on a personal level for many students and is being expanded to impact more than 2,500 students.
Marie has successfully completed a Micro-credential course in mentoring for Equality, Diversity and inclusion at Maynooth University in December 2023.
Marie is a member of the Sustainable Speakers, a Toast Masters group of people who are passionate about sharing information and encouraging actions to support sustainability and circular economy. Marie is particularly focused on Intellectual Property for the circular economy and supporting collaboration that is necessary for a circular economy to be achieved and to thrive.
Marie is a founding member of a Toastmasters club focused on Sustainability whose members have a shared vision for upskilling themselves and others for speaking with impact on key issues for achieving a circular economy. Marie’s area of passion is “IP for the circular economy”. Marie regularly speaks on innovation for sustainability and IP with a focus on related topics such as “Innovation and Intellectual Property (IP)- Who owns what? and why does it matter for the Circular Economy?”
Marie is also on the firm’s Social Impact committee.
Agrochemicals 
