FICPI is delighted to announce the successful completion of the 2025 SEAD Patent Drafting Course in November 2025. Since its inception in 1997, SEAD has earned a strong reputation as an invaluable resource for intellectual property professionals seeking to develop or refine their patent drafting skills.
Organised by the FICPI Academy, SEAD is designed to meet a critical need: providing rigorous, hands-on training in regions where formal IP education is limited and the profession is still developing. It is particularly aimed at recent entrants to the profession who already have some knowledge but want to strengthen their skills through guidance from tutors based in jurisdictions with well-established IP systems.
The course is structured into three segments, combining in-person sessions and correspondence assignments. The 2025 programme began in May at IPOS International in Singapore, continued with assignments bridging the first and third segments, and concluded in November at the same venue.
This year, 19 participants benefitted from practical training delivered by experienced tutors from around the world, offering perspectives from Europe, the United States, and beyond. Tutors for the 2025 course included:
Sharon E. Crane, Haynes and Boone, USA
Simon Roberts, IK-IP Ltd, UK
Bill McFarlane, freelance at Madderns Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Australia
Geoffrey de Kleine, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Canada
We extend our sincere thanks to our colleagues at IPOS International for their warm hospitality and continued support, including Hui San Lim, Alfred Yip, Toon Meng Peh, and Soh Hui T. Special appreciation also goes to our FICPI course coordinator, Geoffrey de Kleine.
Through the SEAD Curriculum, the FICPI Academy continues its mission to strengthen the global community of independent IP attorneys by providing practical, high-quality training that enhances professional effectivenes, especially in regions where such opportunities are scarce.
Next steps
- Find out more about the SEAD course at: https://ficpi.org/eventstraining/ficpi-training-courses/ficpi-sead-patent-drafting-course
- Find out more about the FICPI Academy at: https://ficpi.org/organisation/committees/ficpi-academy
