Venner Shipley appoints two new Partners as well as making other promotions

We are pleased to announce the promotion of two new Partners in our Patents team, effective 1 July 2025: Caroline Allen and Martin Crow.

Caroline Allen is a European and UK Patent Attorney in our Mechanical Engineering team in London, with extensive experience in patents and designs – particularly in fields such as medical devices, consumer products and applied AI. Caroline manages significant client portfolios, advises on complex legal issues, contributes to internal innovation and training, and has achieved notable successes in both contentious and non-contentious proceedings across the UK and Europe.

Martin Crow is a European and UK Patent Attorney in our Chemical and Life Sciences team, based in London. His practice covers a broad range of technologies, with particular expertise in pharmaceuticals, drug delivery systems, polymer chemistry, advanced materials, and process chemistry. Martin advises clients on all aspects of patent strategy, including global prosecution, supplementary protection certificates (SPC), portfolio management, and contentious proceedings before the European Patent Office, including oppositions and appeals. He brings a strong commercial perspective to his work, having previously worked in-house at a multinational company, where he gained valuable insight into aligning IP strategy with business objectives.

Siân Gill, Managing Partner, commented:
“We are pleased to announce this year’s promotions, which recognise the valuable contributions of individuals across all areas of the firm. From newly appointed Partners to Directors, Senior Associates, and Business Services colleagues, these promotions reflect the strong talent we’re proud to have at Venner Shipley. They come at a positive time for the firm, following our recent combination with AA Thornton, and reflect our ongoing commitment to developing our people and strengthening our capabilities. Everyone being promoted has shown real dedication to our clients and our culture, and we’re confident they’ll continue to play an important role in the firm’s future.”

In addition to the new Partners, we are delighted to announce further promotions across the firm, also effective 1 July:

Directors
• Jack Rogan – Mechanical Engineering
• James Varley – Electronics, Software & Communications
• Leonita Paulraj – Chemical and Life Sciences
• Matt Colonna – Electronics & Software

Senior Associates
• Hannah Auger – Electronics, Software & Communications
• Katy Sayer – Mechanical Engineering
• Louis Jolliffe – Electronics, Software & Communications
• Runhan Luo – Electronics, Software & Communications

We are also pleased to confirm a number of well-deserved promotions within our Business Services teams.

These promotions reflect the breadth of talent across the firm and our continued commitment to recognising and supporting the development of our people at every level.