Ones to Watch UK 2024: Caitlin Heard

Every year, JUVE Patent carries out extensive research in the UK patent market, culminating in the publication of the UK patent ranking. Our latest research highlighted Caitlin Heard, partner at CMS Cameron McKenna, as one of five ‘Ones to Watch’ in the UK patent market for 2024. The individual Ones to Watch 2024 articles are published alphabetically by surname.

In an international firm with an IP team of over 100 individuals, it would be easy for an ambitious young partner to get lost in the crowd. But this is far from true for Caitlin Heard, who began her career at CMS Cameron McKenna while it was still Olswang and has remained there ever since.

Heard jumped straight into the firm after graduating from a law degree in 2009, completing the obligatory two years of training before settling on a career in IP – the eclectic mixture of learning, new innovations and always-new experiences afforded by patent law helped cement her love for the profession.

Making a splash for Microsoft

During her ten years in the IP team, Heard no doubt impressed; CMS elevated her to partner in 2019, aged just 33. Now the 37-year-old is the first port of call for some of the firm’s biggest clients, including Microsoft: “Caitlin is a great lawyer doing excellent work for them,” notes a competitor. But big-ticket litigation is nothing new; being involved for such big names has always motivated Heard. She details some of her early IP career milestones as being her work for KCI against Smith & Nephew over wound drainage equipment, which reached the Court of Appeal, as well as a litigation case concerning broadcast streaming.

Now, 15 years later, one of her most recent successes involved litigation for Mayborn in a case involving breast pumps. While largely concerned with design rights rather than patent, Heard notes that, “the case was heard at the High Court under the Shorter Trial Scheme. It demonstrated that, with sensible case management, it is possible to run a technically complex case, including experts, in a time and cost-efficient manner at the UK patent court.”

It is not just the scientific and legal aspects of patent litigation which keep Heard engaged. “I also enjoy any opportunity to be involved in lobbying and policy drafting,” she says. “It’s amazing to be able to help shape the law and court process to ensure that the legal industry is able to deliver what business needs. It’s also important to ensure, for example, that we have the right levers available to protect IP related to AI or to drive efficiencies in SEP litigation in the future.”

A mixture of interests

On this, the proof of Heard’s commitment is in the pudding: she, along with two fellow CMS partners, were part of a team preparing the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys’ (CIPA) response to the UK government consultation regarding a future framework for SEPs. Heard is also a member of an Intellectual Property Lawyers’ Association (IPLA) initiative to help enhance the UK courts’ reputation as being efficient and streamlined, especially with regard to attracting future FRAND cases.

Away from the courtroom, Heard also demonstrated a steadfast approach during a whirlwind few years for CMS. In 2021, a respected life sciences partner and a five-strong associate team left the firm, followed shortly by the arrival of two new partners from Allen & Overy and Herbert Smith Freehills, respectively.

Yet she has remained a constant in the team, forging a path of expertise in mechanical patents and telecommunication cases while also being involved in small molecule drugs and gene silencing. This convergence is where Heard sees her future path leading: “I foresee my practice taking a holistic approach, where I can contribute to thought leadership while tackling a mixture of litigation”, she says. And, with patent law increasingly diverse with regard to the subjects at play, Heard is keen to expand her practice as widely as possible. Developments such as in renewables or green energy might also be added to her long list of interests.

Read JUVE Patent’s analysis of CMS Cameron McKenna in the JUVE Patent UK ranking 2024