Durham Alumnus and Professor of Practice Nigel Swycher Presents on AI and Patent Analytics at International Conference on AI and IP
On 19-20 May 2025, Durham Law School hosted the International Conference on AI and IP, organised by Associate Professor Dr Angelia Jia Wang. The event brought together leading experts to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and intellectual property law.
Among the distinguished speakers was Durham Law alumnus and Professor in Practice, Nigel Swycher, who delivered a thought-provoking session titled ‘A Review of AI-Enabled Patent Analytics and the Impact on the Future of Patents and the IP Profession’.
Nigel is the co-founder and former Chief Executive of Cipher, the first strategic patent analytics platform to be implemented using AI and machine learning. Before that he was a partner in Slaughter and May, where he was head of its IP group and subsequently a partner and Head of the Technology Group at Olswang (which subsequently became part of CMS). In his presentation, he charted the evolution of patent analytics, from its early reliance on manual searches to the rise of AI-powered strategic intelligence. He highlighted how AI is transforming access to patent data, enabling companies, investors, and advisors to harness the world’s largest scientific information database for business insight.
Key takeaways from his presentation included:
- The IP profession is being redefined, with a shift from operational tasks to strategic advisory roles.
- Patent analytics is becoming central to business decision-making, as access to patent data becomes more democratised.
- The IP profession—and the very nature of patents—must prepare for fundamental disruption, as AI is not only a tool but a creative force that will continue to shape innovation.
Nigel, who was introduced for the first time at the conference as “Professor Swycher,” reflected on the moment with characteristic humility. “It was a slight shock and humbling in the presence of so many 'real' professors,” he shared.
The conference also marked the announcement of an exciting addition to Durham Law School’s postgraduate curriculum: beginning September 2025, Nigel will lead a new LLM module titled The Business of IP, drawing on his industry experience to bridge the gap between legal education and commercial practice.
The event reaffirmed Durham Law School’s commitment to fostering academic-practitioner engagement and providing students with cutting-edge insights into the legal and strategic dimensions of emerging technologies.
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