Global intellectual property firm Marks & Clerk arrived at Sciontec AI at the Spine in Liverpool a year ago and says it wants to help even more local start-ups access international markets. Tony McDonough reports

Global global intellectual property firm Marks & Clerk says its first year in Liverpool has been one of growth and success and it aims to support even more start-ups in 2024.

Marks & Clerk operates 15 offices across three continents. In early 2023 it established a base at the Sciontec AI workspace facility at The Spine, an office building in Paddington Village.

Its space is now a hub for local patent attorneys, trade mark attorneys, commercial lawyers and IP litigators.

They specialise in supporting the region’s health and life sciences, advanced materials and manufacturing, cleantech, and digital and creative sectors. Many such ventures are focused on or around the city’s Knowledge Quarter.

Anis Naidu, senior associate, chartered UK and European patent attorney for Marks & Clerk, said: “We have a strong history of supporting north west based start-ups to protect their new ideas, provide strategic intellectual property advice, and commercialise emerging technologies.

“We are now keen to better align our specialisms with Liverpool city region’s recognised sector strengths and overarching growth strategy.

“Our Liverpool growth team has quickly achieved this, having set down its roots in our Sciontec AI workspace last year. It is working hard to build trust and relationships within the surrounding innovation district.”

Marks & Clerk’s coworking presence at Sciontec AI in The Spine, which is owned by Liverpool City Council, provides the IP firm with a convenient and well connected location.

During 2023 Marks & Clerk joined KQ Liverpool’s KQ Startup programme as expert advisors, sharing their technical expertise and providing advice to early stage businesses and entrepreneurs.

They also supported the 2023 and upcoming 2024 LCR Tech Climbers initiative as commercial partners, as well as exhibiting at the 2023 NanoMed Europe Conference as an official event partner.

Graeme Murray, a senior associate at Marks & Clerk LLP, added: “Our base at The Spine during the past 12 months has significantly bolstered our presence in Liverpool city region.

“Our ability to work with new clients and connections to support the flourishing community of start-ups in a wide range of sectors in the area.

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“Our involvement with the recent LCR Tech Climbers initiatives has been greatly complemented by our ability to work and host guests within the fantastic Sciontec AI space in The Spine, and we look forward to another year here”.

Marks & Clerk now aims to help a growing number of local companies to launch into international markets, as well as increasing their own exposure within the public domain.