Her then-flatmate can be credited with keeping the AJ Park principal in the profession
Kate Giddens graduated high school not knowing what she wanted to do. She pursued law, but also management and marketing to “keep the options open”.
After five years in law school, Giddens knew what she didn’t want to do, but a perfectly timed message from her flatmate at the time would finally help her discover what she loved. In the first half of this interview, the recently promoted AJ Park principal talks finding out about the Baldwins/AJ Park merger while on birthday leave, and why she came to see it as a positive development.
What made you choose a career in law?
I really did not know what I wanted to do when I left high school. As an eldest daughter, debate team leader and academic achiever at school, law seemed like a good fit, which I combined with a BCom with majors in management and marketing to keep the options open.
By the end of my fifth year at law school I was not passionate about being a lawyer. I had not found the area that sparked any interest in me, and I seemed to understand more what areas I didn’t want to work in.
It was my flatmate, at the time, who sent me a job vacancy at the Intellectual Property Office (IPONZ) for a trade mark examiner, and recommend I apply. This seemed like the perfect blend of marketing and law, and so I fell into intellectual property (IP) law.
What's your favourite part of the job?
My favourite part of the job is the variety of the work and clients, and seeing trade marks I have been involved with ‘out in the wild’. Trade marks and IP really does touch everything.
What in your opinion has been the most memorable event of your career to date?
There have been a few pivotal moments over my career, but the most memorable has probably been dialling in to learn of the merger between Baldwins Intellectual Property and AJ Park while on leave for my birthday.
What initially felt like a period of uncertainty, was ultimately positive. The transition revealed a welcoming and collegial environment, career development, exposure to new leadership styles, and the chance to grow alongside an integrated team. Hard to forget that moment, or birthday!
If you could relive one day in your life, which day would it be and why?
I am very happy where I am. If I could relive one day in my life, it wouldn’t be a big event or milestone, it would be something simple with my family. Perhaps a day camping off-grid when my kids were little. No emails, no distractions, just the four of us surrounded by nature. That kind of quality time, disconnected from the fast pace of work and the pressures of day-to-day, is precious to me.
