Women supporting women in IP - Leadership, equity, and everyday impact at FB Rice

A culture of support – Within the firm and across the profession

At FB Rice, support isn’t just a value - it’s something we put into practice every day. It’s collaborative, human, accountable, and trusted, and it shows in how we work with each other, with our clients and as part of the wider profession and community.

A good example is the long-standing professional relationship between Kath Rock and Beata Khaidurova - both heading to next month’s ChIPs Global Summit, and both long-time ChIPsters who have contributed to the ChIPs ANZ chapter over many years. Kath has served on the leadership committee for over four years, while Beata has been part of the Melbourne sub-committee, helping build community among women in IP.

Tailored secondment - Meeting client needs during parental leave

Before joining FB Rice, Kath was a client. While on parental leave from her role as Head of Patents at a listed tech company, she needed a secondment arrangement that would ensure consistency and progress on strategic objectives. Beata worked closely with Kath to tailor a solution that met the business’s needs. The arrangement wasn’t off-the-shelf; it was designed to fit the client’s context, ensuring the IP function remained consistent and effective during a period of transition. This collaboration reflects FB Rice’s culture of client centricity – where solutions are shaped around client needs, not the other way around.

Full circle - Supporting each other, supporting clients

That experience laid the foundation for an ongoing working relationship. More recently, the roles reversed: Kath joined FB Rice in 2024 and stepped in to support Beata’s practice while Beata took parental leave to welcome her child – an arrangement made possible by FB Rice’s updated Family Leave policy. The policy provides 26 weeks of paid leave to all staff, removing outdated distinctions between “primary” and “secondary” carers and reflecting the diversity of modern families. For Beata, this meant stepping away with confidence – knowing her role was secure and her clients were in good hands. For clients, FB Rice’s approach ensures continuity of service and a team structure that’s resilient, responsive, and built to adapt.

Values that drive results

FB Rice’s values, including to help others, being approachable and working as a team, are reflected across the firm. The firm is led by Managing Partner Madeleine Kelly, whose leadership reflects a clear commitment to equity and inclusion at the highest level. FB Rice was again named an Employer of Choice by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) in 2024 and is recognised as an Inclusive Employer for 2024–2025. Women represent 60% of the Board and this year females accounted for half of all Partner promotions and 62% of total promotions across the firm.

Looking ahead -Connecting at ChIPs

At FB Rice, our commitment to diversity and inclusion isn’t a side initiative - it’s part of how we operate. We’ve seen how women supporting women leads to deeper client relationships, better continuity, and stronger teams. That’s why we’re looking forward to connecting at ChIPs – to share ideas, learn from others, and keep building a more inclusive future in IP.

If you’ll be at the Summit, reach out to Kath Rock or Beata Khaidurova, they would love to hear from you.