Most IP experts have one thing in common: the calendar is full. Client work, deadlines, internal reviews, urgent questions that cannot wait. And somewhere between all of that, there is a quiet but persistent thought:

“I’d like more freedom in how I work, what I work on, and with whom.”

Not as a vague lifestyle idea. In a concrete, professional sense: more control over the pipeline, more stability in revenue, more clarity in positioning, and more time for the kind of work that creates long-term value.

That is exactly why we are offering:  The Independent by design |  IP Expert Support.

This seminar initiative is designed for IP professionals who want to build business development as a system. Not as an extra task. Not as an awkward marketing exercise. And definitely not as a permanent hustle.

Why we created this series

Most IP experts do not have a competence problem. They have a translation problem. They know how to solve complex issues in patenting, licensing, litigation strategy, portfolio decisions, freedom-to-operate, and R&D collaboration. But turning that expertise into repeatable visibility, trust, and demand is a completely different discipline.

The usual advice tends to miss the reality of the IP world. “Post more.” “Do personal branding.” “Build a funnel.” That may work in environments where you can openly showcase your work, share customer stories, and publish metrics. In IP, the situation is different. Confidentiality is the default. Outcomes can be long-term and multi-factor. Much of your best proof sits behind NDAs. And the audience that can actually hire you is small, specialised, and busy. Business development for IP experts therefore needs a different approach. It must be precise, credible, and compatible with professional standards. That is the gap this series is built to close.

New Work in IP is not a trend

You may not even call it “New Work”. But the underlying shift is real. More and more IP experts want to work in ways that feel independent by design. They want more autonomy in their business model, more ownership over client selection, more flexibility in structuring their time, and a stronger share of strategic work instead of constant reactive delivery.

Some want to build a boutique practice. Some want to move from in-house into consulting. Some want to create a distinct niche within a law firm and become the recognised go-to person in that field. Different paths. Same requirement: a predictable system for building trust and starting the right conversations.

The hidden blocker behind “I don’t have time for BD”

Time is the most common reason IP experts postpone business development. But time is rarely the true blocker. The deeper issue is uncertainty. Business development often feels like a sequence of unstructured bets. Publish something and hope it works. Reach out and risk being ignored. Attend events without knowing what will come back. That emotional cost is real, especially for professionals trained to minimise risk.

The solution is not “do more.” The solution is to reduce uncertainty by building a repeatable system. A system makes business development feel like professional work again: structured, measurable, based on evidence, aligned with your expertise.

What this initiative is (and what it is not)

The Independent by design | IP Expert Support  Series is a seminar programme that turns business development into an operating model for IP professionals. It is built on one simple idea: independence grows when you stop relying on luck and start relying on systems.

This series is not a motivational lecture. It is not generic LinkedIn training. It is not growth hacking. It is a practical route that helps you create your own business development engine in a way that fits your role, your niche, and your reality.

Two formats that work together: Live Sessions and Masterclasses

We designed the initiative in two levels because IP experts start from very different points. Some want a clean idea they can apply immediately, without reworking their whole routine. Others are ready to build durable assets, structures, and habits that keep producing results over time. That is why the series has two formats.

Live Sessions (60 minutes)

The Live Sessions are designed as high-value, low-friction entry points. They are free for newsletter subscribers and purposefully compact. Each Live Session follows a clear rhythm: a focused practical input that brings one concept to life with IP-relevant examples, followed by discussion and Q&A. The goal is not to overwhelm you with frameworks. The goal is to create immediate clarity.

A Live Session should leave you with a concrete next move you can implement right away, even in a demanding week. Think of them as sharp strategic impulses that remove friction, correct a common misconception, or unlock a better way to think about business development in the IP context.

Live Sessions (free of charge):

  • Independent by Design Live Session 1 (Registration link):
    The Positioning Shift: From Expert to Choice
  • Independent by Design Live Session 2
    Outcome Offers: Stop Selling Hours
  • Independent by Design Live Session 3
    Proof Assets: Turn Expertise into Trust
  • Independent by Design Live Session 4
    Operational Freedom: Business Development without Overload

Masterclasses (deep dives)

Masterclasses go further. They are designed for IP experts who want to move from insight to implementation. Where Live Sessions create clarity, Masterclasses create assets. They give you the depth, structure, and working time needed to build pieces that last, such as a clearer positioning narrative, proof assets that work under confidentiality, a content logic that builds trust without noise, and offer entry points that feel safe to buy.

Masterclasses are also where a business development routine becomes sustainable, because the focus is on repeatable structures instead of one-off effort. In short: Live Sessions help you start. Masterclasses help you build.

Masterclasses:

  • Positioning Sprint: Clarity plus Proof Plan

Format: 2.5-hour workshop, small group

Deliverables:

  • Positioning statement plus 3 content pillars
  • Offer ladder with entry formats
  • Proof asset plan for the next 30 days

Offer Architecture Lab: From Service to Product in 1 Session

Format: 2.5-hour workshop, small group

Deliverables:

  • 1 core offer plus 2 add-ons
  • Pricing anchors, boundaries, change request policy
  • One-pager ready to send

LinkedIn Conversion Sprint: 30 Days of Content plus Outreach System

Format: 2 sessions of 2 hours each plus template package

Deliverables:

  • 12 post ideas from 3 thematic pillars
  • Comment playbook for target influencers and industry professionals
  • Entry paths: Call Format, DM Format, Lead Magnet Idea

Proof Pack Workshop: 3 Assets Completed in 3 Hours

Format: 3-hour workshop, results immediately usable

Deliverables:

  • 1 Case One-Pager
  • 1 Method One-Pager
  • 1 LinkedIn Proof Post plus Script for Starting a Conversation

Operational Freedom Lab: Building Systems That Give Back Time and Focus

Format: 3-hour intensive workshop, optionally with a small group

Deliverables:

  • Personal Work-in-Progress Setup plus fixed review slots
  • Standard Templates (e.g., Briefing, Review, Follow-up)
  • 30-Day Business Development Ritual Plan including milestones
  • Delegation Check: What stays with you, what can be delegated

What you will learn across the series

Across both formats, the series addresses one central challenge: how to translate IP expertise into predictable demand. That starts with positioning that a target audience immediately understands. Not “I do patents and trademarks,” but a signal that makes the right people think, “This is exactly what we need right now.”

It continues with proof that works under confidentiality. You do not need to reveal client secrets to build credibility. You need formats that show competence without breaching professional boundaries. That can mean anonymised patterns, decision frameworks, structured checklists, or strategic one-pagers that demonstrate how you think.

From there, visibility becomes less about volume and more about recognisability. In IP, you do not win by being loud. You win by being consistently clear. The series shows how to build a simple publishing rhythm that strengthens your reputation without consuming your life.

Finally, the series turns business development into conversations that lead somewhere. Not clicks. Not followers. Qualified conversations with the right people, built in a way that feels natural, professional, and repeatable.

Who this series is for

The Independent by design | IP Expert Support is designed for patent attorneys, IP lawyers, in-house IP professionals who want to build external visibility, IP consultants, licensing specialists, technology transfer professionals, and practitioners who want to develop a niche inside a firm.

If your expertise is strong but your business development is not yet systematic, this is for you. If you want more freedom without losing professional depth, this is for you.

Why now

The IP market is not getting simpler. Clients expect efficiency and clarity. Competition is global. AI changes workflows and buyer expectations. And visibility is increasingly a prerequisite for experts who want independence.

The good news is that you do not need to become a “content creator.” You need a system that makes your expertise visible in the right places, in the right way, at the right pace. That is what this initiative is built for.

Welcome to the series

The Independent by design | IP Expert Support is an invitation to step out of reactive delivery and build a reputation that compounds. It is an invitation to create a pipeline you do not have to chase. And it is an invitation to design a professional life that feels more independent, more intentional, and more sustainable.

We are excited to open the first Live Sessions to our newsletter community. Details on dates and topics will follow shortly. Until then, one thought to carry with you: Freedom is rarely a leap. Most of the time, it is a system.