Mike Jennings

Mike is a Partner and European and UK Patent Attorney in the Electronics, Software and Communications (ESC) team. He led AA Thornton’s ESC team before the 2024 combination with Venner Shipley, handling quantum and classical computing, computer simulation and modelling, artificial intelligence, communications, sensing and measurement technologies and other applied physics. Before that, Mike spent several years as an in-house patent attorney with IBM focussing on software, distributed networks and microelectronics patenting and software patent licensing.

Mike is often praised by clients for his commercially-relevant strategic advice and for resolving their most complex legal challenges.

Widely recognised as a thought-leader in the patenting of AI, Mike is active as an advisor to both the European Patent Office (within the Standing Advisory Committee before the EPO) and the UK Intellectual Property Office. Alongside Venner Shipley’s Richard Kennedy, Mike was one of the lead authors of recommendations to the UK Supreme Court in the landmark AI patenting case of Emotional Perception AI Ltd v Comptroller General of Patents [2026] UKSC 3, submitted on behalf of CIPA and the IP Federation in 2025 and praised by the Supreme Court, CIPA and IP Federation. He is Vice Chair of CIPA’s Computer Technology Committee working closely with UKIPO and UK industry leaders, and a member of CIPA’s AI committee and Venner Shipley’s AI Task Force.

Mike is frequently asked to present to IP associations and UK attorneys on behalf of CIPA on topics including best practice for patenting AI and other rapidly-evolving technologies.

Education

• BSc Hons Physics, University of Bristol
• Certificate in Intellectual Property, Queen Mary, University of London
• European patent attorney
• Chartered UK patent attorney
• UK Intellectual Property Litigation Certificate
• Representative before Unified Patent Court

Professional Memberships

• Vice-Chair of CIPA Computer Technology Committee
• Fellow of CIPA (UK Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys), and member of European Liaison Committee & International Liaison Committee (N America)
• Member of CIPA AI TaskForce
• CIPA’s and IP Owners Association’s new Quantum Computing Subcommittees
• Member of epi (Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office)
• Member if EPLit
• Member of UNION-IP
• Member of LES
• Member of Guidelines and Quality working groups of Standing Advisory Committee before the EPO (SACEPO)
• Member of AIPPI, including AIPPI’s Standing Committee on IT & Internet
• Member of IP Owners Association committees: AI & New Emerging Technologies Committee, Software Related Inventions Committee, and AI Policy subcommittee

Awards and Recognition 

• Managing Intellectual Property, IP Stars (Patent Star) – 2026
• IAM Patent 1000 (Silver) for Patent Prosecution – 2026
• IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists – 2026
• IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders – 2025