Two decades, one incredible journey

Georgia Davis shares the moments that matter as she marks 20 years at the firm

In 2006, I walked into Chich – as we used to call Chichester House – for a meeting with then corporate partner Jonathan Watmough, who later went on to become Managing Partner. As Jonathan talked about the firm, its plans and ambitions, I became more excited by RPC's vision, culture and the opportunities that might be in store.

I was a second-year qualified associate at Ashurst, ready to take the next steps in my career. Having already worked alongside Jeremy Drew, I was intrigued when he chose to join RPC and he spoke highly of his new role at the supportive, welcoming firm, with a clear focus on intellectual property and technology (IP&T). When he told me how much he was enjoying it, it felt like a genuine opportunity – not just to join him, but to help support and build the growing IP&T practice. A second interview with the other three IP&T partners at that time, including Olly Bray, and a few of the associates sealed my decision.

So there I was, walking into Tower Bridge House in October 2006 for my first day at RPC. The firm had only moved there two months prior: it was shiny, new and it was great to have such amazing views over the Tower of London and St Katherine's Docks (although the shine came off a little on a sunny Friday afternoon when you watched people sipping drinks on boats in the dock whilst you were at your desk). The office was one of the first open-plan offices in the City, so it was a bit of a novelty, but it was great to be able to chat more easily with colleagues and work collaboratively. At the time, the team comprised four partners, including Olly Bray, and six associates so everyone got stuck in and got involved in a huge variety of work. As the team grew and included more specialists, the breadth of work narrowed but I look back on that time really fondly.

Over the past 20 years, I’ve held a number of roles within the team. I was promoted to Senior Associate in 2011 and to Of Counsel in 2014. It has been incredible to witness the various iterations of the team over the years, and a common thread has always been the fantastic people that I'm lucky enough to work with. I feel that I've grown as a lawyer alongside the team and have watched it evolve into a fully integrated, sector leading practice, supporting many well-known brands and organisations.

I’m proud to be one of the longest-serving members of the broader team, alongside Olly and Karon Peacham. Karon was Olly’s secretary when I first joined the team, moving to support Jeremy before returning to supporting Olly again. It just goes to show that events can be quite cyclical sometimes (and also how in demand Karon rightly is).

Those memorable matters

Over my time here, I’ve worked on many different matters and helped the team to deliver some fantastic outcomes for our clients. There are so many interesting matters that I have really enjoyed working on over the years.

One matter that stands out is a trademark infringement and passing off dispute for a luxury Champagne brand. The case was against another company marketing a sparkling wine and I led the matter day-to-day as an associate. It turned into an unusual matter as, part way through proceedings, the defendant stopped engaging and its lawyers came off of the record so when we got to court, we effectively had to run our arguments and theirs to ensure that the court's decision was indisputable. It was fascinating to watch counsel operate in the courtroom effectively arguing against himself, and it was also the first time that I had the pleasure of working with Josh Charalambous, who was a trainee at the time. The client was a joy to work with throughout and, as a final (and very memorable) touch, the client sent some of the team a bottle of its champagne afterwards (best not to mention that to Josh though as he missed out). I’m still looking forward to opening that and maybe I'll open it to celebrate this milestone.

More recently, I’ve been working with a number of the IP&T partners, including Josh, on some really interesting matters. One matter in particular concerns the estate of a public figure, advising on intellectual property rights and related issues as they arise. It has been an especially rewarding piece of work, requiring a careful, sensitive approach.

Change is inevitable… and it's amazing

Over the years, I’ve seen RPC grow into a firm that feels more confident in itself. Its culture always stood out, and the strong relationships built with clients are a real asset, but the firm’s profile and recognition have gone from strength to strength, and everything now feels more joined-up and polished. Structurally, the move to pillars and, more recently, sectors has helped create greater alignment across the whole firm, with clear ambition and a more consistent way of working.

I’ve also seen the firm’s external identity evolve, from the early (and simple) RPC navy logo, via the triangular purple logo to today’s purple and pink dynamic square. The brand development reflects the changes in how the firm presents itself – more modern, more cohesive and reflective of where RPC is now. What hasn’t changed is the collaboration: the focus on excellent client service and the culture that makes RPC a genuinely friendly, energising place to work. It’s still a place where I enjoy coming into the office, spending time with others and getting things done as a team.

The RPC of the future

With our strategy, LT30, I see the future of RPC as building on the strong foundations that have already been laid – and really reaping the benefits of years of hard work. For me, that means continuing to ask the right questions: what can we do even better, what genuinely works for clients and what makes us distinctive. Being clear on our unique offering and then backing it up consistently in the work and with our people, will be key to sustaining momentum.

In IP&T, I think we’re a good example of that trajectory. The team has grown organically into a genuine market leader and has become a go-to practice for numerous retailers, consumer brands and major tech clients. That success has come from leaning into our strengths and continuing to evolve as the market changes – exactly the approach I’d like to see across the firm as LT30 progresses.

The London office moving to 10 Devonshire Square is another exciting part of the next chapter. Being more central, closer to where things are happening, should open up new opportunities – both in terms of client engagement and how we collaborate and spend time together as colleagues.

Above all, I hope we continue to harness what’s always been great about RPC: we’re highly commercial, but also genuinely people focused. That balance is a big part of the culture, and it’s one of the reasons I’ve always enjoyed working here. Personally, it’s also something I’ve felt very directly. After taking time out for cancer treatment several years ago, the support I received was unwavering – whatever the challenge, RPC was there and I will always be grateful for that, as well as the teams and clients I’ve worked with and the colleagues I continue to learn from.

Georgia Davis, Of Counsel at RPC