Interview with Hope Riseley

Hope Riseley 

The sweet spot: where Intellectual Property (IP), creativity, and commercial law meet

Hope Riseley's career in intellectual property (IP) brings together three things she enjoys: clear communication, problem-solving, and creativity. It has also given her the international career she always wanted. These are qualities Winston Taylor* values in lawyers, which is why we wanted to speak with Hope about her journey into IP and brand protection. 

“A large part of my job is identifying potential risks to the business. I try to avoid saying no unless I absolutely have to, because I want to be a true business partner and help solve problems constructively. A good in-house lawyer should make people aware of potential legal issues and, if they decide to proceed, support them as much as possible. Recently, a lot of those conversations have involved the use of AI in business and marketing. I see a lot of potential in AI, particularly in handling repetitive and time-consuming legal tasks. I don't see it replacing the creative thinking that makes people valuable. Instead, people entering the workforce today are learning how to use the technology to their advantage rather than fearing it.”

Working in IP had long been on Hope's radar

“I was young when I decided that law was the career path I wanted to pursue. I wanted a profession that could take me in many different directions, and law offered exactly that. I was also interested in fashion and art, so IP felt like a way to combine legal work with creativity.”

Getting there wasn't a straight line. Hope moved between countries, adapted to different areas of law, and just two weeks into her career, found herself standing before a judge.

Composed under pressure

Hope lived in Denmark as a child, learned Danish, later studied French and German, and spent time in both countries.

“I always knew I wanted a career with an international dimension. Living abroad helped build my confidence and communication skills, both of which continue to serve me in my current role.”

Two weeks into her first paralegal position, she found herself putting those skills to the test.

“I was asked to arrange a simple adjournment in an eviction case, and I wasn't expecting any objections because we'd agreed it with the other side. What I didn't know was that the local council would appear and oppose the application.”

“I had to stand my ground as best I could in a difficult situation, under pressure from the opposing lawyer, who repeatedly suggested the case should be struck out. I also made the mistake of saying ‘kind of’ at one point, which did not go down well with the judge.”

Faced with unexpected opposition in court, Hope held her ground and secured the outcome she needed.

“I was scrambling to make an argument and was close to tears, but in the end, I got the outcome I'd gone there to achieve. The judge wasn't happy and said she didn't want to see me in her courtroom again, which I was more than happy to agree to.”

“Looking back, the experience helped clarify the type of law I enjoyed and what I didn't want to do. It also gave me confidence in my ability to think on my feet and stay composed under pressure.”

The experience tested her early. More importantly, it helped shape the kind of career she wanted to build.

Building a career in IP

“I enjoyed the challenge and intensity of a purely contentious department, but I realized I didn't want to spend all my time focused on courtroom work. I wanted an area where I could still experience the contentious side of law while developing deep experience in a specific field. IP offered a great balance between the two, while allowing me to combine my legal skills with my interest in creative industries.”

While working at Blaser Mills Law, Hope actively sought opportunities to gain experience in intellectual property, eventually splitting her time between compliance and IP matters.

“A trademark lawyer who had recently joined from Winston Taylor*, Sarah Dacre, taught me the fundamentals. She invested a huge amount of time in helping me understand IP and played a significant role in shaping my early career.”

With further staffing changes in 2021, Hope decided it was the perfect time to start thinking about the next step in her IP career.

“Winston Taylor* had been on my radar for years. I first came across the firm while I was at university because I was interested in fashion law, and Winston Taylor* consistently stood out as one of the best firms in the country for that work.”

She joined the Brand Protection Team at Winston Taylor* in March 2022 and immediately began working with clients to protect some of their most valuable assets: their brands.

“I learned so much during my time there. Honestly, I couldn't fault the experience. The people around me were a huge part of that. They provided an incredible amount of support and guidance. I also valued the opportunity to learn from colleagues across the wider business and gained so much from the senior members of the team as well as my fellow paralegals.”

Winston Taylor* supported Hope's next career milestone by funding her qualification through the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). She completed her exams in February 2024 and qualified as a lawyer in June of that year. Qualifying as a lawyer marked a significant milestone, but Hope was already looking ahead to her next challenge.

Making AI work in practice

Having qualified and gained experience across brand protection, Hope set her sights on the next stage of her career: an in-house role. Her experience working directly with clients had given her insight into what that career path might offer.

“Some people might think it's too early in a career to move in-house, but I felt I had a strong foundation after several years in private practice. When the opportunity at Ferrero came up, it offered the chance to continue working in IP while expanding into areas I hadn't previously experienced, so I jumped at it.”

“I've been handling IP matters across the U.K. and Ireland for over a year now, and I've loved every minute of it. The role has given me the opportunity to work closely with marketing, innovation, and commercial teams.”

Today, Hope oversees IP matters across the U.K. and Ireland, helping protect Ferrero's brands while advising the business on emerging technologies and new commercial opportunities.

“For me, being a good in-house lawyer isn't simply about knowing the law. It's about making that knowledge useful to everyone else in the business. Being able to translate legal advice into something accessible is probably the most important skill. That's especially true when working with marketing and other commercial teams that don't necessarily view risk in the same way lawyers do.”

“You need to explain complex ideas in a way people can understand. I love running training sessions because they help colleagues recognize when they should involve the legal team. I'm always grateful for the ‘dupes’ that land on my desk after a productive training session.”

That ability to communicate clearly has become even more important as AI continues to reshape industries and create new legal questions.

“People need clear answers quickly about what they can and can't do because business moves fast. I believe the growing use of AI in IP and advertising creates exciting opportunities, particularly in compliance. The Advertising Standards Authority recently used AI to identify non-compliant content, and that's a great example of technology helping organizations make better use of limited resources.”

Hope advises on everything from brand protection and marketing campaigns to emerging technologies such as AI. Along the way, she has worked across countries, practice areas, and industries, building a career defined by curiosity, adaptability, and clear communication.

Whether she's helping teams navigate risk, launch new ideas, or understand the opportunities presented by AI, her approach remains the same: make complex issues clear, find practical solutions, and help the business move forward with confidence.

*As of June 1, Taylor Wessing's offices in the U.K., Ireland, the Middle East, the Netherlands, and Belgium, along with Winston & Strawn came together to form Winston Taylor, a transatlantic law firm built for the businesses, people, and markets driving capital and innovation.