Spotlight on our people – meet Nicola O’Driscoll

With our Spotlight on our people series, we get to showcase our legal professionals and discover more about the people behind the expert advice. In this edition, we sat down with Trade Mark and Intellectual Property Solicitor, Nicola O’Driscoll. Nicola joined our intellectual property team in November 2023, following the 10 years she spent at Blake Morgan, where she qualified in 2019.

How did you begin your career?

‘I began my legal career after studying law, firstly at college and then at degree level,’ says Nicola. ‘My first legal role was as a paralegal in a regional firm in Southampton. Here, I became involved in intellectual property, and trade marks in particular. I thoroughly enjoyed studying law at college – the problem-solving aspect of breaking down a set of circumstances and understanding how the law can be applied always sparked my interest. That interest in how the law works in real life is what made me want to pursue a career in the legal industry.’

Did you have any expectations of the legal industry?

‘Working in the legal industry has definitely lived up to what I hoped it would be. I really value the opportunity to work with such a wide mix of clients on all sorts of interesting and varied issues.’ explains Nicola. ‘In my role, I get to work with individuals at the very start of their business journeys and well-established companies developing in new areas or simply looking to protect the valuable intellectual property they’ve developed in their brand. Getting to see businesses all at different stages is fulfilling and interesting – and it keeps the work varied, meaning no two days are the same.’

What are your main areas of intellectual property expertise?

‘I advise clients on all kinds of intellectual property matters, both contentious and non-contentious, with a strong focus on trade marks. That includes helping them develop and protect their brand’s intellectual property – from carrying out initial clearance searches and giving advice, through to guiding them through national and international trade mark applications. I also handle trade mark disputes, including cases of infringement and passing off.’

What’s it like to work at Harper James?

‘I’ve found working at Harper James to be refreshing,’ says Nicola. ‘The firm’s ethos and commitment to allowing its lawyers the chance to live a true work-life balance has been fantastic. I was returning from maternity leave when I first joined Harper James, and joining a firm with a genuine commitment to flexible working made the transition back into work seamless. It’s given me the chance to enjoy family life while still building my legal career. The clients at Harper James are so varied and interesting – I find it really rewarding to work with businesses and support them as they grow and evolve.’

What’s the best piece of legal advice you could give a business?

‘Keep focused on your goals – think about what’s most important to you and what you want to achieve for your business. In law, there are often many viable options available to you, and there is rarely ever a simple ‘right answer’ or a ‘one size fits all’ option – the best option for you and your business will ultimately be determined by what your personal goals are in the circumstances.’

What do you think your clients value most about the way you work with them?

‘I believe my clients appreciate my focus on problem-solving and how I meet their specific needs/requirements. I always try to ensure my advice is clear, understandable and never overcomplicated. I understand that our clients are not necessarily interested in the law itself, they are interested in how it affects them, how it can benefit them and how it can protect them.’

What were your first impressions of Harper James?

‘My first impression of Harper James was just how forward-thinking and welcoming the firm was. Through my time at the firm, I have continued to be impressed by the firm’s focus on innovation and breaking the norms of what a law firm typically is. There is a real focus on the client and how we can service their needs in the best way.