♀️Bath and Somerset’s Most Inspiring Women 2026 | Judith Coghlan

To mark International Women’s Day 2026, we’re celebrating Bath & Somerset’s most inspiring women.

Through our website and social media channels, we asked our readers which women in our community inspire them and created a list of 20. The list will be featured in our Spring magazine and every weekday throughout March we are profiling and championing each of these fantastic women online and via our social feeds.

Today we put the spotlight on Judith Coghlan, Partner at Script Intellectual Property LLP.

Tell us about you and your work:

I landed in Bath 25 years ago, straight out of university. Living in the city has shaped my adult life.

Bath is such an intimate city that everyday activities (like going to the gym, going to the farmers’ market or standing at the school gates) often result in friendships with people who turn out to be key members of the Bath community.

Coupled with the huge range of festivals and events held in Bath, I feel confident that there are opportunities to continue being shaped by the city as I get older!

Professionally, I assist technology firms across the South West by protecting their intellectual property to support their commercial aims.  Essentially I get paid to be curious – I can only really offer guidance and advice if I both understand the technology and what a client hopes to do with it.

What are you most proud of?

I find it quite difficult to give myself credit or recognition for things that I have achieved, because there is always more to do.

I am proud that I am willing to choose, and stick to, paths which I know are going to be difficult ones to follow.

In my work life, that has meant co-founding an intellectual property practice and constantly facing new challenges as the practice grows.  In 2012 we had one small office in Frome.  I remember sitting on the floor, ordering envelopes and trying to work out where we might get a photocopier.  In 2026, we have two offices, one in Bath and one in Southampton, and a constantly growing number of staff and clients.

It sometimes blows me away that I am partly responsible for building a thriving workplace from scratch.

How does it feel to be recognised as one of Bath’s Most Inspiring Women?

Slightly embarrassing.

I think my ‘brand’ of inspiration isn’t one which manifests in large or loud gestures.  It sits in small and consistent actions – trying hard to do what I say that I will do; being candid and honest in my interactions with others; constantly trying to be myself, but a bit better.

It’s lovely that quiet inspiration can be recognised alongside the more traditional louder types.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

IWD is a brilliant opportunity to recognise achievements in which women have played a key role.

It is known that women do not, by nature, celebrate their abilities and successes. For me IWD represents a prompt to seek out those achievements, listen to what women are doing and be a bit louder about how incredible women can be.

This IWD, I’m already signed up to go back to my old university to be inspired by an evening chatting with a whole room of talented women.

This year’s IWD theme asks us to think about how giving benefits everyone. What’s an example from your work or community life where supporting another woman led to something meaningful in return?

I think giving time and experience is powerful.

When I was at school, I particularly remember female teachers encouraging me to apply to go to university.  Neither of my parents attended university, so the guidance and support of those teachers made achievable something which initially felt impossible.

I like to try and remember to pay that forward through work, and privately, whenever I can.

I talk in schools about opportunities for women in tech. My firm, Script IP, offers work experience to candidates who have aptitude, even if they come from atypical backgrounds, and I am happy to use my time to mentor and guide those thinking about entering the IP profession.  Seeing people go on to flourish is the ultimate reward.

What piece of advice would you share with your younger self?

That it’s ok to choose uncomfortable. Sometimes choosing the uncomfortable route will lead to better things than the well-trodden path.

This feature is sponsored by Milsted Langdon accountants. Milsted Langdon is supporting this activity for a fourth consecutive year as they are passionate about supporting women in business and helping local communities thrive through their work with business owners, charities and not-for-profits.