Iona read Biological Sciences at Trinity College, Oxford. She then attended City University for CPE and was awarded a Diplock Scholarship by Middle Temple in the same year. She undertook her BVC at the Inns of Court School of Law and was awarded a Queen Mother Scholarship by Middle Temple. She was called to the Bar in 1999.

Iona's practice covers all areas of intellectual property law, including patents, trade marks, copyright, registered and unregistered design rights, database rights, passing off, confidential information, IP related contractual disputes and related areas including media and entertainment. As well as the High Court, she appears regularly in front of the Appointed Person, and at the IPO in Trade Mark Registry proceedings and in Patent Office proceedings. She also has considerable experience of International Arbitrations. She also has appeared as Counsel in Mediations. Iona is recommended as an IP Junior in Chambers UK 2008 and according to this publication “clients and solicitors alike are amazed at the way ‘she embraces a case, paying attention to the smallest details and coming up with strategic solutions you would not expect from someone so young’.” In an article on the IP bar in Legal Week she was said to have "a very bright future, producing work of high quality". Iona is also described in The Legal 500 2007 as a barrister that ‘solicitors whole heartedly recommend’.

The cases Iona has worked on have given her experience relating to a wide range of sectors such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and plastics, biotechnology, oil and gas, consumer products, cosmetics and fragrances, fashion and footwear, textiles, kitchen appliances, advertising and publishing including internet work. Iona is a co-author of Atkins Court Forms on Trade marks and Trade names, published by Butterworths (2002 and 2005 Editions).

Notable cases include:

Trade Marks: Whirlpool Corp. and another v Kenwood Limited (2008, High Court): This action involved trade mark infringement and passing off in relation to a new Kenwood food mixer, the "kMix" and the KitchenAid Artisan food mixer. The Community trade mark in issue was a three dimension mark for the shape of a KitchenAid food mixer with the word 'KitchenAid' applied to it. Whirlpool alleged that the Kenwood kMix mixer infringed its community trade mark and that Kenwood was also liable for passing off with regards the goodwill KitchenAid owned in relation to its KitchenAid Artisan mixer. The 8 day trial was heard in May 2008 before Geoffrey Hobbs QC sitting as a Deputy Judge of the Chancery Division of the High Court. Judgment has been reserved and is awaited. Second Junior Counsel for the Defendant.

Trade Marks, contract: Major ICC Arbitration (2002-2006) - long running ICC Arbitration, concerning a long term trade mark licence agreement. Involved substantive hearings on both Liability and Quantum. Concluded in 2006. Junior Counsel for the Claimant.

Confidential Information, passing off: EPI Environmental Technologies Inc and another v Symphony Plastic Technologies Plc and another (2004- 2005, High Court, Court of Appeal) - High Court action for breach of confidence, breach of contract and passing off. The action concerned degradable plastic technology. The first instance public judgment was reported at [2005] FSR 22, in which the Defendant was largely successful. The case was appealed but was dismissed after a four day appeal hearing. Junior Counsel for the Defendants/Respondents.

Patents: Statoil ASA v University of Southampton (2005, IPO High Court) - Patent Office proceedings for patent entitlement regarding a patent concerning electromagnetic mapping for oil exploration. The case was appealed but settled shortly before the hearing. Junior Counsel for the Appellant/Respondents, University of Southampton.

Kirin-Amgen Inc v. (1) Roche Diagnostics GmbH and (2) Roche Diagnostics Ltd and (3)TKT - Patent trial concerning Erythropoietin and recombinant DNA technology. First instance decision reported at [2002] RPC 1. Second Junior Counsel for the First and Second Defendants. This matter has since gone to the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords, however, the First and Second Defendants were not involved in these subsequent proceedings.

Copyright: The Football Association Premier League Ltd and others v Panini UK Ltd (2003, 2004 High Court, Court of Appeal) - This summary judgment/ interim injunction case concerned a claim for copyright infringement and the defence of incidental inclusion. First instance decision reported at [2003] FSR 38). Court of Appeal decision at [2004] FSR 1. Junior Counsel for the Defendant/Appellant.