The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) is the British professional body of patent attorneys. History The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) was founded in 1882 as the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents and incorporated by Royal Charter in 1891. CIPA changed its name in June 2006. Objects and function The objects of CIPA, as set out in its Royal Charter, are: (a) to act as a professional and representative body for Intellectual Property Practitioners in patents, designs, trade marks and other forms of intellectual property; and (b) to promote the education, standing, training and continuing professional expertise of intellectual property practitioners and to establish, maintain and enforce high standards of professional conduct and compliance with the law. CIPA is named in the Legal Services Act 2007 as the Approved Regulator for the patent attorney profession in the UK. Under the Legal Services Act, CIPA has to separate its regulatory activities from its representative work as the professional body for patent attorneys. In 2010, CIPA and the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA) set up the Intellectual Property Regulation Board (IPReg) to undertake jointly the regulation of the patent attorney and trade mark attorney professions. CIPA maintains the statutory Register of Patent Attorneys on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy reporting to the comptroller-general of patents, trade marks and designs at the UK Intellectual Property Office. Membership CIPA has a total membership of just under 5,000 members. 3,000 of these members are Fellows of CIPA, holding the professional title of Chartered Patent Attorney (CPA). CIPA typically has 1,200 Student Members, the high ratio of Student Members to Fellows being representative of the length of time taken to qualify as a Chartered Patent Attorney. 500 members are IP Paralegal Members, with the rest of the membership being made up of European Patent Attorneys (EPA) and Associat Members (solicitors, barristers, judges, etc.). CIPA reports annually on the composition of its membership. Governance CIPA is governed by an elected Council of twenty-four Fellows. In addition, the members elect President to serve for one year; the President chairs Council. The Fellow elected as President will serve for one year as Vice-President and one year as Immediate Past President. The President, Vice-President and Immediate Past President are the annual officers of CIPA, supported by a Honorary Secretary appointed by Council from amongst its number. Presidents This is a list