Kate O'Rourke

Practice Areas

Kate is the Head of Trade Marks and a member of our Management Board. She handles all aspects of trade mark work including searching, filing, prosecution, opposition, invalidity and cancellation proceedings and advice on enforcement of trade marks. Kate also provides strategic advice on selection, adoption, protection and enforcement of brands internationally. Kate joined Mewburn Ellis in 2019 as a partner.

Areas of Expertise:

Trade mark searching

International filing and enforcement strategies

Opposition and cancellation proceedings

Brexit

Pro bono

Career

Kate has degrees in Arts and Law from the University of N.S.W, Australia. She started her career in a specialist IP firm in Sydney before relocating to the UK and becoming cross qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales and as a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney.

Professional Memberships

She is a Past President of the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys, where she continues to be an active Executive Committee member. She also leads the CITMA taskforce on the impact of Brexit on trade marks and the UK trade mark profession. Kate is also a member of the Leadership Committee of INTA and helped establish the UK IP pro bono service.

She is a Member of the Law Society of England and Wales and is admitted on the Roll of Solicitors in Ireland. Kate has been awarded an MBE for services to education. She is often asked to speak at conferences, most recently the FICPI meeting 2019, the INTA 2019 Leadership meeting, the CITMA 2019 Annual Conference and the 2018 INTA TMAP conference.

Focus on Inclusivity

Kate has personally signed up to the IP Inclusive Senior Leader’s Pledge and feels passionately about ensuring the firm is committed to equality of opportunity for all and an environment where everyone feels respected and empowered, and where diversity of background, experience, approach and perspective are welcomed and encouraged. Kate has been an engaged supporter of IP Inclusive since its inception and regularly participates in its activities and events, particularly relating to leadership of women in the IP profession.