I chose NLO because it stands out from more corporate environments. The company is highly professional, modern, and it’s not overly hierarchical. This fosters a collaborative atmosphere. I also appreciate the international aspect of work and everyday interactions, which are both engaging and diverse. There is a friendly and curious culture here, with an open and interested attitude from everyone.

I really enjoy my work. When I started, I didn't have a clear idea of what being a patent attorney entailed, but I soon realised it's a profession where you continually learn and develop. Over the past two years, I’ve been on a steep learning curve, handling increasingly complex cases, writing applications, and working on opposition cases. You learn to navigate your way, knowing whom to ask for advice, and you gain more client interaction, dealing with both large and small clients.

The balance between work and study here is great. NLO supports trainees by creating possibilities to grow and to study. This year, I focused on SBO and Deltapatents, which involves quite a bit of homework. The supervision at NLO is excellent and varied, allowing you to develop your own working style while gaining insights from different departments. I find oppositions particularly interesting due to the diversity of work involved.

Entering a new field, the NLO Academy has been invaluable. It forges bonds as we go through everything together in our trainee group. It's enjoyable to meet colleagues from all our offices, which helps you get to know everyone across the company. The program helps you understand NLO better and build an internal network. Additionally, it provides substantial professional learning opportunities, such as discussions with international colleagues about their jurisdictions and ways of working, like insights from Korean and Chinese colleagues.