Intellectual property law firm Secerna LLP is preparing for the next phase of growth, opening a Dublin office headed by former Accenture in-house counsel Dermot Roche.

Secerna, which marks its tenth year in business this month, supports a growing worldwide client base of multi-national corporations, FTSE and NYSE listed companies, universities, spin-out companies, small businesses and innovators. The new office will support the firm’s continued growth across Europe, the USA and the Far East.

Dermot Roche has more than 20 years’ experience in the patent profession across Europe. Specialising in computer-implemented inventions and medical technology, he spent 14 years working in private practice in Ireland and the UK, and held a role as in house counsel for Dolby Laboratories in the Netherlands. Dermot has spent the last six years working as in-house patent counsel at Accenture, based in Dublin.

A member of numerous patent advisory boards and panels, including the Standing Advisory Committee before the European Patent Office (SACEPO) working parties on Guidelines and e-Patent Process, Dermot also sits on the European Patent Institute (EPI) Council and EPI Harmonisation Committee, and is a member of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation IP committee.

Dermot will head Secerna’s new European office in Dublin, which opens this month. He says, “This is an exciting opportunity to extend the reach of an experienced, established and respected team of intellectual property specialists in a new market. Over the last decade Secerna has earned its reputation for deep sector experience and commercially focused advice, and I’m looking forward to building on these foundations to help the firm continue its impressive growth.”

Secerna chairman Jason Boakes says, “ We are thrilled to welcome Dermot to the team to help us take the next step in Secerna’s continued evolution and build on our track record of international work. Clients will undoubtedly benefit from the insights he brings from his work both in-house and in private practice. In addition, Dermot’s extensive knowledge and experience across the artificial intelligence, software, biomaterials and medical technology sectors – among others – will both complement and expand the expertise within the firm.”