Meet our Team: Geoff Hussey

Continuing our ‘Meet our Team’ series, we ask Geoff Hussey, one of our partners and head of our Litigation and Licensing team based in our London office, about his journey to becoming a solicitor, what he loves about Venner Shipley and what his hobbies are.

When did you join Venner Shipley/AA Thornton and what office do you work in?
I joined AA Thornton in 2016 to start and head up a new intellectual property litigation department within the firm, in their London office. The opportunity to do the same at Venner Shipley upon the combination of the two firms in 2024, but this time starting with the whole team I had built at AA Thornton (rather than on my own), was very exciting.

How did you get into working in IP or your current role?
My journey began at a university open day visit when I was doing my A-levels. A talk was given to students considering medicine and biological sciences by graduates who had become patent attorneys. Patent law remained in the back of my mind throughout my genetics degree and I decided to do the Legal Practice Course afterwards with the aim of becoming a solicitor and patent lawyer. I secured a training contract in a firm known for intellectual property and was immediately attracted to the contentious nature of intellectual property litigation.

I was fortunate to be involved in some of the most well-known and exciting patent, trade mark and copyright disputes over the next decade. My own entrepreneurial desire then took over to entice me to want to set up a litigation practice in a Tier 1 patent and trade mark attorney firm, which I have enjoyed immensely.

What areas do you currently specialise in in your role?
I specialise in all aspects of IP litigation, having led cases in every areas. Thanks to my genetics background, I have a particular passion of pharma and biotech cases, but also love working with my close long-standing brand clients.

What do you enjoy most about working in IP law?
Winning. And working out how to win.

What recent successes/achievements have you had (personal/professional)?
I feel my biggest success is shown in the growing litigation team I have established. I am very proud of this achievement and of each person in the team. This would not have been possible without other professional successes in winning high profile clients and cases, including representing household brands and world-leading technology and life sciences clients. We love winning.

What’s the best thing about working at Venner Shipley?
Easy – the culture and quality of the people.

“It is a very positive environment in which to work and the enthusiasm for IP law is visible in every single person at the firm.”

Geoff Hussey, Partner

What do you do outside of work? (hobbies, family?)
I have a wonderful family with three kids that keep us very busy. When I get the chance, I enjoy getting out for a game of golf.

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