EIP: The Culture That Called Me Back
After a short time away, Chris Ball has returned to EIP with fresh perspective and familiar energy. In this article, Chris shares the journey that led back to the firm, whatâs changed, what hasnât, and why EIP still feels like home.
Tell us about your career
After earning an undergraduate degree in history, I pivoted towards law and undertook the Law Conversion Course. Before getting as far as taking the LPC or qualifying, I found myself in need of a job as I was about to get married and took the step into legal recruitment, initially thinking it would be temporary. But I discovered a role that combined my love of working with people, close to the legal sector and with a sales element to it. I never looked back.
In the first 3 years of my career, I worked for Michael Page International in their legal division, helping commercial lawyers finding roles in the larger law firms in Manchester and Liverpool. In 2009, I moved firms and was introduced to the world of patents when I joined the Sacco Mann Patent and Trademark team. It was then I first encountered EIP. I immediately found the innovative and commercial drivers of the firm intoxicating and worked hard to build relationships with the key stakeholders and find EIP the right people. EIP quickly become my favourite client, and I became one of their better suppliers.
After 4 years at Sacco Mann, I realised I was ready for a change and had seen the trend for larger corporate businesses to bring recruitment specialists in-house but noted that no firm in the IP sector was doing that. And so, when I thought that I wanted to be the first person to do that, there was only one firm on my list. I joined EIP in February of 2014 to establish the first in-house recruitment department in the IP sector. Iâm proud to have done so and contributed in my own way to EIPâs ethos of doing things âbetter; differentâ!
When you temporarily left EIP, where did you go and how long were you gone for?
I left EIP at the end of 2021 and joined a firm called gunnercooke, a consultancy platform for law firm partners to operate independently but with the support of an umbrella organisation. It was an interesting role which allowed me to focus exclusively on senior fee earner recruitment but it never felt like home! I was away from EIP for less than two years, returning in November 2023.
What made you 'boomerang' back to EIP?
I have been asked this a lot over the last couple of years. For me, I didnât fully appreciate how good the match between me and EIP was when I left. Sometimes, itâs only by experiencing something different that you truly appreciate what you had. EIP is aligned with so many of my personal philosophies; constantly looking at what is possible, evolving how we do what we do and doing so with an innovative mindset.
Central to that is the peopleâŠthere are some amazing people here â from the leadership to colleagues at all levels. And, if Iâm being very honest, I missed talking to patent professionals (both internally and externally). We all know they are a quirky bunch (!!) but they are some of the most interesting and impressive people I have met.
EIP has always been a firm Iâve had a huge amount of admiration, respect and affection for. Itâs an extraordinary business and Iâm incredibly proud to be back here. Chris Fournier said on my first London visit when I was back, âwelcome homeâ âŠand thatâs exactly how it feels.
What has changed the most at EIP since you first started?
In 2014 there were a lot of differences. I was number 6 into LeedsâŠnow nearly 20âŠand when I first visited London, we only had floors 3 and 4âŠEIP Legal (as they were then) were on the 4th floor. The US office and Dusseldorf were new offices under different leadership and with the US based out of San Diego.
For me one of the major changes is where others see us. EIP is still well-known for being innovative, evolutionary and in some senses still a âdisruptorâ but the work and efforts of my colleagues have placed us in the top-rankings of the profession for both patent prosecution and litigation. We received our first Legal 500 tier one ranking in 2013 (just before I joined) but many, many more have followed. We continue to punch above our weight, but are now firmly recognised as an industry leaderâŠand less so a young upstart!
And in the time I was awayâŠwowâŠwell if I didnât already know that EIP never stands still, the number of changes in 2 years showed me. Sweden opened in 2022, the Leeds office (my home office) moved, we launched COM, we started our journey into the world of âiphysâ with the launch of Codiphy. Oh, and I had to learn a new wordââSamverkanâ!
What is the weirdest thing you missed about EIP while you were gone?
The tech stackâŠits very, very easy to get on with your role at EIP. Chris, Paul, Mark and their teams do a great job at keeping us operating smoothly. Itâs something you donât realise until you go to a firm where you feel like youâre stepping back in time! I knew I was in trouble when one of the early company presentations proudly announced theyâd just rolled out OneDrive!
What do you love about EIP? Iâve already mentioned working with patent professionalsâŠprobably shouldnât say any more about the quirkiness in case it is career-limiting. It is, though, all about the people (yes, I know youâd expect the recruiter to say that!!). Much of what makes EIP exceptional and exciting stems from our people, our passion for what we do, and our individual and collective mindsets.
My colleagues at all levels inspire me, push me and impress me every single day. Whatâs not to love about that!
Really useful guide, thank you. I've been to INTA a few times now and the hotel recommendation is spot on â book early or you'll be paying a premium for something much further away.