27 August 2008 - Article by Nottingham Evening Post
A SPECIALIST law firm that helps science firms protect their ideas is expanding abroad.
AdamsonJones, which was set up by Dr Steve Jones, is an expert in the world of intellectual property – the original ideas in a business and how to protect them for commercial use.
The company is based at BioCity, the UK's largest bioscience centre and home to science and technology companies carrying out ground-breaking work.
Adamson Jones is a patent attorney which helps firms secure patents. These provide official evidence of original work and ideas and prevent them being used commercially by others.
It has been so successful at helping UK firms it is now advising foreign companies who want to obtain patents for British and European markets.
Dr Jones, who set up the firm in 2000, said: "Our core work involves procuring intellectual property rights for our clients and steering applications for patents through the process. It can sometimes take several years and we work to a series of deadlines."
The company has 11 staff, including a physicist, medicinal chemist and biotech experts. Their clients include Boots.
In the last couple of years it has sought to expand abroad, joining the Passport to Export programme run by UK Trade & Investment – the Government advice service for firms who want to trade internationally.
The initiative offers new and inexperienced exporters expert support and subsidies while bidding for business overseas.
AdamsonJones is now trading successfully with clients in the US, the Far East, South Africa and Australia, with deals in China and India in the pipeline. It is obtaining British and European patents for foreign firms, so the work still takes place in the UK.
Dr Jones says UKTI's input has been "incredibly useful" in helping their export activity – in some unexpected ways.
He said: "We found it very helpful, even though we're not exporting in the conventional sense in that we're not selling widgets in overseas countries.
"But it got us thinking in ways that were very useful and when I went to the introductory meeting I found myself sitting next to someone who has since become a client, so that was a very welcome side effect!
"We've had some financial assistance from UKTI which was great and I'd recommend their services to any company in our position."
Jane Waldron, of UKTI, said: "AdamsonJones shows that even if your work is highly specialised, UKTI's support can be tailored to identify the right contacts for your business and help you successfully enter overseas markets.
"It clearly demonstrates how we can help service companies, as well as manufacturers, to succeed in international markets."
Businesses interested in expanding their business through overseas sales then contact the UKTI's enquiry team on 0845 052 4001.
richard.bake@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk