About
I am a UK and European patent attorney in Cambridge, specialising in artificial intelligence, software, bioinformatics and physics-based inventions. Alongside my patent practice, I speak and write regularly on how AI is changing innovation and the patent profession itself, and have served on the Council of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA). I am currently Vice-Chair of CIPA's AI Committee, and a member of the AI Special Interest Group of CWConnected (formerly Cambridge Wireless).
I trained as a physicist, first completing an MSci at Imperial College London and then a DPhil at the University of Oxford. My doctoral thesis described my research on constructing a synthetic ribosome using synthetic DNA as the building material. This multi-disciplinary background enables me to handle bioinformatics and techbio innovations today. I have worked in the patent profession for over 15 years, with experience in both private practice and in-house.
My contributions to the IP profession include widening access to the profession and helping those who join as trainee patent attorneys to succeed. I jointly led the team that created IP Inclusive's Careers in Ideas outreach programme, and contributed to CIPA's Education Committee with a particular focus on helping trainees through their qualifying exams. I also routinely mentor start-up founders and provide training to my clients to help them better understand which of their software innovations are more likely to be patentable. I have also delivered presentations on protecting innovation using IP more widely, including to members of the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Association of Anaesthetists and CWConnected, and to a variety of universities. My particular skill is explaining complex legal issues to people who have no reason to know how the law works.
Opportunities to collaborate
I welcome invitations to collaborate.
Speaking
Keynotes, talks, panels and interactive workshops, in person or online, for conferences, membership organisations, businesses and industry groups. Topics include introductions to IP, which AI and software inventions can be patented, and what generative AI tools mean for professional work. Recent hosts include the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Physics, CIPA and the British Group of Union-IP.
Media
Comment and interviews on patenting AI and software, the effect of AI on the IP profession, and diversity and wellbeing in the professions. I have been interviewed by Managing IP, quoted by World IP Review on the Emotional Perception case, and co-hosted a podcast on the story of a medical start-up. I also write brAIn blog, a LinkedIn newsletter on AI and patents.
Mentoring
Mentoring for founders of start-ups and for SMEs on how patents, trade secrets and a wider IP strategy can build a lasting competitive advantage, and on when to seek formal advice. I have advised multiple cohorts of the DeepTech Labs accelerator in Cambridge. I also mentor trainee patent attorneys and tutor them for their qualifying exams.
For advice on a specific invention or patent, please contact me through my firm.
Speaking
I speak at conferences, webinars, and training days, for specialist and general audiences. Recurring topics:
Patenting AI and software
What makes an AI invention "technical", and the differing challenges to patent software and AI in the UK, Europe and US.
AI for busy professionals
What AI is, what it can do, and how it is already used in medicine, chemistry and law, without the jargon.
AI and the IP profession
Generative AI tools in patent work: risks to confidentiality and precision, and what to consider when developing or buying a legal AI tool.
IP for start-ups and deeptech
Building a competitive advantage from patents and trade secrets, for founders, spin-outs and early-stage tech companies.
Careers, diversity and inclusion
Life after qualification, allyship, intersectionality and wellbeing in the professions.
Recent events
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22 September 2026
AI and the future of the patent professionAI
Union-IP British Group Autumn Dinner, London
After-dinner conversation with Virginia Driver on how AI is changing the profession now and in the longer term.
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17 June 2026
How AI can impact your IPAI
Royal Society of Chemistry, IP webinar series
How a single use of a generative AI tool can undermine years of R&D from an IP perspective.
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June 2026
Demystifying AIAI
Association of Anaesthetists conference
A short introduction for resident doctors to what AI is and how it is already used in medicine.
Earlier events
2026
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16 April 2026
Life after qualificationCareers
CIPA Future Attorneys Conference
Panel on the opportunities and pressures that follow the qualifying exams, and why resilience matters.
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26 March 2026
Protecting AI with patents and trade secrets (organiser)Start-ups
Cambridge Wireless AI Special Interest Group
A short-format workshop for companies unable to attend full-day conferences.
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12 February 2026
Questions to ask AI tool providersAI
CIPA AI Committee webinar
Panellist, giving the in-house perspective.
2025
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11 November 2025
Key terminology to understand before speaking with AI tool providersAI
CIPA AI Committee webinar, with Lee-Ann Galway
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6 November 2025
IP for physics, deep-tech and quantum start-upsStart-ups
Institute of Physics webinar, with Richard Bray
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25 September 2025
Deploying deep tech in regulated industriesStart-ups
Cambridge Wireless
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7 July 2025
AI, IP and innovation for chemical innovatorsAI
Royal Society of Chemistry webinar
Talk and panel discussion.
2024
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12–16 August 2024
IP and artificial intelligenceAI
IP Law Summer School (Informa), Downing College, Cambridge
Double presentation with Debora Dorn.
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2024
AI, law and ethics 101: a quick-start guideAI
Cambridge Wireless
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23 April 2024
Help! How do I start a conversation on EDI?Inclusion
IP Inclusive roadshow, Cambridge
Co-organiser and panel chair.
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18 March 2024
Key UK and European patent law updates for biotech and AI attorneysPatents
Boston Intellectual Property Law Association, Boston, USA
With Edward Rainsford.
2023
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27 April 2023
CIPA Student Conference, BirminghamCareers
As Chair of the Education Committee: opened the conference, hosted the post-qualification session, and co-chaired a session on business development.
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18 April 2023
Computer patentsPatents
CIPA Informals foundation lecture
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2023
Generative AI and quantum computingAI
CIPA Computer Technology Summer Seminar
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March 2023
From antibodies to AI: what is patentable in the US and Europe?Patents
Webinar for university knowledge-exchange practitioners, with Edward Rainsford
2020–2022
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September 2022
From physics to intellectual propertyCareers
Women in STEM conference, University of Manchester
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March 2022
Introduction to IP: myths and misconceptionsStart-ups
Webinar with Aurora
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29 October 2021
The Mercer ReviewCareers
CIPA webinar, panellist
On the review of patent attorney education, training and assessment.
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July 2021
How to spot the inventionCareers
CIPA webinar for candidates sitting FD2 and EQE Paper A
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June 2020
Allies and intersectionalityInclusion
Diversity in IP Breakfast (IP Inclusive, CIPA and CITMA)
Guest speaker with Daniel Winterfeldt.
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2020
Allies and supportersInclusion
IP Inclusive networking event
Panellist representing Women in IP.
Earlier
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2 November 2016
The power of networking and mentoringInclusion
IP Inclusive: Women in IP launch event, London
Roles and societies
Voluntary roles in the profession, in outreach, and in the Cambridge technology community.
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2025 – present
Vice-Chair, AI Committee
Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA)
The committee advises the profession on the use of AI tools in IP work, through webinars and guidance. Previously a member of CIPA's AI Taskforce (2024).
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Current
Champion, Artificial Intelligence Special Interest Group
Cambridge Wireless
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2020 – 2023
Member of Council
CIPA
During my term the UK qualifying exams moved online, and diversity and inclusion became a standing item on the Council agenda.
Earlier roles
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2021 – 2023
Chair, Education Committee
CIPA
Also a member of the Mercer Review Group (2021), which reviewed the education, training and assessment of patent attorneys.
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2019 –
Member, Computer Technology Committee
CIPA
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2015 – 2018
Co-lead, Careers in Ideas
IP Inclusive
Involved in IP Inclusive from its beginning, I led its group on raising awareness of IP careers among schools, parents and universities, and project-managed the creation of Careers in Ideas, launched in April 2018.
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2016 – present
Women in IP and IP Inclusive champion
IP Inclusive
I have hosted in-person and virtual Women in IP events in Cambridge.
Mentoring
I have advised multiple cohorts of the DeepTech Labs accelerator in Cambridge, including those in the Northern Gritstone programme. I tutor trainee attorneys for their qualifying exams in my own time, and make a point of helping those who train in-house or in small firms, without access to large training programmes.
Beyond work
I enjoy spending time outdoors, particularly via running, gardening and hiking. I am passionate about diversity in the IP profession and share my experiences as a British Asian woman with a physics background working in the patent industry.
Writing
Since 2021 I have written brAIn blog, a LinkedIn newsletter on developments in AI and machine learning and how to patent AI and software innovations. I have also written more than 35 articles on patents, AI and start-ups since 2019, for my firm, Cambridge Wireless, World IP Review and others.
brAIn blog: recent editions
- 21 April 2026
- 2 December 2025
- 23 July 2024
- 20 June 2024
All earlier editions
- 9 February 2024
- 1 December 2023
- 4 October 2023
- 31 August 2023
- 7 July 2023
- 14 June 2023
- 30 April 2023
- 21 March 2023
- 14 February 2023
- 26 January 2023
- 17 July 2021
- 14 May 2021
- 17 February 2021
- 13 February 2021
- 11 February 2021
Other articles
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March 2026
Software and AI patentability: a global overview
With Georgios Theocharidis
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February 2026
UK Supreme Court dismantles the emotional rollercoaster
Also published by Cambridge Wireless
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January 2026
Patent Prosecution Highway: speeding towards patent grant
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July 2025
Emotional Perception: time to face the music?
With Mark Levy
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April 2025
Patenting user-centric inventions in the UK is technically possible
With Faiad Sharif
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May 2024
Don't miss out on the EPO's new fee reductions for micro entities
All earlier articles, back to 2019
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Nov 2023 – Apr 2024
Glossary of patent terms (three parts)
Part 1 with Debora Dorn and Ryan Newcombe
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September 2023
Glossary of key intellectual property terms
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February 2023
Don't delay filing your UK divisional patent applications
With Debora Dorn; also in World IP Review, March 2023
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July 2022
Femtech: the rise of female-focused innovation
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April 2022
Can you patent digital assistant technology?
With Debora Dorn
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February 2022
Patenting inventions developed by multinational teams
With Simon Ambroz
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February 2022
Let's ask artificial intelligence: how good is your grammar?
With Simon Ambroz
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February 2022
How Grammarly can protect its AI tech
World IP Review, with Simon Ambroz
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October 2021
Billion Dollar Code: how start-ups can win the Quids Game
Also published by Cambridge Wireless
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July 2021
Is it really easier to get your software patents granted in the US?
With Tom Gregory
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May 2021
Is it worth patenting your AI tools for drug discovery?
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May 2021
Someone's copying my invention! What should I do?
With Simon Ambroz; also published by Cambridge Wireless
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March 2021
Real-world rules apply to patenting computer simulations
With Tom Gregory
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January 2021
From snail mail to streaming: the Netflix IP story
With Simon Ambroz
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November 2020
Legal and ethical challenges of data-driven healthcare innovation
With Claire Devine
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November 2020
Smart devices: a smart IP strategy
Cambridge Catalyst
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October 2020
Covid-19 and IP: the green shoots of recovery
Cambridge Catalyst
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July 2020
Are digital twins as patentable as their physical counterparts?
Also published by Cambridge Wireless
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May 2020
The role of allies in a post-pandemic IP profession
IP Inclusive
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May 2020
Patent offices shut down computer inventorship: time to reboot?
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April – May 2020
Intellectual property for start-ups in a post-COVID world
Parts one (managing patents) and five (managing know-how and trade secrets) of a series
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February 2020
EPO to take a second look at double patenting
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January 2020
Innovation and IP in 2020
Cambridge Catalyst
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December 2019
Manufacturers drive innovation in AI technologies
Business & Industry, with Julia Gwilt
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December 2019
From seed to supermarket: AI in the food and beverage industry
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November 2019
Patent protection in Georgia will soon be available via the EPO
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August 2019
How NOT to get a bioinformatics patent
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July 2019
Synthetic biology: fuelling the growth of the bioeconomy
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July 2019
Big data, big problem?
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May 2019
Problematic priorities
Interviews and podcasts
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January 2025
Protecting your technology
Alan Boswell Group interview, on common IP mistakes made by start-ups
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March 2024
Five minutes with… Parminder Lally
Managing IP
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February 2024
The start-up story of ACT Medical
Podcast (co-host)
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June 2020
Allies and intersectionality, episode 1
IP Inclusive interview series
Recognition
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2026
Influential Women in IP
World IP Review
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2026
Shortlisted, Rising Star of the Year
Managing IP EMEA Awards
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2025, 2026
WIPR Leaders
World IP Review
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2022
Rising Star of the Year
Cambridgeshire Law Society Legal Excellence Awards
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2021
Rising Star
IP STARS (Managing IP)
"A regular speaker and facilitator, Lally frequently contributes to conferences, panel discussions and webinars on topics including allyship, mental health, intersectionality and inclusive workplace culture." World IP Review, Influential Women in IP 2026
Career and education
Career
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2019 – present
Private practice, Cambridge
Partner since April 2023. Member of the firm's AI steering group.
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2011 – 2019
Private practice and in-house
Education and qualifications
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2010
DPhil, University of Oxford
Magdalen College.
"Construction of a synthetic ribosome using DNA as the building material". -
2007
MSci Physics, Imperial College London
Contact
For speaking invitations, panels and media enquiries, please get in touch through LinkedIn. For professional patent advice, please contact me through my firm.