50 most influential people in IP 2022: MIP recognises Robert Devonshire at MML Capital

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50 most influential people in IP 2022: MIP recognises Robert Devonshire at MML Capital

Robert Devonshire is a partner at MML Capital in the UK

RobDevonshire.jpg
Robert Devonshire, partner, MML Capital, UK

I know what you’re thinking. What is an accountant at a private equity firm doing on a list about influential people in IP?

You’d be forgiven for asking, but this next entrant’s inclusion speaks to what could become a big trend in the industry – private equity investment in IP firms.

In September, Managing IP revealed that MML Capital had bought a 35% stake in IP law and consultancy business Rouse.

London-based Devonshire, who joined MML in 2011, was the senior figure who pushed through the deal.

MML, a mid-market private equity business, purchased the share to fund future expansion plans. The 35% figure was not confirmed but was verified by senior sources in the firm as being in the right ballpark.

Sources familiar with Rouse’s strategy said the private equity investment could be a precursor to a public listing.

According to MML and Devonshire, its partnership with Rouse would help the firm deliver an ambitious growth plan.

“Our investment also crystallised the transition from a traditional partnership model to a corporate model, allowing the business to reinvest for growth,” MML said.

But the news story attracted widespread interest. Several commentators predicted the deal would be a precursor to many more in the future.

Profiles for the 50 most influential people in IP 2022
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The list is in five categories, which you can navigate by selecting the appropriate section below.

19 Industry leaders
10 Public officials
9 IP authorities
7 Judges
5 Notable individuals
 
Joyce Ang is senior vice president for IPR protection at Lazada in Singapore
René Claude Metomo is the president of the Association of Penja Pepper Producers in Cameroon
Clemens Heusch is global head of dispute resolution at Nokia in Germany
Audrey Lee is general counsel at Starz Entertainment in the US
Shannon Thyme Klinger is chief legal officer at Moderna in the US
Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen are founders at Andreessen Horowitz in the US
Stephen Wurth and John Scott are legal counsel at Qualcomm in the US
Niall Trainor is senior director of brand protection at eOne in the UK
Juliette Rouilloux-Sicre is vice president of legal and intellectual property at Thales in France
Mattia Fogliacco is president of Sisvel International in Luxembourg
 
Jacob Rees-Mogg is the former secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy in the UK
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the former president of the United Arab Emirates
Edwin Tong is the second minister for law in the Singapore government
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the director general of the World Trade Organization in Switzerland
The investigation lead at the Spanish National Police asked to remain anonymous
Thom Tillis is a senator for North Carolina at the US Congress
Kerstin Jorna is director general of DG Grow at the European Commission in Belgium
 
Alexander Ramsay is former chair of the UPC Administrative Committee in Sweden
Insil Lee is the commissioner at KIPO in South Korea
Konstantinos Georgaras is CEO of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office
Shira Perlmutter is register of copyrights at the US Copyright Office
Kathi Vidal is the director of the USPTO and under secretary of commerce for IP in the US government
Christian Archambeau is executive director at the EUIPO in Spain
 
Colm Connolly is the chief judge at the District Court for the District of Delaware in the US
Orlando Garcia is the chief judge at the District Court for the Western District of Texas in the US
Len Stark is a judge at the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in the US
Suzanne Barnett was the interim chief judge at the Copyright Royalty Board in the US
 
Ankit Sahni is the owner of the RAGHAV Artificial Intelligence Painting App in India
Taras Kulbaba is a partner at Bukovnik & Kulbaba IP Guardians in Belgium
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