Dr Radhika Moore started off working in engineering
Dr Radhika Moore was looking to do something different when she got on Google to see what jobs suited someone of her background. As it turned out, the results echoed a suggestion that had already been put forward by Moore’s mum – an IP lawyer.
Since making the shift from engineering, Moore has gone from trainee patent attorney to qualified patent attorney and now recently promoted to associate at Griffith Hack alongside Dr Megan Cole and Dr Arun Nagasubramanian. In this interview, she talks diving into Perth’s IP scene and being excited for Margaret River trips.
What made you choose a career in law, and what's your favourite part of the job?
I came to the patent profession a little later in life. Having started off my career in engineering, I was looking for a change. I did a bit of Googling to see what professions would be suitable for someone with my background (PhD in chemical engineering) and “patent attorney” came up numerous times. My mum is actually an IP lawyer and often suggested I look into being a patent attorney as a career. So, I finally did. It seemed like a good career choice because it would enable me to leverage my knowledge of engineering.
My favourite part of the job is the variety – there’s many different aspects to the job aside from drafting and prosecuting patents. For instance, working with local clients is a lot of fun. Local clients are so passionate about their inventions and it’s rewarding being able to help them develop an IP strategy.
What is going on at the firm? Are there any new programs and initiatives that you’re particularly interested in?
There’s always a lot happening at Griffith Hack. At the moment, we are expanding our presence and capabilities in Perth. I am lucky enough to be part of this initiative – I relocated from Sydney to Perth about six weeks ago.
On a more outwardly focused front, Griffith Hack is constantly looking into community initiatives, such as hosting students from underprivileged areas in various offices so that they can get a feel for the profession and tips on building a career post high school.
What has been your proudest accomplishment in the last year or so?
My proudest accomplishment has been finishing my Masters in IP and registering as a patent attorney at the start of this year. Studying and working at the same time was definitely a challenge and getting through the degree felt like an insurmountable task at times. However, I am incredibly lucky to have very supportive colleagues who encouraged me along the way.
What should the profession focus more on?
The profession needs to continue to focus on building diverse working environments and being supportive of those who have commitments outside of work (e.g., parents). From my experience and to my knowledge, many firms have come a very long way, and the profession needs to keep improving its culture and reputation, so that it can continue to attract and retain talent in the industry.
What are the challenges you expect in your practice, and in the business of law in general, going forward? What challenges are particularly pressing in the country’s legal industry?
In my practice I see clients addressing the challenge of the pace of change across a range of sectors around the world, and the impact of change on their business and IP strategy. For some it is about global supply chains, for others it is entering new markets, and for earlier stage companies it is often about getting ready to launch a new product. For law as a profession, how we can best leverage technology to deliver great outcomes for clients most efficiently is front of mind.
What are you looking forward to the most in the coming year?
I am really looking forward to getting more involved in the Perth IP scene – networking with those in relevant industries and getting to know the local clients. I am also looking forward to meeting more Perth-based patent attorneys. On a non-work front, I am looking forward to some trips to the Margaret River.
If you weren’t in law, what do you think you’d be doing as a career?
If I hadn’t taken the leap to become a patent attorney, I think I would have ended up as a researcher in the private sector.
