Specialisation Panel on Patent and Technical Translation

Panel discussion on what it's like working as a translator specialised in patent and technical translation followed by online networking.
About this Event

Specialisation is often put forward as a way to find better translation work and better clients.

But how do you specialise? How do you choose a specialism? And what's it like working in a particular area?

In 2024, the ITI French Network is running a series of panel discussions to answer those questions. Our fourth panel is on patent and technical translation.

Four experienced translators will share their experiences of working in the sector. They'll share how they got into the sector, what type of jobs they do, what they like about it and where the challenges lie.

You'll have an opportunity to ask your own questions and the panel will be followed by a short networking session to give you the opportunity to discuss what you've heard.

***This event will not be recorded.***

Our panels will be free to ITI French Network Members. Non-members are welcome to buy a general admission ticket.

Panelists

Alison Penfold AITI

Alison began her translation career working for a couple of decades as the sole translator in a firm of patent and trade mark attorneys, acquiring intellectual property (IP) knowledge almost by osmosis from those around me. Fifteen years ago, she turned freelance, and now offers German and French to English technical translation, specialising in a wide range of IP texts - patents, trade marks, oppositions, office actions and so on - and editing services for texts written by non-native speakers of English. She has worked on texts in such fields as cardiac pacemakers, tyres and rubber compounds, pharmaceuticals, papermaking, automotive engineering, aerospace, textiles, metallurgy and many others.

Anne Hargreaves MITI

Anne translates from French, Spanish and Portuguese into English. She started her career as a staff translator in the banking, insurance and shipping sectors. She got into patent translation by accident and spent 15 years translating them as an in-house translator. She is now freelance.

Charlotte Couchman FITI and Paul Clarke FITI - Lodestar Translations

Charlotte and Paul jointly make up Lodestar Translations. They both have over 30 years of translation experience, primarily focusing on intellectual property. Charlotte began her freelance translation career in 1985, while Paul started out in staff translation jobs with the UK Civil Service and ICI Chemicals & Polymers Ltd. before becoming a freelance translator in 1993. They handle a full range of IP translations ranging from patent specifications to any kind of procedural document and they also edit Boards of Appeal decisions written by non-native English authors for the European Patent Office. They are associate members of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) thanks to the support of five of our patent attorney clients.

Moderator

Dean Evans MITI

Dean is a freelance translator working from German, Spanish and French to English. A patents and IP specialist, he provides translation and editing services to IP firms, international patent organisations and specialist translation agencies. He is a member of the ITI's Professional Development Committee, coordinator of the French Network and an ITI Board member.