Consultant
European Patent Attorney
Chartered Patent Attorney
Registered Trade Mark Attorney
B.A. Hons. (Oxford), Engineering Science
Virginia qualified as European Patent Attorney, Chartered Patent Attorney, European Trade Mark Attorney and Registered Trade Mark Attorney. She joined the intellectual property profession over 20 years ago, with a degree in engineering science from Oxford.
Over the years she has registered thousands of patents in a wide variety of scientific fields. Her clients come from a range of technical industries such as audio and video coding, computer architecture and applications, signal processing, visible light communications, network protocols, and user interfaces, telecommunications and e-commerce. Increasingly, the technologies are extending into data science: fintech, big data etc.
In recent years, her practice has extended to designing and building patent portfolios as a business asset for companies. As outside counsel she has been responsible for the development and growth of a number of high profile portfolios, since acquired by major companies at significant values. Alignment of IP with business strategy played a key part in building the value of each portfolio.
Virginia's professional experience covers opinion work, portfolio management and competitor surveillance, as well as written and oral representation in opposition and appeal proceedings before the European Patent Office.
A large part of her work is international - she drafts applications which can suit the USPTO, and she has a great deal of experience in extending software inventions filed in the US into Europe and other jurisdictions where ‘technical character’ is the byword for patentability.
Virginia's particular expertise includes:
Virginia has been called on by the British Government in regard to consultations relating to patent law on:
A regular speaker at IP conferences and commentator on IP protection developments. In 2020, Virginia contributed to the intellectual property chapter of The Law of Artificial Intelligence, published by Sweet & Maxwell. Reflecting the importance of patents in the AI landscape, in 2024 Virginia co-wrote a chapter in the second edition dedicated to patents with Tom Woodhouse. The second edition of The Law of Artificial Intelligence is available for purchase from Sweet & Maxwell.
Managing IP named Virginia one of the top 250 women in IP globally in 2023.
NewsResourcesCase StudiesEventsVideo
Wed 19th Jul 2023
Virginia Driver shares IP insights with Fund Her North audienceVirginia joined a distinguished panel for a 'Fireside chat on Leveraging the Investment Ecosystem', an Accelerating Funding for Women in Business event run by Fund Her North, an organisation which supports funding for female founded companies and in conjunction with the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator.
Wed 24th May 2023
MedTech and HealthTech: The New Realm of Patient CareVirginia Driver contributes to a white paper exploring the emerging innovations and challenges of the new world of MedTech and what the future holds for the industry.
Wed 26th Apr 2023
Managing IP announces top 250 women in IP 2023Virginia Driver named one of the top 250 women in IP in 2023.
Fri 14th Apr 2023
Westminster Legal Policy ForumOn 18 April 2023, partner and expert European Patent Attorney Virginia Driver will be speaking at the online Westminster Legal Policy Forum,outlining the effect of the Retained EU Law Bill on the UK IP legal framework.
Fri 17th Mar 2023
Webinar: Providing sustainable care with innovative HealthTechHow can protecting innovation in technology help provide sustainable care within our National Health Service and other healthcare settings?
Tue 20th Dec 2022
Patenting of AI-based software and devices for medtechOn 20 December 2022, European patent attorney Virginia Driver took part in a seminar hosted by the University of Cambridge Enterprise, discussing patenting of AI-based software and devices for medical technology.
Mon 28th Nov 2022
Innovation and IP on the IoD Levelling Up agenda for YorkshireOn 22 November 2022, Virginia Driver, European Patent Attorney and AI intellectual property specialist attended an event on ‘Levelling up and invest in Yorkshire and the North East’ hosted by the Institute of Directors in London.
Tue 6th Sep 2022
FIVE AI’s GC explains what it is like to work with Page White Farrer to build a patent and trade mark portfolioBusiness startups may wonder whether or not to invest in patents and trade marks. Then, how do they find a patent attorney who understands their invention and can help them translate it into business value via intellectual property protection?
Mon 6th Jun 2022
Crystalising your IP value: Join us at our fringe event during London Tech WeekInterested in how you can protect your intellectual property and maximise the value of your tech innovation?
Wed 25th May 2022
IP workshop: AI for MedTech – Capturing the value in your IPOn Friday 17 June 2022, IP specialists Virginia Driver and Andrew McKinlay will be presenting a workshop at Page White Farrer in Leeds, in conjunction with NIHR Surgical MedTech Co-operative (Surgical MIC).
Fri 11th Mar 2022
Bringing IP expertise to AI Tech North Summit in LeedsPage White Farrer is delighted to be sponsoring the Great Northern AI Summit in Leeds, organised by AI Tech North 17-18 March 2022.
Thu 23rd Sep 2021
Webinar: Unlocking the value of your IP - Leeds Digital FestivalPage White Farrer participated in the Leeds Digital Festival, which took place from 20 September to 1 October 2021 and celebrated the full range of technology and digital culture, including AI, data and software.
Tue 20th Apr 2021
Webinar: Turning AI technology into valuable IP assets - Digital City Festival 2021Page White Farrer is delighted to be sponsoring the 2021 Digital City Festival in Manchester. The online festival will run from 12 – 23 April and gathers thought-leaders from around the world to address the key digital challenges facing people, businesses and governments as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Wed 17th Mar 2021
Webinar: Protecting your software - where do you start? - Tech WednesdayOn 17 March 2021, patent attorneys Virginia Driver and Tom Woodhouse presented a webinar for Bruntwood SciTech at its Tech Wednesday event, a monthly meet-up for technological and entrepreneurial communities that are part of the Bruntwood Collective.
Thu 11th Mar 2021
Can computer-implemented simulations be protected with a patent in light of the G1/19 decision? Yes and no…The Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO) has given its long-awaited decision on the referred questions in G1/19 concerning the patentability of computer-implemented simulations.
Fri 5th Mar 2021
Patents for artificial intelligence – what are the issues which need to be addressed by the regulators?With AI applications developing faster than the regulators can consult and implement new laws, what are the priorities to be addressed in regard to patents and artificial intelligence?
Mon 8th Feb 2021
Preview the contents of the IP chapter in 'The Law of Artificial Intelligence'The book 'The Law of Artificial Intelligence' has a chapter on intellectual property and AI written by partners Tom Woodhouse and Virginia Driver. You can read a preview of the key topics they explore in the chapter by the contents page inside.
Thu 4th Feb 2021
Why are tech giants registering so many AI patents?The role of intellectual property in crystallising a company’s intangible asset value is being increasingly recognised.
Thu 21st Jan 2021
Webinar: Protecting your software - plugging the copyright gapOn 11 February 2021, AI and IP experts Virginia Driver and Tom Woodhouse will be discussing how to plug gaps in patent protection with a strong intellectual property strategy in a webinar with the Business & IP Centre in Leeds.
Thu 31st Dec 2020
Virginia Driver and Tom Woodhouse contribute to IP chapter of book on ‘The Law of Artificial Intelligence’Page White Farrer is delighted that two of its expert patent attorneys, Virginia Driver and Tom Woodhouse, have contributed to a book on artificial intelligence and the law around this, with a chapter delivering insights on intellectual property.
Mon 16th Nov 2020
Webinar: Using IP to guard software innovation - Sheffield Digital FestivalPatent attorneys Tom Woodhouse and Virginia Driver gave a talk on how intellectual property protection can safeguard software innovation and increase the value of a tech business as part of Sheffield Digital Festival.
Thu 5th Nov 2020
Webinar: Who owns your idea? - Leeds Library Tech TalksExpert patent attorneys Virginia Driver and Tom Woodhouse of Page White and Farrer presented a webinar as part of the Tech Talks series by Leeds Libraries and the Leeds Business and IP Centre.
Fri 9th Oct 2020
Intellectual property protection for tech innovation - AI Tech North Summit 2020On 12th and 13th October 2020, Virginia Driver and Tom Woodhouse of Page White and Farrer in Leeds were keynote speakers at the AI Tech North Summit 2020, sharing their expert knowledge on intellectual property protection of artificial intelligence technology.
They will also held an online masterclass about what businesses can do to take control of their valuable technology innovation with an intellectual property strategy.
Fri 25th Sep 2020
Turning AI technology into valuable IP assets at Leeds Digital Festival 2020Virginia Driver and Tom Woodhouse, expert European patent attorneys at Page White and Farrer hosted an online event at the Leeds Digital Festival 2020.
Mon 21st Sep 2020
Webinar: Crystallising the value of your IP assets - AI for LeadersExpert patent attorneys Virginia Driver and Tom Woodhouse of Page White and Farrer in Leeds presented in an online webinar, AI for Leaders, part of AI Tech North’s Innovation Exchange (IX) and a fringe event of Leeds Digital Festival.
Thu 10th Sep 2020
Webinar - Maximising the value of tech businesses by guarding software innovation with intellectual propertyVirginia Driver and Tom Woodhouse presented a free webinar for Bruntwood SciTech alongside Paul Berwin and Sam Crich of Berwins Digital. They explored how tech businesses can maximise their value by using intellectual property to guard software innovation.
Fri 17th Jul 2020
Philanthropists, not-for-profits and startups need to guard IP in Covid-19 solutionsBy 17 June 2020, according to Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), some $11.4 billion had been donated to help tackle the COVID-19 outbreak.
Large donations have been made by some of the world’s leading companies and foundations, and universities are racing to develop a vaccine.
Thu 18th Jun 2020
COVID-19: philanthropists, not-for-profits and startups need to guard their intellectual propertyBy 17 June 2020, according to Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), some $11.4 billion had been donated to help tackle the COVID-19 outbreak. Large donations have been made by some of the world’s leading companies and foundations, and universities are racing to develop a vaccine. Are organisations neglecting to guard their intellectual property (IP) rights in the rush to find solutions?
Mon 1st Jun 2020
Universities urged to guard their IP in Times Higher EducationIn an article for The Times Higher Education (published May 30, 2020), intellectual property strategists Virginia Driver and Tom Woodhouse have urged universities to guard their IP rights to ensure COVID-19 innovations reach the vulnerable in poorer nations.
Thu 23rd Apr 2020
Video: Are you giving away your intellectual property for free?Patent attorney Virginia Driver recently gave a presentation to the Bruntwood SciTech Wednesday community, looking at how individual innovators can protect their inventions and creations.
Thu 9th Apr 2020
Are you giving away your intellectual property for free?Patent attorney Virginia Driver, who specialises in intellectual property strategy and protection for the tech and electronics sectors, will be presenting at the online Bruntwood SciTech Wednesday event on 15th April.
Wed 5th Feb 2020
IP experts expand into Leeds city centre tech hubWith talk of the House of Lords heading to Yorkshire, Page White and Farrer is one step ahead! The leading firm of patent and trade mark attorneys has taken new office space in Platform, the trendy hub for tech and innovation in Leeds city centre.
Tue 12th Nov 2019
On the search for talent: Page White and Farrer to exhibit at the University of Oxford careers fairOn Tuesday 19 November, Page White and Farrer will be exhibiting at the University of Oxford careers fair ‘Jobs for Mathematicians’.
Tue 21st May 2019
‘Turning innovation into valuable assets’ - Virginia Driver will be speaking at the GEO Business Show 2019On 21 May 2019, Virginia Driver, European Patent Attorney, will be giving a talk at the GEO Business Show 2019 in London. She will be discussing intellectual property and advising on where to start turning innovation into a valuable asset for your business.
Thu 4th Oct 2018
Case study: Crystallising IP value of data mining company prior to acquisitionOur client’s company was established in 2010 when the founding entrepreneur recognised that the main sources of news and content were being consumed via individual RSS feeds.
Mon 10th Sep 2018
Case study: European IP for ground-breaking Solos™ smart glassesThe Page White Farrer patent team were recently called on by Kopin Corporation’s US attorneys to help them protect the Solos™ Smart Glasses in Europe. Featuring the same technology used by USA Cycling and the Olympic track cycling team, the Solos™ give cyclists the possibility to consult GPS information in the corner of smart cycling glasses, without having to break their ride. The patent team successfully helped Kopin Corporation to protect their intellectual property in Europe.
Thu 7th Jun 2018
Practical discussions on AI - Virginia Driver to speak at AIPLA Event in DenverOn 19 June 2018, European Patent Attorney Virginia Driver will be speaking at the AIPLA Electronic and Computer Law Summit in Denver, Colorado, USA, on the subject of ‘Practical Discussions on pursuing Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning’ alongside Michael Drapkin, of Holland & Hart in Colorado, and Steven Yang, of Bridgeon Law Firm in Beijing.
Mon 21st May 2018
European patent attorneys to exhibit and speak at the GEO Business Show 2018On 23 May 2018, Virginia Driver, European Patent Attorney, will be speaking at the GEO Business Show 2018 in London. She will be talking about ‘legal advice in cutting-edge technologies; translating your innovation into valuable business assets.’
Sat 28th Apr 2018
Why should businesses be protecting their intellectual property?Protecting your intellectual property is key to the operational and financial success of many businesses.
Thu 5th Apr 2018
Video - ‘Can UK SMEs become leaders in innovation, research and development?’ Virginia Driver at iF SeminarAt this year’s iF seminar in London, Virginia Driver was one of a panel of three industry experts discussing the potential for UK SMEs to become leaders in innovation, research and development. The panel discussed a wide variety of topics, including entrepreneurship, patent protection and keys to success.
Wed 13th Dec 2017
A guide to The Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial DesignsThe Hague System provides for acquiring, maintaining and managing registered design protection internationally. The UK will join the Hague System as an independent member on 13 June 2018. Virginia Driver and Ian Whitfield provide an overview of the Hague System for international registration of industrial designs.
Mon 17th Jul 2017
Hands Across the Water – the Special Relationship in IP LicensingIt is no surprise that intellectual property rights holders often wish to monetise their rights by means of some form of licensing arrangement. International IP licensing was the subject of the paper presented by Virginia Driver to the Spring Meeting of the American Intellectual Property Law Association in San Diego entitled ‘Hands Across the Water – the Special Relationship in IP Licensing,’ co-authored with Alex Driver of Powell Gilbert.
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