The Professional Standards Board for Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys (the Board) is aware of concerns that potential conflict of interest issues raised by recent consolidation within the profession are not adequately addressed under current arrangements. The Board takes these concerns seriously and wants to ensure that appropriate protections for both the profession and the public are in place. Consequently an independent expert, Professor Andrew Christie, has been engaged to examine the issues, provide advice as to whether any changes to the regulation of the profession are required and recommend how those changes might be implemented. The Board will consult broadly on any recommendations that arise out of Professor Christie’s review. The Board anticipates that this consultation will occur in April 2017.