Iona read Biological Sciences at Trinity College Oxford. During her CPE and BVC courses she was awarded a Diplock and a Queen Mother Scholarship by Middle Temple. Iona's practice covers all areas of intellectual property law and associated areas such as IP related international arbitration, contractual disputes and media and entertainment. Iona is also co-author of Kerly's law of Trade Marks and Trade Names (15th Ed) and co-author of Laddie Prescott and Vitoria on the Modern Law of Copyright and Designs (4th Ed).
Iona has been recommended as a leading IP Junior in Chambers Directory for several years. In Chambers UK 2012 Iona was said to be 'known for providing an excellent service to clients, and impresses due to the fact that she has 'a terrific commercial brain as well as a first-rate legal brain'. It was also said she was 'responsive and thorough on the details of cases and excellent in court. Iona was also described as "personable and knowledge with a broad spread of experience". In Chambers UK 2011 sources commented that Iona 'is great to work with and really knows her stuff. Sources commented in Chambers UK 2010 that Iona is ''thorough and never loses sight of the commercial objectives of the client.' She is an asset to any team as she 'can deal with stressful deadlines with good humour' . Iona has also been described in The Legal 500 Directory as a barrister that 'solicitors whole heartedly recommend'. Highlights include Whirlpool Corp v Kenwood (trade marks), EPI v Symphony (confidential information, passing off, contract), The Football Association Premier League v Panini (copyright), Kirin-Amgen Inc v Roche and TKT (patents) and several major long running ICC Arbitrations, on various issues including long term licence agreements. Settlement and co-existence agreements.
Iona appears regularly in the Patents County Court, High Court and Court of Appeal. Further she appears regularly in front of the Appointed Person, and at the IPO in Trade Mark Registry and Patent Office proceedings. Iona also has appeared as counsel in several long running International Arbitrations with hearings in London, Paris and Singapore and has considerable experience of this area. She is also experienced in representing clients at mediations. Past and present clients include: Alpharma, Allergan, Diageo, Filofax, Hermès, Intel, John Lewis Plc, Kenwood, L'Oréal, Nestlé Purina, Panini, Roche, Russell and Bromley, Umbro, University of Southampton, and Waitrose Limited. However Iona is very experienced with working with SMEs and creative individuals as well as large organisations.
The cases Iona has worked on have given her experience relating to a wide range of sectors such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and plastics, biotechnology, medical devices and products, oil and gas, consumer household products, cosmetics and fragrances, fashion and footwear, financial services, textiles, the film and television industry, advertising, building materials, and publishing including internet work.