Calum Smyth

Calum Smyth started professional life as an aeronautical engineer and retrained as a lawyer with a London City law firm. He went on to specialise in IP litigation with a focus on patent disputes in the electronics and telecoms sector for clients including Intel and Nokia. 

After seven years in private practice, Mr Smyth moved in-house to Kraft Foods to lead the European patent and design function based in Zurich. After five years with Kraft, he joined Barclays Bank plc in 2012 as the global head of intellectual property where he established an award-winning advisory team within the legal department. At Barclays, Mr Smyth has advised on all aspects of intellectual property affecting the bank, including patent litigation, cybersecurity, sponsorships, commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions and brand protection, and has introduced technology to help manage the IP practice and conduct IP due diligence. He advises on the strategy of protecting and commercialising core technology assets and supports the Barclays Ventures team and its Eagle Labs network of entrepreneurs and start-ups.

Mr Smyth talks regularly on the IP aspects of digital transformation, software, AI and blockchain, and has consulted on IP matters with both HM Treasury and the Federation of Small Businesses. Mr Smyth is a UK Council Member of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property.