A day in the life of a Trainee at Hoffmann Eitle.
Starting the day
Hoffmann Eitle is a truly pan-European firm with a head office in Munich, and smaller expanding offices in London, Düsseldorf, and Hamburg. The firm also has a presence in Milan, Madrid, Barcelona and Amsterdam.
I joined the Biotechnology Group (BTG) in October 2023. Further to a BTG partner joining the London team earlier that year, I was recruited as the first BTG trainee to be located in the London office and I found this very exciting! On my in-office days, my workday starts with a hello to all of my colleagues. After a brief email check, I grab a coffee and croissant and then settle down to work.
Balancing the workload
This morning, I have a call with the other BTG trainees in Munich and one of the Munich partners. We are discussing a case related to antibody technology, focusing on interpreting the report sent from the European Patent Office and providing the client with ways forward to help secure a patent for their invention. After focusing solely on structural biology for my PhD, I love the broad range of science I get to delve into in this role!
Following this, I work with our London-based BTG partner on some amendments for an application related to vaccines. It is incredible to see the exciting advances in Biotechnology which are coming through, and I feel at the forefront of cutting-edge science which will save lives.
A spot of lunch
Given our central location, there are many options for lunch. Today, we opt for delicious Japanese food. On a cold day we all eat together in our breakout space in the office, but today the London sun is shining, so we sit in the beautiful gardens nearby. I really appreciate the opportunity to speak to my trainee colleagues from other practice areas. One is recounting tales from a recent Trademarks conference, and we also discuss my future secondment to Munich where I will get to spend six months working in our head office.
Hands-on training
One of the best things about working at Hoffmann Eitle is the training opportunities provided. I am lucky to have worked with some excellent patent attorneys and assistants and have learnt so much in such a short time. Today, we have a tutorial specifically for BTG trainees. One of the partners is leading us through a tutorial worksheet on patentability, ie which inventions you can and cannot patent, and how to amend applications to make sure your invention is allowable. This experience is invaluable, and I enjoy discussing the intricacies of European patent law with my colleagues.
Social activities
I love that I get to work with a broad range of people and one of the best ways to foster these inter-team relationships is through social activities! Today we head to the local pub for a quick drink after work, before making our way to indoor mini golf, followed by pizza.
Hoffmann Eitle is an award-winning firm and this is reflected in the people who work here. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work with and learn from my colleagues. Patent law is an exciting, ever-changing field which offers something new every day and I cannot think of a better place to train than at Hoffmann Eitle.
