Joanne is based in the Bristol office where she specialises in patent law as it applies to biochemical and biotechnological or chemical inventions. Joanne worked in industry and in chemical pathology with the NHS before joining the patents profession in 1991. Joanne has previously worked in private practice and for DERA, the government research agency, before joining the firm in 2000. As a result of her previous experiences, she has developed an interest in patents relating to diagnostics, research tools and medical instruments.