John Philip Hanna, BEng (Hons) Aeronautical Eng, MSc in Computer Aided Mechanical Engineering Design – Chartered Patent Attorney, European Patent Attorney, Community Trade Mark Attorney
After graduating from Queens University in Belfast in 1997 John worked with a leading firm of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys in Dublin, Ireland for three years. He then moved to Sweden to work in the Swedish branch of a firm of European Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys spanning Sweden, Denmark and Norway. While in Sweden John was based in Umea in the north of Sweden working with local industrial clients and University spin off companies providing patentability and infringement advice. In 2002, John returned to Belfast to work for a firm of European Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys dealing with the entire range of services covered by the umbrella term Intellectual Property including patents, trade marks, designs and copyright. John has represented clients at hearings before the UK Patent Office in relation to patent matters and in Oral Proceedings before the European Patent Office.
After nine years in the business John set up his own IP Practice HannaIP in January 2007.
Suzanne Koston - Consultant
Suzanne has worked in the Intellectual Property field since 1998. She graduated with a BSc in Biochemistry from University College Dublin and completed an MSc by research in the Dept of Medicine & Therapeutics at University College Dublin. In 1999 she was awarded a Certificate in Intellectual Property Law from Queen Mary and Westfield College, London. She has been a registered Irish Patent Agent since 2004. She is qualified to practice before the UK Intellectual Property Office. She worked for 8 years with one of the leading Irish Patent Agent firms based in Dublin. She has worked in partnership with Hanna IP since 2008.
Suzanne has worked with clients ranging in size from SME’s to large multi-national corporations, as well as start-up companies, in particular University based start-up companies. She also has extensive experience with individual inventors/entrepreneurs in a variety of technologies. Particular areas of technology include biotechnology, chemistry, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and organic synthesis. Suzanne has gained extensive experience in all aspects of patent work from the preparation and prosecution of patent applications in Ireland, in the UK, at the European Patent Office (EPO), in the USA, and International PCT applications.
Richard Rankin MEng Aeronautical Engineering (Hons), Master of Business Administration – Trainee Patent Attorney
After graduating from Queens University Belfast in 2005 Richard briefly worked as an Actuarial Analyst for Mercer HR Consulting before spending two years as an Engineer with Bombardier Aerospace in Belfast. During his time at Bombardier, Richard worked primarily in stress engineering for both regional and business aircraft, but his time at the company also included a secondment in Lean Engineering. Richard then moved to the United States to pursue an MBA in December 2008, which he subsequently completed in May 2010. Richard worked for a short period as a Commercial Real Estate Analyst in Florida before returning to Belfast in December 2010 to take up his current position with Hanna IP.
Mr. Saadat Nisar B.Sc, M.Sc (IP Law), Masters (E-Commerce), LL.B, Qualified Solicitor
Saadat qualified as a Mechanical Engineer in 1990 and as Lawyer in 1996 in his Native Pakistan. Before moving to the legal profession, he worked as a Mechanical Engineer with some of the leading manufacturing companies in Pakistan. Later, while practising as a lawyer, he developed a keen interest and gained useful experience in Intellectual Property and IT Law. Saadat has travelled extensively throughout the world and has completed a Master’s degree in Electronic Commerce from Dalhousie University, Canada in 2002. Saadat also holds a Master’s degree with Distinction in the Management of Intellectual Property from the Queen Mary University of London. He has also been registered as a Solicitor with the Law Society of England & Wales since 2009.
Saadat has extensive engineering, legal, commercial and IP experience. He has prepared the course material for Electronic Commerce and Commercial Law and taught these subjects as a visiting lecturer at some well-known academic institutions. He is familiar with all the systems of filing and prosecuting patent/trademarks/design applications in the UK, Europe and Internationally and provides opinions on legal issues.
Maria Jose Casas Villaverde BA Honours Degree in English Philology – Office Administrator
Maria is originally from Spain and graduated with an Honours Degree in English Philology from the University of Castilla La Mancha, Ciudad Real.
Maria moved to Dublin in 2002 to further her English studies and moved north to Belfast in 2003. In 2005 Maria took up a position with an Intellectual Property firm as office administrator and spent two and a half years becoming familiar with IP administration.
More recently Maria worked for Energia (part of the Viridian Group) as a customer registrations controller/supervisor before returning to the world of patents and trademarks in her current role with Hanna IP.
Laura Bowman Degree in Graphic Design – Marketing and Design Co-ordinator
Laura began her career working in various administrative and finance roles for organisations such Ulster Bank and Grafton Recruitment. After over 7 years service in the administrative side of business, Laura secured a place at a college in the USA to study Graphic Design. Upon completion of her Graphic Design degree, Laura held several positions as a graphic designer, before returning to Northern Ireland in 2011 to undertake freelance design work.
Laura joined Hanna IP in February 2012 and participates in the planning and production of various marketing activities as well as assisting with general administration tasks.
Jill Gourley Honours Degree in Law – Assistant Administrator
Jill has been working for the company since December 2010 as part of the Northern Ireland Graduate Acceleration Programme. Jill spent the last three years living in England, studying for her degree at the University of Leeds. She graduated with a 2:1 Honours Degree in Law in July 2010.
Whilst working with Hanna IP Jill has been conducting legal research and has been developing a marketing plan for the company to facilitate expansion. As well as working for Hanna IP she is currently completing a Postgraduate Study in Operations and Management at Queen’s University Belfast.
