The UK trademark scene continues to flourish, with the United Kingdom remaining a pivotal focus area for domestic and international brand owners. The uptick in filings caused by Brexit is ongoing, and as a result the number of oppositions before the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) is also on the rise. Firms have maintained their presence in Europe either through foreign associates or continental outposts and are regularly being called upon to utilise their exclusive rights of audience to litigate in the UK courts. More and more trademark attorney outfits are handling contentious matters, as the divide between agencies and law firms continues to be blurred. Clients now have a larger pool of full-service offerings to choose from, making the market more competitive than ever, as reflected by the WTR 1000 rankings this year. Another major trend is the rise of the metaverse and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Cases are still few and far between, but it is likely that this emerging topic will play a significant role in a selection of trademark cases going forward.
Firms: enforcement and litigation
Gold tier
Silver tier
Bronze tier
Firms: prosecution and strategy
Gold tier
Silver tier
Bronze tier
Firms: transactions
Allen & Overy LLP
One of the most prestigious and elite law firms in the world, Allen & Overy has more than 40 dedicated IP lawyers in the United Kingdom, collectively covering all aspects of filing, disputes and commercialisation. The group is distinguished among other magic circle law firms as one of the few with an established filing practice. This team is housed in Belfast and is led by Karla Hughes, who has a wealth of experience before the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Court of Justice in Luxembourg. The Northern Irish contingent work closely with the London office on numerous matters. Hughes regularly joins forces with Global Head of Intellectual Property David Stone in representing NBC Universal and The Coca-Cola Company. “David has an excellent command of procedure, strategy and the law. His analysis is consistently thorough and action-driven, his communications are fully informative and his style is unfailingly professional, while still pleasant and witty. When litigation is required, his ability to craft persuasive and prevailing arguments is second to none.” Stone also supplies IP support to the likes of Samsung and Virgin Media, along with Neville Cordell and WTR 1000 debutant Adrian Dykes. “Neville is an experienced and highly respected litigator”, while “Adrian is incredibly knowledgeable on litigation and portfolio management. He works incredibly hard and is a great practitioner.” The transactional IP side is led by Jim Ford and Nigel Parker, who are both working on some of the richest IP-laden deals out there. “Jim is calm, confident and detail-oriented, which allows him to secure the best possible position on every facet of a deal. His experience is a great asset and he is always a pleasure to work with.” “Nigel is calm, reassuring, easy to work with and plays a critical role in many transactional affairs.”
Bird & Bird LLP
With over 450 dedicated IP lawyers and support staff globally, Bird & Bird has one of the largest IP practices in the world. The newly opened Dublin office brings another European hub for patrons and reflects the firm’s continued growth aspirations. Other recent developments include a new digital rights and assets department to meet the demand for advice relating to AI and big data, and the introduction of innovative legal tech tool Fibonacci. The project management platform is a key asset for clients, who turn to the team for prosecution, litigation and transactional support. On the non-contentious front, the group has acted in over 900 trademark registry proceedings in the past year alone. Some key patrons on the prosecution side include Hello Fresh, Kingfisher and Monica Vinader. Head of trademark prosecution in London Mark Holah features on all of these instructions. “Mark is responsive, easy to work with and a fantastic communicator.” Another exceptional portfolio manager is Allan Poulter. “Allan is an extraordinarily perceptive and brilliant strategic counsellor, who provides nuanced and practical advice to large and emerging brands alike.” Also recommended is Christine Danos, whose work highlights include advising Fiorucci, Rogue Fitness and SC Johnson. On the contentious side of the practice, Peter Brownlow takes the reins: “Peter represents some great brands and does some top work. He is very efficient, experienced and knowledgeable.” Brownlow has been acting for Monster Energy Company in disputes against Red Bull and Acer, as well as in a landmark case for Prosecco. He teamed up with Poulter to obtain an injunction on the basis of a protected designation of origin, which is a rarity in the United Kingdom. The litigation department also had a major passing off case for Lidl. Ewan Grist took charge of this one and guided them to a successful outcome against Philip Warren & Son. “Ewan is knowledgeable, excellent at fighting his clients’ corner and is a pleasure to have on the other side.” Making their maiden appearances in the guide this year are Rebecca O'Kelly-Gillard and Tom Snaith. O’Kelly-Gillard’s strength lies in enforcement, particularly in areas with a digital or online focus. She co-heads the international copyright group. Snaith is a transactional expert with robust M&A and commercialisation experience. He is international co-head of the transactional IP department.
Bristows LLP
An expert team of solicitors and attorneys at Bristows join forces to offer the full suite of trademark services to some of the world’s most renowned brands. Over 15,000 applications and registrations are under the control of the IP department, which includes Ian Gruselle, Paul Jordan and Nellie Jackson. Gruselle heads the portfolio group and is part of the team that manages the global portfolio for the Financial Times. “Ian is highly experienced and supplies an effective and responsive service for prosecution and transactional briefs.” Jordan provides brand protection services to the Guardian, which range from clearance searches to enforcement. Dual qualified in England and Wales and New Zealand, Jackson features in the guide this year after returning to Bristows in 2021. “Nellie is a superstar. She is pragmatic, solutions focused and gives clear and concise advice in a timely fashion. Nellie has an impressive knowledge of the law in both the UK and EU.” Handling a mix of contentious and non-contentious matters is head of brands, design and copyright Simon Clark. “Simon is a seasoned all-round trademark specialist. He provides business-driven solutions and is a true strategist who excels in an international context. He is to the point, calm and an excellent negotiator. When needed, he also acts as a top-notch litigator.” Specialising in litigation is Jeremy Blum, who represents huge companies such as Diageo, Cadbury and Novartis. “Jeremy is very commercial, calm and highly skilled. He is a pleasure to work with, an excellent communicator and has a great understanding of his clients’ needs.” In addition to its elite prosecution and litigation offerings, the firm also boasts one of the largest freestanding transactional IP practices, which is home to the pragmatic and technical Claire Smith. Complex commercial deals are Smith’s forte, advising companies on how best to maximise and exploit their intellectual property. Operating as a consultant, Paul Walsh is a highly acclaimed figure on the scene, who has been involved in many landmark cases throughout his career.
CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
As one of the largest IP teams in the United Kingdom, CMS is home to an elite selection of practitioners who are well equipped to obtain, protect and monetise intellectual property for its stellar client base. On the prosecution front, recent highlights include brand protection and strategy work for Deliveroo and portfolio management for ITV. On the contentious side of the practice, litigation for Sky has been keeping the group busy with three sets of proceedings, all resulting in favourable outcomes for Sky. Among recent transactional mandates are a joint venture agreement between Equinor and BP and a licensing deal for security company Banham. Head of Intellectual Property Sarah Wright has been at the forefront of many of these briefs. “Sarah is a leading practitioner and a formidable opponent. She is knowledgeable, savvy and responsible.” Another top performer is Tom Scourfield, who is the global Co-Head of the Intellectual Property Group. “Tom is a superb all-rounder who provides excellent advice and produces fantastic results. He is efficient, knowledgeable and responsive.” Scourfield pairs with Kelly Saliger in advising Nestlé on how to secure protection for the shape of its four-finger Kit Kat at both UK and EU level. “Kelly is very experienced in handling the most complex of cases. She is a top strategist, a great communicator and her legal knowledge is faultless. Kelly’s advice is clear and comprehensive, yet succinct and accessible. She is also extremely personable and an absolute pleasure to work with.” Also receiving high praise from patrons are Joel Vertes, David Parrish, Louise Gellman and Eleanor Merrett. “Joel adopts a reasoned, commercial and well-thought-out approach. His responsiveness is stellar and the team around him are great. Joel is also well connected with lawyers in other disciplines and jurisdictions.” “David thinks outside the box and has a friendly, relaxed and professional manner. He is always proactive and provides clear and concise advice.” “Louise is an extension of her clients’ in-house teams. She is highly responsive, detail-oriented, strategic and a strong advocate.” “Eleanor is highly commercial, responsive, knowledgeable about the brands she works with and provides practical, solutions-oriented advice. She is a breath of fresh air.” After joining from Locke Lord in 2021, Ben Hitchens and Paolo Andreottola both continue to achieve excellent results. Hitchens focuses on digital and online industries, and in the past 12 months has been advising clients on the metaverse, AI and NFTs. “Paolo is a highly talented adviser who is able to translate complex aspects of trademark law into simple language for clients.” Entering the WTR 1000 for the first time this year is Anna Brackenbury. “Anna is excellent at managing international portfolios. She is very approachable and has a fantastic knowledge of trademarks.” Recently making the move from Herbert Smith Freehills is Mark Shillito, who has a wealth of experience advising high-profile companies, including Apple, ITV and Sky.
Mishcon de Reya LLP
With more than 40 dedicated IP lawyers based in the newly launched innovation department, Mishcon de Reya has one of the largest trademark practices in the United Kingdom. Whether it is brand management, litigation or commercialisation, the group are at the cutting edge of developments. Recent highlights include representing Iceland Foods in invalidity proceedings, supporting Alexander McQueen with portfolio management and disputes, and obtaining a website blocking injunction on behalf of Nintendo. Pivotal to the success of the practice is department head David Rose, who is famed for his work in the landmark victory in the Sky v SkyKick litigation. “David is a truly top-tier lawyer. He is highly skilled, diplomatic, knowledgeable and is always focused on the client’s objectives. David’s insight and experience are invaluable.” Two more top performers are Sally Britton and Jeremy Hertzog, who play instrumental roles in the work for Iceland Foods. “Sally is an excellent attorney. She is proactive, creative and has a deep understanding of her clients’ needs.” “Jeremy is a leader in IP matters and is excellent at guiding clients through tough litigation. He is a first-rate lawyer and one of the best in his field. Jeremy’s advice is solid, thorough, reliable and prompt.” Hertzog works closely with Cassandra Hill in representing Thom Browne in an infringement dispute against Adidas which spans the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States. The pair also come together to support Hewlett Packard Enterprise in litigation that includes issues of counterfeiting, infringement and passing off. Hill was recently made partner, as was Peter Nunn, who is an expert on cross-border customs detentions and enforcement matters. Nunn is a regular contributor to the firm’s ‘Turning Losses Into Profits’ programme, which has helped to recover over £300 million for patrons who suffered losses through counterfeiting operations. Leading the transactional side is Lewis Cohen, who has lately been executing a licensing deal and consultancy agreement between restaurant chain Casamata and hotel group Marriott.
Taylor Wessing
Global outfit Taylor Wessing is home to one of the top IP departments in the United Kingdom. Its prosecution practice manages over 30,000 marks and files an additional 1,600 each year, while the contentious team handled almost 800 registry disputes between January 2020 and April 2022. The group has also expanded over the past 12 months, following the opening of a new office in Liverpool and the addition of quality attorneys in London. Leading the brand management department is Roland Mallinson, who along with France Delord manages the global portfolio of telecommunications company Orange Brand Services. “Roland is a Rolls-Royce of a practitioner. He is incredibly responsive and provides clear, concise and thoughtful legal advice. He is very knowledgeable, experienced, personable and a pleasure to work with.” “France is highly experienced, comprehensive, knowledgeable and thorough in all of her work. She is sophisticated, nimble, capable and committed to providing superior client service.” Two more top performers are Mark Owen and Jason Rawkins. “Mark is excellent in disputes and offers a professional, speedy and efficient service. He is proactive, responsive, intelligent and a trusted adviser to his clients, who receive a stellar service.” “Jason is a consummate professional and a total expert. He provides invaluable advice and is a go-to attorney for complex trademark matters.” Next up are Charles Lloyd and Alison Cole. Lloyd represents the likes of Cisco and Ferrero and is known for his exceptional client service. Having joined the firm in 2022, IP regulation board examiner Cole brings over 20 years of private practice experience to the table.
Wiggin LLP
“Wiggin is a market leader when it comes to trademarks. The team provide invaluable advice, a timely service and ensure that their clients’ businesses are well protected.” The group covers the full spectrum of IP rights, managing over 14,000 active marks, devising online enforcement programmes and licensing intellectual property to maximise commercial value. On the prosecution side, the team represents brands such as Bet365, Palace and Honeywell. On the contentious front, Warner Bros, Microsoft and Gucci are some of the top names that call upon the group, which is headed by Sara Ashby. A highly reputed figure on the scene, Ashby excels in handling trademark, design and general commercial briefs. “Sara represents a diverse range of clients, offers a wealth of experience and is tenacious and strategic in her approach.” Next up are John Colbourn and “rising star” Joanne Gibbs. The pair work closely together on numerous instructions and receive great acclaim from patrons. “John and Joanne are strategic thinkers, extremely responsive, very practical and are excellent at handling highly complicated matters. They are really brilliant lawyers, excellent technicians and they always look at the bigger picture.” Also receiving praise is Rachel Alexander, who is at her best when acting in high-profile litigation bouts. “Rachel is superb in disputes, particularly in relation to technology-related trademark law.” Also recommended are Michael Browne and Calum Smyth. Betting companies LeoVegas and Bet365 are just two top names on Browne’s extensive roster, while Smyth is an expert in managing disputes for software and technology brands.
Baker McKenzie
Some of the world’s largest brands turn to international powerhouse Baker McKenzie for the full spectrum of IP services. The impressive team in London, supported by offices in Manila, Belfast, Tampa and Buenos Aires, is responsible for over 600,000 marks worldwide. The UK office is well connected to all corners of the globe through the firm’s many overseas bases and foreign associates, which attracts high-profile patrons such as L’Oreal, who rely on Hiroshi Sheraton, Julia Dickenson and Rachel Wilkinson-Duffy to protect and manage their intellectual property. Sheraton excels in cross-border litigation cases, Dickenson is at her best when serving patrons in the fashion and luxury goods industries, and prosecution expert Wilkinson-Duffy is highly astute in the life sciences arena. “Rachel is very professional, dedicated and absolutely terrific to work with. She makes herself available, provides excellent advice, has a first-rate knowledge of trademark law and always goes the extra mile.” Also receiving high praise are Jessica Le Gros and WTR 1000 debutante Nadine Archer. “Jessica has a clear understanding of her clients’ needs and the level of support they require. She offers practical solutions and is a seasoned sparring partner and sounding board for all trademark-related matters.” “Nadine is a highly experienced attorney with a superb multi-jurisdictional professional network. She has strong business acumen and is an excellent contact for all clearing and prosecution-related matters.” Working on both sides of the contentious and non-contentious divide is Michael Hart. He has previously won cases before the UK High Court and the UK Supreme Court. Well versed on the commercial side of intellectual property are Ben Allgrove and Michelle Blunt. “Ben is highly knowledgeable in IP. He is an excellent communicator, responsive and a complete professional.” Blunt is at the core of the group’s commercial offering and stands out for her first-rate work in licensing and M&A transactions.
Brandsmiths
“Brandsmiths is a niche practice with a great reputation in the field. Its lawyers fight valiantly for their clients through thick and thin, and will always go the extra mile.” The group handles an array of disputes for its patrons, many of whom are online or social media-based companies including LADbible, Pubity and Vinted. A key highlight from the past year was a successful appeal for Beverly Hills Polo Club against Amazon. Andrew Lee took the lead in this matter. “Andrew is a refreshingly relaxed, charming and experienced practitioner with an encyclopaedic knowledge of trademark law. He can manage and appease even the most difficult of clients, is a ferocious litigator and provides robust commercial advice.” Also recommended is founder Adam Morallee, who has helped to establish the firm’s presence on the market since 2014. He is widely known in the IP, sports and tech sectors. After joining in late 2021, Aaron Wood has continued to impress. Few, if any, have appeared in more hearings than he has over the past five years.
Browne Jacobson LLP
“Browne Jacobson is truly excellent to work with. The team is extremely thorough, incredibly detail oriented, dedicated and pragmatic.” It has a strong regional presence, with offices in London, Birmingham, Exeter, Nottingham and Manchester. On an international scale, the firm recently opened up a shop in Dublin. Head of Intellectual Property and Commercial Declan Cushley will be dividing his time between London and the new Irish office. “When working with Declan, you always know you are in the safest of hands. He always gives clear, well-considered advice and good judgement, and is always willing and able to help. Declan is quite simply a fantastic commercial adviser.” Also commercially astute is Selina Hinchliffe, who plays a key role in negotiating several complex R&D agreements. “The firm’s culture is to be open, flexible and commercial, and this is borne out in the work and approach of Selina. She has excellent experience, works for a range of companies and brings a perspective which helps to shape a commercial deal quickly. Selina is very much an extension of her clients’ in-house teams.” Two more top performers at the practice are Giles Parsons and Bonita Trimmer. The pair were recently involved in a high-profile matter for the Match Group, owner of the Tinder brand, in a dispute against Muzmatch, where they were successful on all counts at trial in relation to the Match Group marks. “Giles develops a great understanding of his clients’ businesses and his approach is always very commercial. He is excellent at explaining complex legal pieces of advice in a way that is easy to understand and relevant to business objectives.” “Bonita is one of the best when it comes to knowing the law. She gets stuck in and produces excellent quality work.” Further strength in depth is supplied by Faye McConnell, Mark Daniels and Nick Smee. “Faye is extremely knowledgeable and provides well-considered and pragmatic advice on a range of contentious and non-contentious matters. She is very skilled, dedicated and has a commercial mindset, which is highly appreciated.” “Mark prepares very carefully for his cases, investigates all possible avenues and is extremely strategic. He is a fantastic litigator.” Making his debut in the WTR 1000 this year, Smee has recently been supporting Ocean Technologies Group in an opposition against Huawei.
Carpmaels & Ransford LLP
The combination of its specialised litigation and prosecution teams has proven to be highly successful for Carpmaels & Ransford, as the practice continues to thrive. Patrons receive expert guidance through all stages of the trademark lifecycle, from clearance searches to disputes, and transactional support from a selection of elite-level practitioners. Heading the trademark side is Roger Lush, who advises Bear Grylls Ventures on filing, portfolio management and licensing. Lush also counsels Align Technology on a host of IP-related matters. His colleague Jonathan Day has a stellar client roster, including one of the world’s largest entertainment companies. Another patron of his is luxury brand Byredo, which he has recently been representing in a dispute against Cartier. Working closely with him on this case is WTR 1000 debutante Lara Elder, who is adored by her patrons. Working on both sides of the contentious and non-contentious divide, Elder is involved in many of the firm’s top cases, including matters for Align Technology and Deere & Company. Focusing exclusively on soft IP litigation is Ian Kirby, who has over 25 years of experience in handling complex cross-border disputes. On the transactional side, Jake Marshall is the key name. Licensing, settlement agreements and commercialisation deals are some of his specialisms.
Charles Russell Speechlys
“Charles Russell Speechlys is a go-to firm for trademark work in the UK and the EU.” The practice acts as a one-stop shop for companies looking for IP support but the group is particularly strong in prosecuting challenging shape and colour marks. A major win for the team came recently when the High Court found in favour of long-term patron Cadbury, allowing the registration of the ‘Cadbury purple’ mark. Leading the group to this landmark victory was IP department head Mary Bagnall. Along with Cadbury, Bagnall also represents the likes of Wagamama and the Australian Manuka Honey Association. “Mary is a dynamic and highly efficient practitioner.” Working closely with her on the Cadbury and Australian Manuka Honey Association briefs is Olivia Gray, who is at her best when handling the most complex of instructions. Gray is a meticulous operator whose attention to detail is exceptional. Also recommended are Charlotte Duly and Nick White. “Charlotte provides clear, practical and business-oriented advice. She fully understands the nuances of trademark law and works to find creative solutions to secure registrations. Charlotte is a personable, down to earth and knowledgeable adviser.” White advises a range of top companies on IP matters including FIFA, the International Tennis Federation and Honest Burgers. “Nick has expertise across many industries and provides effective advice in enforcement, prosecution and transactional matters.”
D Young & Co LLP
“D Young is an exceptional one-stop shop for all trademark prosecution matters in both the UK and EU.” The group has continued to flourish since Brexit and now manages over 25,000 UK registrations and cloned rights. The close collaboration with its German office has been essential in its recent successes, with plenty of clients benefiting from the team’s pan-European offering, including Skechers, which has placed its faith in Tamsin Holman to oversee the enforcement of its trademark rights in Spain and Denmark in the past year. Holman has also been representing Sega and Procter & Gamble in contentious proceedings. “Tamsin is an IP lawyer of the highest calibre. She consistently delivers high-quality legal work and advice at a very reasonable price. Tamsin is very practical, extremely responsive and simply a cut above the rest.” Taking care of Hard Rock International and LG Chem on the prosecution side is Matthew Dick. “Matthew’s knowledge and professionalism know no bounds. His advice is clear, detailed and transparent. His insight is unparalleled.” His colleague Richard Burton has recently been advising Lumenisity and Americold. “Richard’s expertise, responsiveness and overall communication skills make him wonderful to work with. He is practical, efficient, organized and his attention to detail and the quality of his legal writing are exceptional. Richard goes above and beyond to provide top-quality work product.” Providing further expertise are Jackie Johnson, Anna Reid, Gemma Kirkland, Jeremy Pennant and Helen Cawley. “Jackie is very responsive and provides high-quality advice. She is proactive, efficient and is excellent at guiding clients through IP issues.” “Anna provides excellent advice, focusing on reaching business-friendly solutions. She is prompt, responsive and, in the litigation context, is a formidable adversary. Anna is a pleasure to work with.” “Gemma is responsive, a great communicator and an expert in trademark law. She is an excellent team player and provides quick and insightful strategic advice.” “Jeremy’s knowledge of UK and EU trademark law is unrivalled. He provides excellent, business-focused advice, always seeking a prompt and cost-efficient resolution to various matters. He is extremely responsive, as well as reasonably priced.” Commercial operator Cawley is at her best when handling oppositions and cancellation actions before the UKIPO and EUIPO.
DLA Piper
Multinational giant DLA Piper has made IP one of the supporting beams of its worldwide corporate practice: it has 400 dedicated IP practitioners in offices across all corners of the globe and a significant number of them are based in the United Kingdom. Contentious firepower comes from the likes of Richard Taylor, John Wilks and Ruth Hoy. Based in both Birmingham and Sheffield, Taylor heads up the Midlands IP group and manages heavyweight litigation as deftly as he negotiates major IP transactions. Wilks showcases similar versatility and provides staunch representation in domestic and international trademark, passing-off and domain name cases. Hoy heads up the UK IP offering and places her focus on the media and sports industries. Blending contentious and transactional nous is Claire Sng, who is also a member of the firm’s advertising group. She brings valuable insight from her time working as an in-house brand protection lawyer for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Recently making the move from Bird & Bird, Patricia Collis is as capable of steering global brand strategy as she is fighting fiercely in opposition and cancellation proceedings.
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
International law firm Eversheds Sutherland has more than 70 offices spread across 35 countries, with the UK offices in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Cambridge playing a vital role in the group’s success. The branding group that sits within the team’s alternative legal services arm Konexo combines with the top-tier contentious practitioners to deliver a first-class service to patrons. Making the move from Ashurst is “impressive litigator” David Wilkinson. “David is a really strong advocate for his clients and he has an excellent track record of building strong teams.” Supporting Wilkinson on the litigation side of the practice is Birmingham-based Rupert Bent, who has been advising patrons in high-profile disputes for over 20 years. Heading the branding group is Kate Ellis, who supports the likes of The Very Group with portfolio management services. “Kate provides excellent advice and is a trusted adviser for her clients. She is extremely helpful, adaptable and always able to hit tight deadlines.”
Fieldfisher
Between its 25 offices in 11 countries across Europe, the United States and Asia, Fieldfisher manages a portfolio of over 57,000 trademarks, designs and patents. In 2021 alone, the firm filed over 1,200 new applications and, at present, they are managing over 1,200 disputes. In addition to the group’s filing and contentious work, the team is also particularly strong in monetising intellectual property for its clientele, making it an effective one-stop shop for patrons across the globe. Jointly co-heading the intellectual property department are Leighton Cassidy and John Linneker. Cassidy is qualified to practise in New Zealand, Ireland, England and Wales, making him an attractive choice for international companies including Samsung and Forbes. “Leighton is always accurate, efficient, professional and his advice balances both the legal and the practical. He also takes the time to develop a robust understanding of his clients’ businesses and goals.” Linneker continues to act for SkyKick in the landmark bad faith dispute with Sky. “John is an excellent lawyer, highly responsive and has a thorough understanding of his field. He is extremely pleasant to work with.” Some key members of the prosecution arm include Hastings Guise, Harriet Seymour and Christopher Benson. Guise has recently been supporting Boparan Private Office, owner of numerous restaurant brands as well as the trustees of Borough Market. Seymour has been providing portfolio management and litigation services to Sazerac, which owns the likes of Southern Company and Fireball. “Harriet is an utterly dependable, highly responsive, business-oriented and practical lawyer. She has a deep knowledge of trademark law, her level of effort is outstanding and she and her team are an amazing group of people. Harriet will not let you down.” Benson’s success has continued since joining from Taylor Wessing in 2021. He has played a key part in the group’s work for Forbes. Also recommended are Nick Rose and James Seadon. The pair have recently been enforcing Dell’s IP rights, including the comparable UK marks that were created post-Brexit. “James is a knowledgeable, practical counsellor who consistently provides an excellent service. He has an incredible work ethic, is extremely thorough and a real pleasure to work with.” For transactional briefs, Gordon Drakes and David Bond are the names to note. Drakes builds excellent relationships with his patrons, many of which are in the food and beverage industry. “David is a really tough litigator. He is very protective of his clients’ interests, but is also willing to compromise when a deal needs to be done.” Making her debut in the guide this year is Amy Reynolds. Her recent highlights include prosecution and strategy work for luxury shoemaker Edward Green and international manufacturer Sullair.
Gowling WLG
With over 200 dedicated IP professionals across 19 offices worldwide, Gowling’s international reach is scarcely rivalled, making the firm a top choice for cross-border instructions. The team’s sector-focused approach is another selling point, with its practitioners bringing a deep level of industry expertise to each mandate. Aston Martin, Major League Baseball and Weetabix are just a few of the top companies that the team works with. Co-head of global intellectual property Kate Swaine is responsible for advising these patrons. “Kate is such an approachable and knowledgeable lawyer with a super international outlook. She is also a fabulous person within a very reputable team.” Another top performer is John Coldham, who recently advised Team England on the protection of the Bring It Home brand in preparation for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Coldham also advised major food and beverage brand Oatly on a range of enforcement measures. “John is a very experienced and knowledgeable litigator. He is a clear communicator, knows his clients’ businesses well and always adopts a commercial and strategic approach.” Also receiving praise is Alexandra Brodie, who founded the firm’s global technology sector group. “Alexandra is a fantastic lawyer. Clients know they can trust her and that she really cares about their brands.” Her colleague Dan Smith excels at the intersection of advertising and intellectual property. He has recently been supporting Hovis and Volkswagen. Also recommended are Gordon Harris and Huw Evans. Harris has over 35 years of experience in intellectual property and has worked on cases involving multinational brands, including Volvo, O2 and British Airways. Evans heads the patent litigation department but is also an expert on trademarks. The life sciences, healthcare and technology sectors are his main specialities.
Hogan Lovells
“Heavy hitter” Hogan Lovells’s interconnected global full-service IP offering sees some of the world’s top brands turn to the group for IP support. On the portfolio management side recent highlights include work for brewery Asahi International, Yum! Brands and Lucozade Ribena Suntory. Head of trademarks and brands Sahira Khwaja is the key contact on all of these matters. Khwaja is highly experienced in the protection and enforcement of intellectual property and always keeps her patrons’ commercial goals in mind. Supporting her on the Yum! Brands work is Anneka Dalton, who is particularly skilled in advising e-commerce and intermediary services providers. An example of this is her enforcement work for Getir, where she teams with Joel Smith. He has recently been overseeing a range of IP instructions for Treasury Wine Estates and executing a licensing deal for the Financial Times. Also recommended is rising star Emily Sharkey, who offers pragmatic and solutions-focused advice to help protect and monetise her clients’ intellectual property.
Lewis Silkin LLP
Lewis Silkin’s team of solicitors, patent attorneys and trademark attorneys collectively manage over 2,000 registered designs and 37,000 marks. The growing outfit recently merged with Belfast-based IP shop Forde Campbell, meaning the firm’s reach now covers England and Wales, Northern Ireland, the European Union and Hong Kong. As a result, huge international companies regularly turn to the practice for IP support, including the likes of Dr Martens and Visa, who have recently instructed Giles Crown. A leader within the team, Crown is spearheading growth and the implementation of innovation across the group. He is joined by “calm and talented IP lawyer” Simon Chapman. He is responsible for managing the portfolio of Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Making his first appearance in the guide this year is newly made partner Nick Bowie. “Nick is very commercial, he knows his areas extremely well and has a great network of associates. He is part of an impressive team at Lewis Silkin.”
Osborne Clarke
“The team at Osborne Clarke are extremely competent, highly responsive and very strong in trademark prosecution and enforcement in the UK.” The firm covers the gamut of trademark services, which attracts market-leading brands to the practice, including Nokia, Danone and JP Morgan. Robert Guthrie has been providing prosecution and strategy services to the latter as well as acting for Realisations, formerly Edinburgh Woollen Mill, in a major domain name case. Head of IP disputes Arty Rajendra has been managing the global portfolio of kitchen supplier Howdens and has also been acting in opposition proceedings for Peanut App. “Arty is a superb lawyer with great commercial nous. She is highly impressive, really smart and does a phenomenal job.” Also recommended are Richard May and Clare Robinson. May manages the portfolio of Toni & Guy and supports veterinary company Medivet in contentious matters. “Richard is a highly responsive and proactive practitioner who does a great job for clients.” Robinson has over 30 years of IP experience. She takes the lead on the Danone instructions and provides strategic advice to Eurostar. Handling a mixture of contentious and commercial IP work is Tamara Quinn. She has recently been providing IP support to tech and data company Transition Pathway Initiative.
Pinsent Masons
Pinsent Masons has significantly invested in its IP practice over the past two years and is currently reaping the rewards. With over 130 new patrons, a 100% increase in revenue and the team doubling in size, the international outfit has firmly established itself as a prominent player in the field. One of the latest additions is Désirée Fields, who joined from DLA Piper in 2021. “Désirée combines deep knowledge, thoroughness and the appropriate pragmatism when it comes to trademark work. She is also a great team player in international cases, where lawyers in various jurisdictions have to work collaboratively to achieve the clients’ objectives.” Also internationally minded is Florian Traub, who is an expert on the German IP market as well as the UK. “Florian is a top professional and provides great strategic insight. He is proactive, flexible, always available and his service is certainly value for money.” Next up are Tom Nener and Triona Desmond, who were recently promoted to legal director roles. “Tom is an impressive operator. In addition to having a strong understanding of the law, he is client focused and has a firm eye on the broader strategy. He is exactly the person you want on your side in a dispute.” Having spent time as global head of intellectual property for a global clothing and household brand, Desmond truly understands the needs of in-house counsel. Also highly rated are Jo Alderson and Iain Connor. Alderson takes charge of several M&A and private equity transactions, many of which involve cross-border elements, while Connor has experience in precedent-setting litigation bouts in the life sciences, retail and consumer goods industries.
Reed Smith LLP
“Reed Smith is an excellent firm for trademark matters”, and its integrated IP, media, entertainment and litigation offering is particularly strong. With a network of over 100 lawyers across Europe, Asia and the United States as well as key offices in the United Kingdom, France and Germany, the group is able to advise on complex international cases. Carolyn Pepper, Jonathan Radcliffe and Michael Skrein are the key names to note. Pepper has been advising clients in the media sector for more than 20 years. “Carolyn is a go-to lawyer in the UK and is a really safe pair of hands. She is also highly experienced and successful before the High Court.” Radcliffe excels in high-profile litigation and is one of a very small number of English solicitors to have acted before the UK Supreme Court in a patent case and a trademark case. Skrein is another elite litigator at the practice and is at his best when the stakes are high.
RPC
In the words of one satisfied customer, RPC’s trademark practice is “astonishingly great” – the group has appeared in some seismic litigation and provided strategic advice to countless major brand owners in the last few years. David Cran, Jeremy Drew and Ben Mark are regularly involved. Cran is as capable in the courtroom as he is at the negotiating table, where he has a flair for the fine print of IP-related deals. His projects often have a cross-border element, thanks to his vast knowledge of European, US and Asian legislation. Drew – who heads up the trademark group – also works on both the contentious and non-contentious sides and is completely at home on multi-jurisdictional matters; he enjoys an elevated profile thanks to his lecturing and writing credits. Mark receives warm praise for his mixed advisory and disputes work: “Ben is a trademark shark with extensive knowledge of UK and EU IP law and practice. He provides clear, hands-on advice with a business focus.” Food and drink and retail are his happy hunting grounds. Heading the food and drink sector group is Ciara Cullen, who is “reactive, client-centric and always dissociates the theoretical risk and the commercial risk to help find a solution in line with business goals”. Dual qualified in England and Wales and Ireland, she regularly acts on a cross-border basis across the continent and beyond. Anchoring the brand management side is Oliver Bray, who brings two decades of experience across IP, advertising and entertainment law to the mix. He captains the commercial contracts team and has a fine-tuned understanding of advances in the digital world.
Simmons & Simmons
Home to an integrated international team that works across eight jurisdictions, Simmons & Simmons is well placed to handle cross-border trademark briefs on both sides of the contentious and non-contentious divide. Innovation is at the core of the practice, and in 2021 the group launched ‘the world’s first AI trademark lawyer’, Rocketeer, which can predict outcomes of disputes in seconds. Darren Meale is the mastermind behind the product and is widely known as “an innovator on the IP scene”. “Darren is an excellent mind with a stellar touch in taking a practical approach. He has a knack for making complex matters smooth and navigable.” Heading the intellectual property group and taking the lead on commercial mandates is Michael Gavey. He is an expert in handling life sciences and technology-related transactions.
Stephenson Harwood LLP
“Stephenson Harwood is an excellent firm with a stellar reputation in IP across the globe. It is a cut above both in terms of strategy and creative thinking. The team are highly reliable, exceptionally professional, responsive and flexible.” The practice stands out for its work in cross-border disputes and non-traditional marks, and is a top performer in the retail and life sciences industries. Heading the IP and life sciences groups is Alexandra Pygall, who has degrees in both chemistry and law. “Alexandra is an outstanding lawyer who has a calm but authoritative understanding of the issues facing businesses when handling IP disputes. She has excellent scientific expertise and is a pleasure to work with.” Also highly rated is Rob Jacob, who has a history of winning precedent-setting cases in the UK courts. “Rob is extremely helpful and responsive, and his advice is always straight to the point while still covering all the possible legal ramifications. His level of expertise and professionalism is of the highest standard. Rob is intelligent, trustworthy, approachable and very committed to his work.” On the transactional side, Naomi Leach is the go-to lawyer. Licensing and collaboration agreements are some of her specialities, particularly in relation to the life sciences, technology and leisure industries. Eifion Morris continues in his role as CEO alongside his impressive global strategic advisory work.
Stobbs IP
Nearly 100 fee earners in Cambridge, London, Sheffield and Munich operate under the innovative Stobbs structure. Its prestigious client base speaks for itself and includes multinational giants such as PepsiCo, Nike and Instagram. “The practitioners deliver an excellent, timely service and are particularly good at devising creative solutions to novel problems. Their fees are extremely competitive, and the diverse cultural, linguistic and educational backgrounds within the team mean they are able to cope very well with complex international matters.” Founder Julius Stobbs is the mastermind behind the operation. “Julius is the go-to attorney for practical, no-nonsense advice. Not only is he very responsive, he is incredibly smart, commercially pragmatic and so knowledgeable about IP law.” Heading the solicitor and the litigation teams, respectively, are Chris Sleep and Geoff Steward. “Chris is able to get himself up to speed with a case extremely quickly and provides practical, business-focused advice. He understands IP enforcement intuitively and is able to achieve fantastic results for his clients.” Steward is a trial lawyer with over 25 years of experience representing top brands, including Mars, Capri Sun and Liverpool FC. Also highly rated are Emma Pettipher and Claire Breheny. “Emma provides nuanced and strategic advice on trademark diligence and protection matters for some of her clients’ most important brands.” “Claire has excellent technical knowledge and is able to clearly explain complex information into practical and applicable advice for global businesses. She is commercial, diligent, trustworthy, personable and a pleasure to work with.” Further expertise is provided by Victoria Leach, Jessica Wolff, Louise Goodsell and Harpreet Dhaliwal. Leach excels in advising brands in the retail sector; Wolff is at her best when handling trademark cases that intersect with other forms of intellectual property; Goodsell is well versed in managing a range of contentious briefs; and Dhaliwal’s commercial approach is gratefully received by her patrons. For anti-counterfeiting matters, Caspar Rebling is the standout practitioner. “Caspar provides exceptional brand management and enforcement support. He has a high level of legal expertise, great experience, flexibility and exemplary responsiveness.”
Addleshaw Goddard LLP
Addleshaw Goddard seeks to maximise the value of clients’ creativity through providing commercial and practical advice. The IP team benefits from the expertise of the group’s other departments, and collectively they can supply patrons with a true full-service offering. The duo of Emma Armitage and Timothy Carter cover a comprehensive range of trademark services. Armitage heads the IP litigation practice and is particularly strong in the retail, consumer goods and financial services sectors. Carter focuses on supplying portfolio management services to the likes of Harrods, Kickers and Moneysupermarket.
Beck Greener
Beck Greener is a trusted source of strategic advice for some of the world’s leading brands. The group continues to attract new work based on its stellar track record, international mindset and client-focused service. Practice head Ian Bartlett represents some of the firm’s top patrons, including Ed Sheeran and his company Sidewind Limited with its global trademark prosecution, and Big Four accounting group PwC with strategic advice on marks across the world. “Ian’s knowledge of the law and his business sense make him an outstanding adviser. He is a great negotiator and he handles matters quickly and efficiently.” Highly rated associate Duncan Morgan has been second in command on these briefs. He also takes charge of the worldwide prosecution work for Paul McCartney’s MPL Communications. “Duncan is extremely knowledgeable, responsive and pleasant to deal with.” Next up is Catherine Jewell, who is distinguished as a dual-qualified patent and trademark attorney. She acts as the sole point of contact for a range of SMEs and start-ups who can rely on her to provide top-notch IP advice. Making his first appearance in the guide this year is rising star Kashif Syed. “Kashif is a go-to attorney in the UK who is fantastic at thinking issues through and advocating for his clients’ interests. He adopts a service-driven approach to everything, acting in a careful, cost-effective manner.” Rowland Buehrlen’s base of operations is the Alicante office, where he plays a vital part in the team’s European offering. “Rowland is very smart and practical. He is excellent at prosecution work, but he is also a good source of advice for enforcement and disputes.”
Blake Morgan LLP
Key players in the retail, leisure, higher education and public sectors are just some of those who turn to Blake Morgan for trademark support. Nokia, LeMieux Limited and Charles Tyrwhitt have all benefited from the practice’s prosecution and portfolio management services over the past 12 months. Another major highlight was bringing the Metropolitan Police on board. The United Kingdom’s largest police force appointed the group to the national legal framework service, meaning the firm will now advise it on a range of IP issues. Jill Bainbridge and Ben Evans are the main points of contact on this brief. Bainbridge heads the prosecution offering and regularly advises on reputation management and defamation issues. “Ben is consistently reliable, thorough and understanding of his clients’ businesses and needs. He can communicate complex ideas in a digestible manner and he provides timely, pragmatic and thoughtful counsel.”
Brabners LLP
Northwestern outfit Brabners has a “long-established and excellent track record in IP and provides London quality at regional rates”. Well connected globally with international brands and foreign law firms, the trademark experts here ensure far-reaching protection for patrons. These include prestigious names in technology and sports – the latter a notable growth area – many of which are superbly supported by Head of Intellectual Property Colin Bell. He acts for Sale Sharks and Bolton Wanderers, among other sports clubs, and the Commonwealth Games Federation, which he advised in connection with the host contract for the Birmingham 2022 Games. “Colin is extremely approachable and balanced in providing advice on black-letter law and giving pragmatic and commercial opinions.” A specialist in retail, legal director Hannah Fawcett shines as a personable, solutions-oriented practitioner with an instinctive understanding of what is best for her clients’ business. She represents Regatta, Craghoppers and Hawkshead Outdoor in connection with portfolio management, domain name disputes, oppositions and more. Joining them in the rankings this year, Hayley Morgan is endorsed as a “calm and professional lawyer who excels at liaising with US-based attorneys and clients”.
BRIFFA
“Briffa ranks very highly in terms of service quality. Its attorneys give prompt, efficient, cost-effective and pragmatic advice. They always strike the right balance between the black-letter law and the practical implications for businesses.” The trademark practice, made up of 16 qualified lawyers, operates from offices in London and Cork, meaning patrons can rely upon the group for both UK and EU support. Firm founder Margaret Briffa is well renowned on the IP scene and receives top reviews from peers: “Margaret has really built a strong team and is very client focused. She offers practical and detailed advice and is flexible in working with smaller brands with limited budgets.” Another pivotal player is William Miles, who advises Ann Summers on its global IP portfolio. On the litigation front, Miles was recently successful in representing Alexandra Wenman in a major trademark and passing off dispute at the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court. “William provides impressive commercial advice and adopts a strategic approach to IP portfolio management. He and his colleagues are able to effectively reach sound solutions in contentious matters.” Making his debut in the guide this year is Éamon Chawke, who is responsible for advising patrons like CMR Surgical, Escentric Molecules and Heathcote & Ivory.
Burges Salmon LLP
“The Burges Salmon team is highly responsive, business savvy and cost effective.” The group manages trademark portfolios for patrons in over 60 countries, many of which are household names. On the prosecution side, the BBC, Discovery, Starbucks, Tesla, Yeo Valley and Victoria’s Secret & Pink all turn to the firm for trademark services. On the contentious front, recent instructions have come from Virgin Enterprises and Santa Barbara Polo Club. Transactional highlights include briefs from Bristol City Council and John Lewis & Waitrose. Responsible for these matters are Jeremy Dickerson, Emily Roberts, Chloe Perea Poole, Helen Scott-Lawler and Richard Hugo. Dickerson takes the lead on the Santa Barbara Polo Club litigation as well as a host of portfolio work. “Jeremy is incredibly commercially focused and his advice is underpinned by a deep knowledge of the law. He is also very responsive and attentive to client needs.” Roberts’s practice is similarly diverse. She was involved in the dispute work for Virgin Enterprises and is a main contact for Starbucks for prosecution work. “Emily is a brilliant lawyer who delivers exceptional commercial advice and results. She is very responsive, communicates effectively and provides invaluable support to in-house counsel. Emily is also extremely personable and down to earth. Her grasp of the law is second to none.” WTR 1000 debutante Perea Poole earns plaudits for her work on Victoria’s Secret & Pink: “Chloe is practical, sensible and commercial. Working with her is collaborative, efficient and a true pleasure.” Scott-Lawler is the standout commercial IP lawyer. “Helen is excellent at managing clients’ expectations, is cost conscious and delivers fantastic results.” She collaborates closely with Hugo in advising John Lewis & Waitrose on its IP issues. Hugo is exceptionally pragmatic and has experience on a diverse range of negotiations and transactions.
Clifford Chance
International magic circle law firm Clifford Chance has a longstanding reputation in the intellectual property space. Its full-service operation sees it ranked for its prosecution, litigation and transactional offerings. Much of this work involves high-value multi-jurisdictional deals in the technology, media and telecommunications, consumer goods and retail sectors. The industry specialists at the practice bring immense knowledge and experience to proceedings, which is much appreciated by the major brands that the group represents. One top expert on board is Vanessa Marsland, who has been at the outfit since 1987. In the past year, Marsland has been advising Clayton, Dubilier & Rice on the acquisition of Wolseley UK in a high-value divestiture transaction. Joining her are Stephen Reese, Don McCombie and Emilie Adams. Reese excels in the healthcare and life sciences industries and recently advised Pfizer on its acquisition of ReViral. McCombie is another transactional specialist who has just made the move from Ashurst, and Adams is a dual-qualified English and French trademark attorney, who stands out for her portfolio management work.
Dentons
As one of the largest law firms in the world with an outstanding global reach, Dentons is able to attract some of the biggest international brands. “The brilliant IP group at Dentons provide a first-class service, acting as an extension of their clients’ in-house teams. They are well versed on the law, thorough in the factual detail and build excellent strategies.” Leading the practice is Anna Copeman, who recently guided Marks & Spencer to a favourable settlement in the notable Colin the Caterpillar dispute. “Anna has a wealth of global experience and provides quality advice, with practical execution. Her straight-talking, no-frills approach and her engaging style and willingness to explain things fully when needed give clients full reassurance.” Working closely with Copeman as part of FIFA’s new panel of advisers for the 2022 Qatar World Cup is senior trademark attorney Anna Brown. “Anna is focused, quick and provides comprehensive strategic advice.”
Fox Williams LLP
Fox Williams is best known for its work in the retail, fashion and technology sectors, but the versatile IP team are able to tackle mandates in a diverse range of industries. Since Brexit the group has become a firm favourite for clients in the United States and the European Union, who are seeking to protect their rights in the United Kingdom. “The team at Fox Williams adopt a practical yet strategic approach to trademark matters. They communicate clearly, cut through legal jargon and tackle issues head on.” Heading the department is the multi-talented Simon Bennett, who features on the prosecution, litigation and transactions tables. “Simon is extremely knowledgeable, responsive and a go-to for disputes.” He has been representing fashion brand BOY London in a number of contentious matters this year. Bennett has also been supporting Superdrug, Savers and The Perfume Shop in managing their IP rights, as has Sarah Redmond, who is very popular with her patrons. “Sarah is an exceptional trademark prosecutor, who knows her way around UK and EU law very well. She offers smart and practical advice and produces excellent results.” On the transactional side of the practice, Stephen Sidkin is the key name to note. Sidkin is an expert in executing cross-border licensing agreements and has a long list of fashion-based clients who turn to him for support.
Gunnercooke Llp
The growing team at Gunnercooke continues to advise patrons across Europe, Asia and the United States. It covers the full spectrum of trademark issues from registration to licensing and is also particularly strong in design matters. Fashion, retail and technology are three key areas of focus at the firm. In the past year the group’s highlights include advising gaming company Space Ape Games and retail brand Barking Bags. Rosie Burbidge has taken the lead on these briefs. “Rosie is a tremendous attorney and a star in the IP community. She is responsive, highly engaged and excellent at producing creative commercial solutions, all at a fair price.”
Harbottle & Lewis LLP
Offering a comprehensive suite of trademark services to high-profile patrons in the media, entertainment and technology sectors, Harbottle & Lewis operates at the cutting edge of trademark law. Leading video game company Electronic Arts and music artists Queen and Stormzy are a few of the group’s top patrons. Shireen Peermohamed and Sharon Daboul feature on all of these briefs. “Shireen is a brilliant, personable and solutions-focused adviser. Her knowledge of the law is superb and she is practical in its application. Shireen’s advice is clear and comprehensive, she is willing to go the extra mile and she truly understands her clients’ commercial goals.” “Sharon is delightful to work with. You always know that you will receive her full attention and that you will be given fast, accurate and precise responses when needed.” Also highly rated is Andrew Terry, who excels when advising on branding and advertising disputes. He provides strategic commercial advice to luxury brand Princess Yachts. Further quality is provided by Kostyantyn Lobov, who represents The Pokémon Company International. He can handle matters on both sides of the contentious and non-contentious divide.
Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
Herbert Smith Freehills has built an enviable international reputation on the IP scene. Its 25 offices are stationed across four continents, with key trademark hubs in England, France, Italy and Australia. The hallmark of its services in the UK is the group’s commercial acumen, which gives it the edge in transactional affairs. The sale of General Mills’ European Dough Business and Stagecoach Group’s merger with National Express Group have kept the team busy this year. Deserving of praise are Andrew Moir and Jonathan Turnbull, who are responsible for these successes.
HLK
Very few firms manage as many trademarks as Haseltine Lake Kempner, which has experienced significant growth since Brexit. As well as being prolific in terms of filings, the group has an impressive track record in litigation and an aptitude for commercialising IP rights. The retail sector is a key focus of the practice, representing the likes of Molton Brown and Tesco. In addition to managing its global portfolio, Tesco has also called upon the team to defend it from an infringement claim made by Lidl. Richard Kempner and Chris Morris are taking the lead on this matter. “Richard is exceptional in prosecution and enforcement matters. His advice is always clear, concise and commercial, and he takes the time to fully understand his clients’ businesses. Richard is also great at minimising costs and at coming up with creative solutions.” “Chris is an excellent attorney who provides exceptional and timely advice to his clients.” Also recommended are Martin Krause and Jason Dainty. “Martin is a very savvy attorney who always thinks a few steps ahead. He has a great understanding of the US market and is able to easily handle complex trademark issues.” Molton Brown and Callaway Golf Group are a couple of patrons under Dainty’s stewardship. “Jason is very responsive and commercially minded. His prices are also reasonable.” Working closely with Dainty on the Callaway Golf Group brief is WTR 1000 debutante Sanjeet Plaha. In addition, the pair are advising Wren Kitchens in a dispute against B&Q. Also entering the guide for the first time this year are Amanda Mallon and Michael Conway. “Amanda knows her clients’ businesses inside out and acts as an extension of their in-house legal team. She provides business-focused, straightforward advice regarding all aspects of international brand protection.” Conway was recently successful on appeal in a major case for Swatch against Apple. “Michael is an excellent attorney and can handle matters in the United Kingdom and European Union. He is very knowledgeable, strategic, clear and well rounded with options, pricing and recommendations.”
Howard Kennedy LLP
The growing team at Howard Kennedy advises on IP issues in an array of sectors, but particularly stands out for its work in the creative industries. A large part of the practice spans several jurisdictions, including the group’s recent anti-counterfeiting work for streetwear brand Supreme. Filings and oppositions for technology company ePlus and an infringement dispute for the British Gymnastics Association are also among the recent projects. Chairing the trademark side is Colin Sawdy. The dual-qualified UK solicitor and US attorney at law is a highly astute manager of international portfolios. “Colin is a reliable, practical, responsive and cost-effective lawyer with excellent experience in IP.” Leading the IP and commercial department is Robert Lands, who excels in the technology and retail sectors. Alex Watt provides further quality on the commercial side of the practice. His experience on secondment at the BBC, Universal Pictures and the Telegraph Media Group gives him an excellent understanding of what his patrons’ in-house teams need.
Jones Day
Jones Day has almost 220 IP lawyers and patent agents working across Europe, the United States and Asia. The globally minded group collaborates closely to handle many international portfolios and complex cross-border disputes. The team in London plays a key role in several of these instructions, with Rebecca Swindells being the name to note. Her focus is on the technology, media and telecommunications, retail and financial services sectors, where she advises clients at all stages of the trademark lifecycle, from registration to licensing.
Keystone Law
The innovative and dynamic approach at Keystone Law distinguishes the outfit from many of its competitors. With 41 partner-level lawyers drawing upon a mix of technical and commercial expertise, clients are able to choose from a deeply experienced selection of practitioners to handle their trademark issues, including Rebecca Halford-Harrison, Will Sander and Karen Fong. Halford-Harrison focuses her attention on chemistry-based industries and is also an expert on geographical indications. Dual-qualified solicitor and trademark attorney Sander is well versed in handling disputes both in the United Kingdom and abroad. “Karen is a top expert who provides sage advice. She is very user friendly, super responsive and a pleasure to work with.” Transactional duo Simon Chalkley and Anthony Misquitta have a wealth of experience in executing commercial deals. Chalkley is a pragmatic operator and a well-known figure on the scene while Misquitta is highly skilled in both trademark and copyright cases. Making her debut in the guide this year is Jessica Bent, a direct, practical and client-oriented lawyer with a focus on the technology sector and the creative industries.
Locke Lord LLP
With specialised and well-integrated teams in the United States and Europe, Locke Lord provides sophisticated global trademark services to leaders in technology – including AI and payment processing – and life sciences. The busy London team, which is handling matters in over 70 countries, stands out for its lawyer-led prosecution practice, trademark search capabilities, astute legal tech implementation and litigation expertise. Lately the firm has expanded significantly, appointing Dominic Farnsworth as head of European Intellectual Property and adding Leigh Smith as a partner. “Dominic is an extremely logical lawyer who is never stumped. He’s easy to get along with, careful with his clients’ money, creative and very business focused.” “Leigh is efficient, responsive and highly talented. He builds strong relationships by consistently providing outstanding, commercially astute legal advice.” Also recommended is Ellen Hughes-Jones, a “calm, commercial lawyer with a superb eye for detail”.
Marks & Clerk
Marks & Clerk boasts one of the largest IP practices in the United Kingdom, with offices in all of the major UK hotspots as well as nine international outposts that cover the European Union, Canada and Asia. The scientific and industry expertise of its practitioners allows for a sector-focused approach to brand protection and enforcement, which is carried out by an integrated team of attorneys and litigators. A key highlight from the past 12 months was a high-profile passing-off dispute involving rugby stars Mike Tindall, James Haskell and Alex Payne. Kirsten Gilbert took the lead on this matter. Gilbert chairs the brand protection department and represents a number of household brands such as Next Retail. Also on the contentious team is Gina Lodge. Lodge has vast litigation experience and is also a shrewd strategist in the pre-action stage. Heading the trademark group and leading the prosecution efforts is Tom Farrand. He is a commercial operator who brings first-hand business experience to the table, having spent many years developing teams within a private equity owned company. Farrand is supported by Claire Keating, Esther Gottschalk and John Ferdinand. “Claire is extremely responsive and knowledgeable. Her advice is superb and you can place your complete faith in her. Critically, Claire explains things in a way that business people can understand, rather than in legal jargon.” Birmingham-based Gottschalk is an expert on the US trademark scene and a highly astute portfolio manager. “Esther is strategic, creative and knows exactly what risks to take and how aggressive to act.” “John is an extension of his clients’ in-house teams. He is quick to respond to any concerns and is able to clearly explain potential options and outcomes. John is consistent, supportive, knowledgeable and is always on hand to help.”
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius has over 200 IP professionals in 18 offices globally and manages trademarks in over 129 jurisdictions. Although headquartered in the United States, the London office is at the heart of the group’s European practice, where its practitioners represent leading brands in the technology and retail sectors. The “smart portfolio management and litigation team” is led by Nicholas Bolter, who has “excellent experience working with many of Silicon Valley’s best-known companies”. Bolter provides strategic advice and portfolio management to the likes of Netflix, Twitter and Starz Entertainment. Supporting him on all of these briefs is WTR 1000 debutant Martin Henshall. “Martin is excellent, prompt, clear and extremely professional in his work. He truly cares about his clients and he is great to work with.”
PBIP
Palmer Biggs IP makes its debut appearance in the WTR 1000 this year, building on the existing ranking of namesake Steve Palmer. “The impressive team at Palmer Biggs IP provide a highly accomplished service at extremely reasonable rates. Their skill and experience are equivalent to what can be found in the large city law firms, and whether they are acting in contentious or non-contentious matters, their approach is always commercial, pragmatic, thorough and conscientious.” The stellar service on offer has proved to be popular with top brands such as BMW, Hugo Boss and Liverpool FC, all of which turn to Palmer for trademark support. “Steve is highly experienced and skilled, has great connections with customs authorities in the UK and is very familiar with handling cross-border matters. He is easy to deal with, responsive, client focused and understands the needs of demanding international companies.”
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP
The exceptional trademark team at Penningtons Manches Cooper forms part of the outfit’s wider IP, IT and commercial offering, supporting a combination of dynamic start-ups and global corporations. The group is well connected overseas thanks to its involvement in the Multilaw network, allowing its diverse base of patrons to access foreign support across the globe. The retail, fashion and luxury sectors are major strong points at the practice, with Gavin Stenton and Holly Strube executing several licensing deals and commercial agreements for big names in the fashion industry. The pair have also been working on a global brand protection and enforcement programme for professional tennis player Emma Raducanu. “Gavin is an indispensable part of his clients’ in-house teams. He provides sound legal and commercial advice in a cost-effective and reliable manner. Gavin is outstanding in trademark matters throughout Europe.” “Holly is professional, responsive and extremely helpful in handling trademark issues at both national and European level. She is passionate about IP, incredibly knowledgeable and understands the commercial realities of her clients’ brands. Holly is diligent, affable, utterly reliable and a joy to work with.” Focusing more on the consumer goods, online, and food and beverage sectors is department head Anna Frankum. Lately she has been supplying prosecution and strategy services to Levi Roots and his Reggae Reggae sauce brand. “Anna is a very business-oriented lawyer who provides sound, succinct advice, giving her clients full knowledge of what they are up against. She is also highly responsive, knowledgeable and takes the time to get to know her clients, so that she can help meet their commercial goals.” Making his first appearance in the guide this year is newly made partner Daniel Berry. “Daniel is wonderful to work with. He provides clear and commercially minded advice, takes the time to truly understand his clients’ business needs and delivers excellent results.”
Powell Gilbert LLP
Although patents are its main area of expertise, Powell Gilbert has a potent trademark litigation group that represents clients in some of the most technically challenging and high-profile cases in the United Kingdom. Many of its practitioners hold advanced degrees and PhDs, allowing them to truly understand the intricacies of the sectors in which their patrons operate. Procter & Gamble, Ocado and Prada are some of the leading companies that utilise the team’s expertise. Department head Simon Ayrton has been heavily involved in supporting all three of these names. “Simon is strategic, professional and a true expert in his field. He is extremely efficient, direct, commercially minded and thinks outside the box. Simon is a joy to work with.” By his side on these briefs is WTR 1000 debutant Alex Borthwick. “Alex is a proactive, professional and efficient lawyer who adopts a very practical approach to disputes.” Further contentious expertise is supplied by Tom Oliver. “Tom is a go-to lawyer on UK trademark issues. He is responsive, collaborative, extremely insightful and delivers excellent advice.”
Stevens & Bolton LLP
Stevens & Bolton continues to go from strength to strength, attracting the likes of Samsung, Nintendo and Brighton & Hove Albion FC. Contentious and transactional matters have always been key, but in 2021 the set established its filing practice, which has grown significantly under the leadership of Elaine O’Hare. She co-chairs the fashion and luxury group and has recently represented jewellery designer Olivia Brown in revocation actions. “Elaine has excellent expertise and her advice is always superb. She is clear, concise, practical and accurate.” Taking the lead on many enforcement briefs is IP head Tom Lingard, who is a key contact for Samsung and Brighton & Hove Albion. “Tom offers excellent commercial advice. He is pragmatic, clear, trustworthy and a really safe pair of hands.” Anchoring the transactional offering are Charlotte Tillett and Nicola Broadhurst. Licensing deals and collaboration agreements are Tillett’s forte while Broadhurst supports patrons in expanding their businesses, recently executing a joint venture arrangement for Icon Burgers Group.
Trowers & Hamlins LLP
“The Trowers & Hamlins team has a deep knowledge of trademarks and can clearly explain complex issues, as well as the associated implications, in a simplified manner. All of the practitioners are well prepared, professional and practical. They take the time to get to know their clients and their commercial goals, and then find the best way to achieve them.” The highly rated practice is led by Caroline Hayward. “Caroline is immensely friendly and professional with a great depth and breadth of knowledge.” She has teamed with Alice Gould to manage the international portfolio of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, one of many of the group’s patrons in the oil and gas field. “Alice is a highly experienced practitioner with an excellent knowledge of trademark law. She always provides practical, client-focused advice, and is a pleasure to work with.”
Venner Shipley LLP
“Venner Shipley’s practitioners are highly knowledgeable, commercially minded, responsive and provide a service that is great value for money.” Combining a team of trademark attorneys, solicitors and barristers, the group can advise patrons from multiple angles and ensure maximum protection for their IP rights. After joining the firm through the merger with Brookes IP, Clare Turnbull heads the trademark practice. “Clare provides strategic and commercially appropriate advice, and makes a huge effort to really understand her clients’ businesses. Her pragmatism, professionalism and client-focused thinking are unrivalled.” Joining her on the prosecution front are Jane Martin, David Birchall, Gloria Parmesan, Camilla Sexton and Yoann Rousseau. “Jane acts as an extension of her clients’ in-house teams, offering sound, clear and thorough advice. She has excellent knowledge of the law and provides a friendly, commercial and responsive service.” “David provides solid and timely advice, with both a deep knowledge of legal regulations and a sharp sense of reality.” “Gloria is exceptionally helpful, thorough and professional. Her communications are clear, organised and easily comprehensible even to a non-legal eye. Gloria is an outstanding attorney and a trusted adviser.” “Camilla is an invaluable source of guidance in IP matters and her friendly approach and real-world pragmatism are refreshing. Camilla also has the ability to communicate what can be extremely complex or technical points with ease.” Rousseau is a commercially focused adviser and brings over eight years of in-house experience at Carphone Warehouse to the table. He has recently been managing TalkTalk’s global portfolio. For contentious briefs, James Tumbridge and Robert Peake are the names to note. “James is a highly experienced lawyer who is able to effect meaningful outcomes for his clients. He can see things from multiple angles and offers a cost-effective service.” “Robert is an able and conscientious lawyer who will do whatever it takes to achieve a favourable outcome for his clients. He is a person you can trust, as well as being affable, professional and personable.”
Waterfront Solicitors
“Waterfront Solicitors punches above its weight. It is adaptable and doesn’t rest on its laurels. The firm’s reputation in IP is strong and it shows genuine expertise.” Its commercially focused, accessible team can effortlessly dispatch any contentious matter going – whether before the trademark registries or the courts – and thanks to relationships with trusted trademark attorney firms, can assist with prosecution too. Bringing the group esteem are Matthew Harris and Piers Strickland. Combined litigator and tactician Harris has developed an encyclopaedic understanding of both trademarks and domain names across his 20-year career. Like Harris, Strickland is a familiar face at the High Court and really knows his stuff when it comes to related issues such as design, copyright and software matters.
Baker McKenzie
Some of the world’s largest brands turn to international powerhouse Baker McKenzie for the full spectrum of IP services. The impressive team in London, supported by offices in Manila, Belfast, Tampa and Buenos Aires, is responsible for over 600,000 marks worldwide. The UK office is well connected to all corners of the globe through the firm’s many overseas bases and foreign associates, which attracts high-profile patrons such as L’Oreal, who rely on Hiroshi Sheraton, Julia Dickenson and Rachel Wilkinson-Duffy to protect and manage their intellectual property. Sheraton excels in cross-border litigation cases, Dickenson is at her best when serving patrons in the fashion and luxury goods industries, and prosecution expert Wilkinson-Duffy is highly astute in the life sciences arena. “Rachel is very professional, dedicated and absolutely terrific to work with. She makes herself available, provides excellent advice, has a first-rate knowledge of trademark law and always goes the extra mile.” Also receiving high praise are Jessica Le Gros and WTR 1000 debutante Nadine Archer. “Jessica has a clear understanding of her clients’ needs and the level of support they require. She offers practical solutions and is a seasoned sparring partner and sounding board for all trademark-related matters.” “Nadine is a highly experienced attorney with a superb multi-jurisdictional professional network. She has strong business acumen and is an excellent contact for all clearing and prosecution-related matters.” Working on both sides of the contentious and non-contentious divide is Michael Hart. He has previously won cases before the UK High Court and the UK Supreme Court. Well versed on the commercial side of intellectual property are Ben Allgrove and Michelle Blunt. “Ben is highly knowledgeable in IP. He is an excellent communicator, responsive and a complete professional.” Blunt is at the core of the group’s commercial offering and stands out for her first-rate work in licensing and M&A transactions.
Barker Brettell LLP
Birmingham-based outfit Barker Brettell has one of the largest trademark prosecution practices in the United Kingdom, with 17 trademark attorneys supporting over 2,400 active clients, more than 200 of which are new to the firm. The group has continued to grow both domestically and internationally, with its Swedish office playing a vital role in maintaining its EU presence post-Brexit. In the United Kingdom the team of Catherine Wiseman, Lisa King, Lucy Walker, Tracy Arch, Rosalyn Newsome and Louis Pittortou continue to receive rave reviews from patrons, competitors and foreign associates. “Catherine provides rational, business-oriented counsel on filing and enforcement strategies and takes a practical approach towards brand protection. She is flexible in her approach and is an excellent and efficient lawyer. Catherine is also a good person, pleasant to work with and enjoyable to be around.” “Lisa is incredibly skilled. She is very responsive, detail-oriented, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with. Lisa truly cares about her work and always does a great job.”
“Lucy is a go-to attorney for work in the UK and the EU. Her opinions are always thoroughly researched, she is great at avoiding disputes and is well equipped at addressing disputes when they do occur. Lucy is a joy to work with.” “Tracy is a strong advocate for her clients and she knows the law inside out.” Arch is a specialist in the food and beverage industry and is exceptional at working with start-ups. “Rosalyn is a go-to lawyer for contentious matters before the EUIPO and the UKIPO. She is very responsive and extremely thorough.” “Louis is knowledgeable, responsive and has a keen eye for detail. He gives an excellent, friendly service and removes all complexity from the issues that arise. Louis is always a pleasure to deal with.”
Bird & Bird LLP
With over 450 dedicated IP lawyers and support staff globally, Bird & Bird has one of the largest IP practices in the world. The newly opened Dublin office brings another European hub for patrons and reflects the firm’s continued growth aspirations. Other recent developments include a new digital rights and assets department to meet the demand for advice relating to AI and big data, and the introduction of innovative legal tech tool Fibonacci. The project management platform is a key asset for clients, who turn to the team for prosecution, litigation and transactional support. On the non-contentious front, the group has acted in over 900 trademark registry proceedings in the past year alone. Some key patrons on the prosecution side include Hello Fresh, Kingfisher and Monica Vinader. Head of trademark prosecution in London Mark Holah features on all of these instructions. “Mark is responsive, easy to work with and a fantastic communicator.” Another exceptional portfolio manager is Allan Poulter. “Allan is an extraordinarily perceptive and brilliant strategic counsellor, who provides nuanced and practical advice to large and emerging brands alike.” Also recommended is Christine Danos, whose work highlights include advising Fiorucci, Rogue Fitness and SC Johnson. On the contentious side of the practice, Peter Brownlow takes the reins: “Peter represents some great brands and does some top work. He is very efficient, experienced and knowledgeable.” Brownlow has been acting for Monster Energy Company in disputes against Red Bull and Acer, as well as in a landmark case for Prosecco. He teamed up with Poulter to obtain an injunction on the basis of a protected designation of origin, which is a rarity in the United Kingdom. The litigation department also had a major passing off case for Lidl. Ewan Grist took charge of this one and guided them to a successful outcome against Philip Warren & Son. “Ewan is knowledgeable, excellent at fighting his clients’ corner and is a pleasure to have on the other side.” Making their maiden appearances in the guide this year are Rebecca O'Kelly-Gillard and Tom Snaith. O’Kelly-Gillard’s strength lies in enforcement, particularly in areas with a digital or online focus. She co-heads the international copyright group. Snaith is a transactional expert with robust M&A and commercialisation experience. He is international co-head of the transactional IP department.
Boult Wade Tennant LLP
“When working with Boult Wade Tennant, you have the comfort of knowing that you have the ‘A team’. It is simply the best.” More than 210 employees, including 41 partners, operate from offices in the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain, providing a responsive, collaborative and tailored service to companies in a diverse range of sectors. Beyond Europe, the firm has an extensive international network that allows it to support its clientele in complex cross-border affairs. Chairing the trademark and domain name department is Rachel Conroy, an excellent leader who is very popular with colleagues and patrons alike. “Rachel is one of the best. She provides strategic, well-informed and tailored advice.” Also recommended is the venerable Catherine Wolfe, who has filed applications in almost every country with a registry office. “Catherine is an outstanding professional and a pillar in the community. She has the largest brain in the industry. Catherine is incredibly intelligent and adopts a very personable and pragmatic approach.” Next up are Felicity Hide and WTR 1000 debutante Anusha Arunasalam. “Felicity and Anusha give sage strategic advice in a cost-efficient manner. They have brilliant legal minds and an aptitude for strategy.” Hide is well versed in handling some of the most complex mandates, including the registration of colour and shape marks. Arunasalam has great experience with European trademarks and, despite Brexit, she continues to advise her German and Spanish colleagues in relation to matters before the EUIPO. Two more exceptional prosecutors are the “highly intelligent, thoughtful, strategic and commercial” Emma Pitcher and Tony Pluckrose. Pitcher has played a key role in expanding the group’s international presence. In addition to building the firm’s practice in India, she is also well connected in the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia. Pluckrose is also an internationally savvy attorney. He has supported several companies in managing litigation in Europe, the United States and the Far East.
Bristows LLP
An expert team of solicitors and attorneys at Bristows join forces to offer the full suite of trademark services to some of the world’s most renowned brands. Over 15,000 applications and registrations are under the control of the IP department, which includes Ian Gruselle, Paul Jordan and Nellie Jackson. Gruselle heads the portfolio group and is part of the team that manages the global portfolio for the Financial Times. “Ian is highly experienced and supplies an effective and responsive service for prosecution and transactional briefs.” Jordan provides brand protection services to the Guardian, which range from clearance searches to enforcement. Dual qualified in England and Wales and New Zealand, Jackson features in the guide this year after returning to Bristows in 2021. “Nellie is a superstar. She is pragmatic, solutions focused and gives clear and concise advice in a timely fashion. Nellie has an impressive knowledge of the law in both the UK and EU.” Handling a mix of contentious and non-contentious matters is head of brands, design and copyright Simon Clark. “Simon is a seasoned all-round trademark specialist. He provides business-driven solutions and is a true strategist who excels in an international context. He is to the point, calm and an excellent negotiator. When needed, he also acts as a top-notch litigator.” Specialising in litigation is Jeremy Blum, who represents huge companies such as Diageo, Cadbury and Novartis. “Jeremy is very commercial, calm and highly skilled. He is a pleasure to work with, an excellent communicator and has a great understanding of his clients’ needs.” In addition to its elite prosecution and litigation offerings, the firm also boasts one of the largest freestanding transactional IP practices, which is home to the pragmatic and technical Claire Smith. Complex commercial deals are Smith’s forte, advising companies on how best to maximise and exploit their intellectual property. Operating as a consultant, Paul Walsh is a highly acclaimed figure on the scene, who has been involved in many landmark cases throughout his career.
D Young & Co LLP
“D Young is an exceptional one-stop shop for all trademark prosecution matters in both the UK and EU.” The group has continued to flourish since Brexit and now manages over 25,000 UK registrations and cloned rights. The close collaboration with its German office has been essential in its recent successes, with plenty of clients benefiting from the team’s pan-European offering, including Skechers, which has placed its faith in Tamsin Holman to oversee the enforcement of its trademark rights in Spain and Denmark in the past year. Holman has also been representing Sega and Procter & Gamble in contentious proceedings. “Tamsin is an IP lawyer of the highest calibre. She consistently delivers high-quality legal work and advice at a very reasonable price. Tamsin is very practical, extremely responsive and simply a cut above the rest.” Taking care of Hard Rock International and LG Chem on the prosecution side is Matthew Dick. “Matthew’s knowledge and professionalism know no bounds. His advice is clear, detailed and transparent. His insight is unparalleled.” His colleague Richard Burton has recently been advising Lumenisity and Americold. “Richard’s expertise, responsiveness and overall communication skills make him wonderful to work with. He is practical, efficient, organized and his attention to detail and the quality of his legal writing are exceptional. Richard goes above and beyond to provide top-quality work product.” Providing further expertise are Jackie Johnson, Anna Reid, Gemma Kirkland, Jeremy Pennant and Helen Cawley. “Jackie is very responsive and provides high-quality advice. She is proactive, efficient and is excellent at guiding clients through IP issues.” “Anna provides excellent advice, focusing on reaching business-friendly solutions. She is prompt, responsive and, in the litigation context, is a formidable adversary. Anna is a pleasure to work with.” “Gemma is responsive, a great communicator and an expert in trademark law. She is an excellent team player and provides quick and insightful strategic advice.” “Jeremy’s knowledge of UK and EU trademark law is unrivalled. He provides excellent, business-focused advice, always seeking a prompt and cost-efficient resolution to various matters. He is extremely responsive, as well as reasonably priced.” Commercial operator Cawley is at her best when handling oppositions and cancellation actions before the UKIPO and EUIPO.
HGF Ltd
HGF is an elite-level IP firm with offices throughout Europe, including in the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands. Its experts can cover almost any industry and together can form integrated multi-disciplinary teams to support each client’s unique needs. The UK practice is one of the largest in the country, and Brexit has only expanded the group’s workload, taking on 18,000 cloned rights in 2021 alone. Heading the department is the “extremely knowledgeable and practical” David Potter, who has recently been working with The Hut Group, owner of the Myprotein brand in an IP dispute. Joining him on this brief is Martyn Fish, who now operates as CEO. He has also been acting for one of the world’s leading animal protein processors on an infringement matter. Jonathan Thurgood is another top expert at the ensemble. “Jonathan is a go-to attorney for all needs related to IP in the UK and EU. He is very knowledgeable on the law, provides comprehensive and well-considered advice and is always available for discussions.” Also receiving praise is Lee Curtis. “Lee has a broad knowledge of the law in multiple jurisdictions and across many industries, especially retail and fashion.” Next up are Rigel McGrath, Richard Wylie, Geoffrey Smith and Stephanie Loeffler-Reading. McGrath specialises in the food and drink, healthcare, pharmaceutical and retail sectors; Wylie provides strategic and commercial advice to his diverse clientele; Smith is a dual-qualified solicitor and trademark attorney with an aptitude for handling trademark and design issues; and Loeffler-Reading combines her educational background in pharmacy with her in-house experience to advise her long list of pharmaceutical patrons. Two more names that feature in the guide this year are Lauren Somers and Claire Jones. “Lauren’s advice is pragmatic and her responsiveness is impeccable. She is also very personable, making working with her an absolute pleasure. Lauren is extremely popular with her clients and is an asset to her firm.” Jones supports fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger with all of its trademark needs. She is also skilled in the area of non-traditional marks. Handling litigation mandates are Antony Gold and Marie McMorrow. Gold remains a consultant at the set, offering his expertise in the internet and retail arenas while McMorrow has overseen complex cross-border litigation in the European Union, China, the United States and New Zealand during her career.
Keltie LLP
One of the best trademark prosecution practices in the United Kingdom, Keltie supports over 2,000 active clients, nearly 200 of which are new to the firm. “The practitioners at Keltie always deliver prompt, sensible, well-explained and proportionate advice.” The group has also maintained its thriving offering in the European Union thanks to its growing Irish presence, which includes a newly opened office in Dublin. Collectively the team advises Stryker Corporation and PGA European Tour on prosecution matters. Manuela Macchi takes the lead with these patrons. “Manuela is a technical expert who thoroughly understands the intricacies of her clients’ businesses and always responds promptly, fully and in a digestible manner. Her depth of knowledge, commercial awareness and experience are exceptional. Manuela is a pleasure to work with.” Group Lotus is another patron who entrusts the set to handle its extensive portfolio, in particular Alistair Gay. “Alistair has all the attributes that a top attorney needs. He is very experienced, has a great understanding of the brands that he works with and, crucially, he has a winning mentality.” Equally valued by patrons is Rosemary Cardas. “Rosemary is an excellent choice for trademark matters in the EU and UK. She is creative in finding solutions, persuasive in her arguments and consistent in the advice that she provides.” Playing a leading role in the firm’s new technologies and metaverse-related efforts is Azhar Sadique. He is highly regarded for developing creative strategies to protect companies such as gaming brands 110 Industries and Afterparty. Adding further depth to the line-up is Ben Britter, who is at his best when managing worldwide registration programmes and when handling the IP aspects of complex M&A deals.
Kilburn & Strode
Growth has been the prevailing narrative at Kilburn & Strode, with strategic lateral hires, the addition of talented trainees and a nearly 300% increase in UK filings. The firm has an impressive global footprint through its offices in London, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, as well as a strong network of US attorneys. Its innovative, direct and pragmatic approach has proved popular with top brands including Instagram, which entrusts the firm with conducting clearance searches on its behalf. The team also manages the global clearance strategy for Gilead Life Sciences. Iain Stewart is a key contact on this brief – he splits his time between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. One associate enthuses: “Iain is my go-to attorney in the UK and EU for both contentious and non-contentious matters. I can say with confidence that he is my most consistently effective foreign associate worldwide. Iain is pragmatic, creative and a joy to work with on difficult problems. He is a cut above the rest.” Supporting him on the Gilead Life Sciences work is consultant Jeffrey Parker, who brings over 45 years of experience to the table. Patrons appreciate his personal, solution-driven approach to matters. Also highly rated are Carrollanne Lindley and Ryan Pixton. The pair work closely together supporting easyGroup and recently were successful in defending a number of revocation actions for non-use. “Carrollanne is insightful, experienced, well connected and is a client magnet. She is always on point and is great to work with.” “Ryan does a great job of managing UK and EU portfolios. He is a true professional and a pleasure to work with.” Having joined the practice in 2021, Rowena Tolley has proved to be an excellent addition to the group: “Rowena is an amazing attorney. She is commercial, practical, thorough, knowledgeable and is a pleasure to work with. Rowena also has excellent client care and people skills, coupled with extensive expertise in trademarks. She is the best of the best.”
Stobbs IP
Nearly 100 fee earners in Cambridge, London, Sheffield and Munich operate under the innovative Stobbs structure. Its prestigious client base speaks for itself and includes multinational giants such as PepsiCo, Nike and Instagram. “The practitioners deliver an excellent, timely service and are particularly good at devising creative solutions to novel problems. Their fees are extremely competitive, and the diverse cultural, linguistic and educational backgrounds within the team mean they are able to cope very well with complex international matters.” Founder Julius Stobbs is the mastermind behind the operation. “Julius is the go-to attorney for practical, no-nonsense advice. Not only is he very responsive, he is incredibly smart, commercially pragmatic and so knowledgeable about IP law.” Heading the solicitor and the litigation teams, respectively, are Chris Sleep and Geoff Steward. “Chris is able to get himself up to speed with a case extremely quickly and provides practical, business-focused advice. He understands IP enforcement intuitively and is able to achieve fantastic results for his clients.” Steward is a trial lawyer with over 25 years of experience representing top brands, including Mars, Capri Sun and Liverpool FC. Also highly rated are Emma Pettipher and Claire Breheny. “Emma provides nuanced and strategic advice on trademark diligence and protection matters for some of her clients’ most important brands.” “Claire has excellent technical knowledge and is able to clearly explain complex information into practical and applicable advice for global businesses. She is commercial, diligent, trustworthy, personable and a pleasure to work with.” Further expertise is provided by Victoria Leach, Jessica Wolff, Louise Goodsell and Harpreet Dhaliwal. Leach excels in advising brands in the retail sector; Wolff is at her best when handling trademark cases that intersect with other forms of intellectual property; Goodsell is well versed in managing a range of contentious briefs; and Dhaliwal’s commercial approach is gratefully received by her patrons. For anti-counterfeiting matters, Caspar Rebling is the standout practitioner. “Caspar provides exceptional brand management and enforcement support. He has a high level of legal expertise, great experience, flexibility and exemplary responsiveness.”
Allen & Overy LLP
One of the most prestigious and elite law firms in the world, Allen & Overy has more than 40 dedicated IP lawyers in the United Kingdom, collectively covering all aspects of filing, disputes and commercialisation. The group is distinguished among other magic circle law firms as one of the few with an established filing practice. This team is housed in Belfast and is led by Karla Hughes, who has a wealth of experience before the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Court of Justice in Luxembourg. The Northern Irish contingent work closely with the London office on numerous matters. Hughes regularly joins forces with Global Head of Intellectual Property David Stone in representing NBC Universal and The Coca-Cola Company. “David has an excellent command of procedure, strategy and the law. His analysis is consistently thorough and action-driven, his communications are fully informative and his style is unfailingly professional, while still pleasant and witty. When litigation is required, his ability to craft persuasive and prevailing arguments is second to none.” Stone also supplies IP support to the likes of Samsung and Virgin Media, along with Neville Cordell and WTR 1000 debutant Adrian Dykes. “Neville is an experienced and highly respected litigator”, while “Adrian is incredibly knowledgeable on litigation and portfolio management. He works incredibly hard and is a great practitioner.” The transactional IP side is led by Jim Ford and Nigel Parker, who are both working on some of the richest IP-laden deals out there. “Jim is calm, confident and detail-oriented, which allows him to secure the best possible position on every facet of a deal. His experience is a great asset and he is always a pleasure to work with.” “Nigel is calm, reassuring, easy to work with and plays a critical role in many transactional affairs.”
Appleyard Lees IP LLP
The growing team at Appleyard Lees continues to hammer out the right results from its regional offices in Cambridge, Halifax, Manchester and Leeds. The group strikes the right balance between the legal and the commercial aspects when advising its clientele, who benefit from a tailor-made service that focuses on maximising business growth. Leading the practice from the Leeds office is dual-qualified solicitor and trademark attorney Robert Cumming. “Robert is a very bright, business oriented and delivers excellent results. He is incredibly dedicated and has a remarkable expertise and an outstanding professional attitude. He is extremely responsive, sharp in his advice and is a very reliable partner.” Also dual qualified is Chris Hoole, whose impressive international network has been pivotal, particularly since Brexit. “Chris gives comprehensive and timely advice, rapid preparation of documents and timely progress updates, all with polite and friendly service at every stage. He always uses clear and concise language, which makes his guidance straightforward and invaluable.” Thirty-year veteran Bill Lister is instructed by a diverse range of patrons in both the public and private sectors. Lister is extremely skilled, thoughtful and knowledgeable, and always keeps the commercial goals of his clients in mind.
Beck Greener
Beck Greener is a trusted source of strategic advice for some of the world’s leading brands. The group continues to attract new work based on its stellar track record, international mindset and client-focused service. Practice head Ian Bartlett represents some of the firm’s top patrons, including Ed Sheeran and his company Sidewind Limited with its global trademark prosecution, and Big Four accounting group PwC with strategic advice on marks across the world. “Ian’s knowledge of the law and his business sense make him an outstanding adviser. He is a great negotiator and he handles matters quickly and efficiently.” Highly rated associate Duncan Morgan has been second in command on these briefs. He also takes charge of the worldwide prosecution work for Paul McCartney’s MPL Communications. “Duncan is extremely knowledgeable, responsive and pleasant to deal with.” Next up is Catherine Jewell, who is distinguished as a dual-qualified patent and trademark attorney. She acts as the sole point of contact for a range of SMEs and start-ups who can rely on her to provide top-notch IP advice. Making his first appearance in the guide this year is rising star Kashif Syed. “Kashif is a go-to attorney in the UK who is fantastic at thinking issues through and advocating for his clients’ interests. He adopts a service-driven approach to everything, acting in a careful, cost-effective manner.” Rowland Buehrlen’s base of operations is the Alicante office, where he plays a vital part in the team’s European offering. “Rowland is very smart and practical. He is excellent at prosecution work, but he is also a good source of advice for enforcement and disputes.”
Carpmaels & Ransford LLP
The combination of its specialised litigation and prosecution teams has proven to be highly successful for Carpmaels & Ransford, as the practice continues to thrive. Patrons receive expert guidance through all stages of the trademark lifecycle, from clearance searches to disputes, and transactional support from a selection of elite-level practitioners. Heading the trademark side is Roger Lush, who advises Bear Grylls Ventures on filing, portfolio management and licensing. Lush also counsels Align Technology on a host of IP-related matters. His colleague Jonathan Day has a stellar client roster, including one of the world’s largest entertainment companies. Another patron of his is luxury brand Byredo, which he has recently been representing in a dispute against Cartier. Working closely with him on this case is WTR 1000 debutante Lara Elder, who is adored by her patrons. Working on both sides of the contentious and non-contentious divide, Elder is involved in many of the firm’s top cases, including matters for Align Technology and Deere & Company. Focusing exclusively on soft IP litigation is Ian Kirby, who has over 25 years of experience in handling complex cross-border disputes. On the transactional side, Jake Marshall is the key name. Licensing, settlement agreements and commercialisation deals are some of his specialisms.
Cleveland Scott York
“The attorneys at Cleveland Scott York are experts in their field and have an exceptional understanding of various aspects of trademark law. They are very personable, always available and are a pleasure to work with.” The firm’s many dual-qualified trademark attorneys and solicitors manage the portfolios of several top brands, and also handle highly complex cross-border contentious matters. Despite Brexit, the team has recently seen an influx of instructions before the EUIPO, with many brands seeking its IP protection services in both the United Kingdom and European Union. Jointly leading the department are Lorna Hobbs and Jonathan Clegg. Hobbs has over 30 years of experience in intellectual property and is best known for her work in the consumer goods, food and drink, and fashion and luxury sectors. Clegg is equally esteemed in the industry: “Jonathan is a consummate professional and is extremely knowledgeable in both UK and EU law, as well as global strategy. He provides practical and pragmatic solutions tailored to his clients’ commercial needs, fully understanding their business interests. Jonathan is proactive in his approach, timely with his advice and is well respected by his peers across the globe.” Also highly rated are Alicia Instone and Peter Houlihan. Instone is an organic chemistry PhD whose practice covers both patents and trademarks. “Peter is a very steady pair of hands. He is measured, thoughtful and pretty unflappable.” Making her first appearance in the guide this year is Claire Birro. “Claire is a very experienced solicitor and trademark attorney, with excellent client-care skills.” The fashion and luxury, consumer goods, and financial services sectors are her forte.
CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
As one of the largest IP teams in the United Kingdom, CMS is home to an elite selection of practitioners who are well equipped to obtain, protect and monetise intellectual property for its stellar client base. On the prosecution front, recent highlights include brand protection and strategy work for Deliveroo and portfolio management for ITV. On the contentious side of the practice, litigation for Sky has been keeping the group busy with three sets of proceedings, all resulting in favourable outcomes for Sky. Among recent transactional mandates are a joint venture agreement between Equinor and BP and a licensing deal for security company Banham. Head of Intellectual Property Sarah Wright has been at the forefront of many of these briefs. “Sarah is a leading practitioner and a formidable opponent. She is knowledgeable, savvy and responsible.” Another top performer is Tom Scourfield, who is the global Co-Head of the Intellectual Property Group. “Tom is a superb all-rounder who provides excellent advice and produces fantastic results. He is efficient, knowledgeable and responsive.” Scourfield pairs with Kelly Saliger in advising Nestlé on how to secure protection for the shape of its four-finger Kit Kat at both UK and EU level. “Kelly is very experienced in handling the most complex of cases. She is a top strategist, a great communicator and her legal knowledge is faultless. Kelly’s advice is clear and comprehensive, yet succinct and accessible. She is also extremely personable and an absolute pleasure to work with.” Also receiving high praise from patrons are Joel Vertes, David Parrish, Louise Gellman and Eleanor Merrett. “Joel adopts a reasoned, commercial and well-thought-out approach. His responsiveness is stellar and the team around him are great. Joel is also well connected with lawyers in other disciplines and jurisdictions.” “David thinks outside the box and has a friendly, relaxed and professional manner. He is always proactive and provides clear and concise advice.” “Louise is an extension of her clients’ in-house teams. She is highly responsive, detail-oriented, strategic and a strong advocate.” “Eleanor is highly commercial, responsive, knowledgeable about the brands she works with and provides practical, solutions-oriented advice. She is a breath of fresh air.” After joining from Locke Lord in 2021, Ben Hitchens and Paolo Andreottola both continue to achieve excellent results. Hitchens focuses on digital and online industries, and in the past 12 months has been advising clients on the metaverse, AI and NFTs. “Paolo is a highly talented adviser who is able to translate complex aspects of trademark law into simple language for clients.” Entering the WTR 1000 for the first time this year is Anna Brackenbury. “Anna is excellent at managing international portfolios. She is very approachable and has a fantastic knowledge of trademarks.” Recently making the move from Herbert Smith Freehills is Mark Shillito, who has a wealth of experience advising high-profile companies, including Apple, ITV and Sky.
Dehns
For over a century, Dehns has provided a reliable, well-informed and all-encompassing trademark prosecution service to enterprises from across the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond. The group – comprised of over 260 staff – works from eight offices in London, Oxford, Brighton, Manchester, Sandwich, Bristol, Munich and Oslo, ensuring that its offering transcends geographical boundaries. Many clients have been with the firm for decades, with some relationships exceeding 50 years in length, thanks to the approachable and flexible working ethos on show. Litigation head Paul Harris made the move from Venner Shipley in 2021. With a caseload encompassing both patents and trademarks, he is a major boon to Dehns’ contentious offering. Receiving high acclaim from peers on the prosecution side are Joseph Letang and Elaine Deyes. London-based Deyes has been with the firm for 25 years and spends her time devising pan-European filing strategies, providing dispute resolution insight and handling domain name and company name suits. Brighton-based Letang, meanwhile, is a trademark prosecution maven who capably tends to the needs of regional SMEs as well as managing the global IP portfolios of heavyweights in the cosmetics, entertainment, restaurants and engineering fields. Also based in Brighton, Clare Mann maintains a similarly versatile practice. She is calm, measured and client friendly – all qualities which are essential when managing global portfolios. Heading up the trademark group is Roberto Calamita, who has been resident at the firm since 1985 and is a valuable resource for young enterprises in need of clear and decisive trademark strategies.
Dentons
As one of the largest law firms in the world with an outstanding global reach, Dentons is able to attract some of the biggest international brands. “The brilliant IP group at Dentons provide a first-class service, acting as an extension of their clients’ in-house teams. They are well versed on the law, thorough in the factual detail and build excellent strategies.” Leading the practice is Anna Copeman, who recently guided Marks & Spencer to a favourable settlement in the notable Colin the Caterpillar dispute. “Anna has a wealth of global experience and provides quality advice, with practical execution. Her straight-talking, no-frills approach and her engaging style and willingness to explain things fully when needed give clients full reassurance.” Working closely with Copeman as part of FIFA’s new panel of advisers for the 2022 Qatar World Cup is senior trademark attorney Anna Brown. “Anna is focused, quick and provides comprehensive strategic advice.”
Fieldfisher
Between its 25 offices in 11 countries across Europe, the United States and Asia, Fieldfisher manages a portfolio of over 57,000 trademarks, designs and patents. In 2021 alone, the firm filed over 1,200 new applications and, at present, they are managing over 1,200 disputes. In addition to the group’s filing and contentious work, the team is also particularly strong in monetising intellectual property for its clientele, making it an effective one-stop shop for patrons across the globe. Jointly co-heading the intellectual property department are Leighton Cassidy and John Linneker. Cassidy is qualified to practise in New Zealand, Ireland, England and Wales, making him an attractive choice for international companies including Samsung and Forbes. “Leighton is always accurate, efficient, professional and his advice balances both the legal and the practical. He also takes the time to develop a robust understanding of his clients’ businesses and goals.” Linneker continues to act for SkyKick in the landmark bad faith dispute with Sky. “John is an excellent lawyer, highly responsive and has a thorough understanding of his field. He is extremely pleasant to work with.” Some key members of the prosecution arm include Hastings Guise, Harriet Seymour and Christopher Benson. Guise has recently been supporting Boparan Private Office, owner of numerous restaurant brands as well as the trustees of Borough Market. Seymour has been providing portfolio management and litigation services to Sazerac, which owns the likes of Southern Company and Fireball. “Harriet is an utterly dependable, highly responsive, business-oriented and practical lawyer. She has a deep knowledge of trademark law, her level of effort is outstanding and she and her team are an amazing group of people. Harriet will not let you down.” Benson’s success has continued since joining from Taylor Wessing in 2021. He has played a key part in the group’s work for Forbes. Also recommended are Nick Rose and James Seadon. The pair have recently been enforcing Dell’s IP rights, including the comparable UK marks that were created post-Brexit. “James is a knowledgeable, practical counsellor who consistently provides an excellent service. He has an incredible work ethic, is extremely thorough and a real pleasure to work with.” For transactional briefs, Gordon Drakes and David Bond are the names to note. Drakes builds excellent relationships with his patrons, many of which are in the food and beverage industry. “David is a really tough litigator. He is very protective of his clients’ interests, but is also willing to compromise when a deal needs to be done.” Making her debut in the guide this year is Amy Reynolds. Her recent highlights include prosecution and strategy work for luxury shoemaker Edward Green and international manufacturer Sullair.
Gill Jennings & Every LLP
Gill Jennings & Every has developed a stellar reputation on the market through providing high-value strategic advice and contentious support. The firm is able to operate across the United Kingdom and the European Union, thanks to its offices in London and Munich, and since Brexit the group has taken on or filed over 2,000 UK registrations or applications based on EU marks. Over the past 12 months the team has been advising long-term patron WWE, e-commerce unicorn Thrasio and clothing brand Under Armour on a range of IP matters. Making this all happen are Alasdair MacQuarrie and Edward Carstairs. “Alasdair is an indispensable part of his clients’ in-house teams. He develops an innate familiarity and knowledge of the brands he works with and is a top attorney for work in both the UK and the EU.” “Edward is an outstanding trademark lawyer. He always provides very thorough, clear, complete and commercial advice. Edward is always available, keen to understand the general strategy and vision of the companies he works with, and always advises on what is best both legally and strategically.”
HLK
Very few firms manage as many trademarks as Haseltine Lake Kempner, which has experienced significant growth since Brexit. As well as being prolific in terms of filings, the group has an impressive track record in litigation and an aptitude for commercialising IP rights. The retail sector is a key focus of the practice, representing the likes of Molton Brown and Tesco. In addition to managing its global portfolio, Tesco has also called upon the team to defend it from an infringement claim made by Lidl. Richard Kempner and Chris Morris are taking the lead on this matter. “Richard is exceptional in prosecution and enforcement matters. His advice is always clear, concise and commercial, and he takes the time to fully understand his clients’ businesses. Richard is also great at minimising costs and at coming up with creative solutions.” “Chris is an excellent attorney who provides exceptional and timely advice to his clients.” Also recommended are Martin Krause and Jason Dainty. “Martin is a very savvy attorney who always thinks a few steps ahead. He has a great understanding of the US market and is able to easily handle complex trademark issues.” Molton Brown and Callaway Golf Group are a couple of patrons under Dainty’s stewardship. “Jason is very responsive and commercially minded. His prices are also reasonable.” Working closely with Dainty on the Callaway Golf Group brief is WTR 1000 debutante Sanjeet Plaha. In addition, the pair are advising Wren Kitchens in a dispute against B&Q. Also entering the guide for the first time this year are Amanda Mallon and Michael Conway. “Amanda knows her clients’ businesses inside out and acts as an extension of their in-house legal team. She provides business-focused, straightforward advice regarding all aspects of international brand protection.” Conway was recently successful on appeal in a major case for Swatch against Apple. “Michael is an excellent attorney and can handle matters in the United Kingdom and European Union. He is very knowledgeable, strategic, clear and well rounded with options, pricing and recommendations.”
Hogan Lovells
“Heavy hitter” Hogan Lovells’s interconnected global full-service IP offering sees some of the world’s top brands turn to the group for IP support. On the portfolio management side recent highlights include work for brewery Asahi International, Yum! Brands and Lucozade Ribena Suntory. Head of trademarks and brands Sahira Khwaja is the key contact on all of these matters. Khwaja is highly experienced in the protection and enforcement of intellectual property and always keeps her patrons’ commercial goals in mind. Supporting her on the Yum! Brands work is Anneka Dalton, who is particularly skilled in advising e-commerce and intermediary services providers. An example of this is her enforcement work for Getir, where she teams with Joel Smith. He has recently been overseeing a range of IP instructions for Treasury Wine Estates and executing a licensing deal for the Financial Times. Also recommended is rising star Emily Sharkey, who offers pragmatic and solutions-focused advice to help protect and monetise her clients’ intellectual property.
J A Kemp
Through its offices in the United Kingdom, France and Germany, J A Kemp is able to offer a pan-European service to its diverse base of patrons. The Royal British Legion, the Imperial War Museum and GW Pharmaceuticals are just a few of the companies it represents. Steering the ship is James Fish, who has built a sterling reputation for his IP practice. “James gives spot-on advice every single time you need him. He is measured, responsive and has a huge breadth of knowledge that covers both UK and EU law.” Also highly thought of are Charlotte Stirling, Tom Albertini, Aaron Newell and Ben Mooneapillay. “Charlotte is a no-nonsense, bright and creative lawyer, who makes the lives of in-house counsel far easier. She is a prompt, meticulous and trusted adviser who offers business-friendly solutions.” “Tom provides solid, down-to-earth and practical advice on all fronts. He knows the intricacies of practising before the UKIPO like the back of his hand and he has an excellent success rate.” “Aaron is able to devise multifaceted international strategies for his clients, guiding them through every step of the process. He gets great results and his service is more than value for money.” Mooneapillay operates from the growing Oxford office, handling a blend of contentious and non-contentious briefs. “Ben is excellent on all areas of UK and EU trademark law.”
Lewis Silkin LLP
Lewis Silkin’s team of solicitors, patent attorneys and trademark attorneys collectively manage over 2,000 registered designs and 37,000 marks. The growing outfit recently merged with Belfast-based IP shop Forde Campbell, meaning the firm’s reach now covers England and Wales, Northern Ireland, the European Union and Hong Kong. As a result, huge international companies regularly turn to the practice for IP support, including the likes of Dr Martens and Visa, who have recently instructed Giles Crown. A leader within the team, Crown is spearheading growth and the implementation of innovation across the group. He is joined by “calm and talented IP lawyer” Simon Chapman. He is responsible for managing the portfolio of Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Making his first appearance in the guide this year is newly made partner Nick Bowie. “Nick is very commercial, he knows his areas extremely well and has a great network of associates. He is part of an impressive team at Lewis Silkin.”
Locke Lord LLP
With specialised and well-integrated teams in the United States and Europe, Locke Lord provides sophisticated global trademark services to leaders in technology – including AI and payment processing – and life sciences. The busy London team, which is handling matters in over 70 countries, stands out for its lawyer-led prosecution practice, trademark search capabilities, astute legal tech implementation and litigation expertise. Lately the firm has expanded significantly, appointing Dominic Farnsworth as head of European Intellectual Property and adding Leigh Smith as a partner. “Dominic is an extremely logical lawyer who is never stumped. He’s easy to get along with, careful with his clients’ money, creative and very business focused.” “Leigh is efficient, responsive and highly talented. He builds strong relationships by consistently providing outstanding, commercially astute legal advice.” Also recommended is Ellen Hughes-Jones, a “calm, commercial lawyer with a superb eye for detail”.
Marks & Clerk
Marks & Clerk boasts one of the largest IP practices in the United Kingdom, with offices in all of the major UK hotspots as well as nine international outposts that cover the European Union, Canada and Asia. The scientific and industry expertise of its practitioners allows for a sector-focused approach to brand protection and enforcement, which is carried out by an integrated team of attorneys and litigators. A key highlight from the past 12 months was a high-profile passing-off dispute involving rugby stars Mike Tindall, James Haskell and Alex Payne. Kirsten Gilbert took the lead on this matter. Gilbert chairs the brand protection department and represents a number of household brands such as Next Retail. Also on the contentious team is Gina Lodge. Lodge has vast litigation experience and is also a shrewd strategist in the pre-action stage. Heading the trademark group and leading the prosecution efforts is Tom Farrand. He is a commercial operator who brings first-hand business experience to the table, having spent many years developing teams within a private equity owned company. Farrand is supported by Claire Keating, Esther Gottschalk and John Ferdinand. “Claire is extremely responsive and knowledgeable. Her advice is superb and you can place your complete faith in her. Critically, Claire explains things in a way that business people can understand, rather than in legal jargon.” Birmingham-based Gottschalk is an expert on the US trademark scene and a highly astute portfolio manager. “Esther is strategic, creative and knows exactly what risks to take and how aggressive to act.” “John is an extension of his clients’ in-house teams. He is quick to respond to any concerns and is able to clearly explain potential options and outcomes. John is consistent, supportive, knowledgeable and is always on hand to help.”
Mathys & Squire LLP
Many top brands turn to Mathys & Squire for strategic portfolio management and brand protection services. The practitioners at the outfit are known for having a specialised knowledge of trademarks, adopting a client-oriented approach and delivering high-quality results. 2022 was another successful year, with an almost 20% increase in filing work and over 200 new patrons utilising the group’s offering. Margaret Arnott and Gary Johnston jointly co-head the team and have built impressive reputations during their more than 25-year-long careers. “Margaret is practically a trademark encyclopaedia. She can answer any question that a client may have and knows how to get great results. Margaret is also very pragmatic and will always provide the full picture prior to assisting in the decision-making process.” “Gary is an experienced, commercial and pragmatic lawyer who is highly knowledgeable about IP.”
Mewburn Ellis LLP
Mewburn Ellis continues to grow year on year, with almost 50 partners and over 80 IP attorneys, solicitors and litigators operating from its offices in the United Kingdom and Germany. The practice has also seen an increase in the size of its client base, which ranges from start-ups to SMEs to global household brands. The firm’s exceptional success rate in registering and defending marks, coupled with the practitioners’ deep commercial understanding of intellectual property continues to create an attractive offering for brands. Heading up the trademark team is Kate O’Rourke, who is an expert in providing global strategic advice for patrons in the retail and leisure sectors. O’Rourke is a well-renowned figure in the industry, playing a pivotal role in many key IP associations and leading the discussions on several emerging topics. Her colleague Andy King stands out for his knowledge of domain names and his ability to negotiate favourable settlement agreements for patrons. For pharmaceutical matters, Rebecca Anderson-Smith is the go-to attorney, who has a blend of in-house and private practice experience. “Rebecca is incredibly organised and detail orientated. She is invaluable to the in-house teams that she works with.” Making her debut in the guide this year is Jacqueline Pang. “Jacqueline provides detailed trademark advice on an international scale. She is highly responsive, friendly and produces excellent, precise and thorough work in a timely manner.”
Mishcon de Reya LLP
With more than 40 dedicated IP lawyers based in the newly launched innovation department, Mishcon de Reya has one of the largest trademark practices in the United Kingdom. Whether it is brand management, litigation or commercialisation, the group are at the cutting edge of developments. Recent highlights include representing Iceland Foods in invalidity proceedings, supporting Alexander McQueen with portfolio management and disputes, and obtaining a website blocking injunction on behalf of Nintendo. Pivotal to the success of the practice is department head David Rose, who is famed for his work in the landmark victory in the Sky v SkyKick litigation. “David is a truly top-tier lawyer. He is highly skilled, diplomatic, knowledgeable and is always focused on the client’s objectives. David’s insight and experience are invaluable.” Two more top performers are Sally Britton and Jeremy Hertzog, who play instrumental roles in the work for Iceland Foods. “Sally is an excellent attorney. She is proactive, creative and has a deep understanding of her clients’ needs.” “Jeremy is a leader in IP matters and is excellent at guiding clients through tough litigation. He is a first-rate lawyer and one of the best in his field. Jeremy’s advice is solid, thorough, reliable and prompt.” Hertzog works closely with Cassandra Hill in representing Thom Browne in an infringement dispute against Adidas which spans the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States. The pair also come together to support Hewlett Packard Enterprise in litigation that includes issues of counterfeiting, infringement and passing off. Hill was recently made partner, as was Peter Nunn, who is an expert on cross-border customs detentions and enforcement matters. Nunn is a regular contributor to the firm’s ‘Turning Losses Into Profits’ programme, which has helped to recover over £300 million for patrons who suffered losses through counterfeiting operations. Leading the transactional side is Lewis Cohen, who has lately been executing a licensing deal and consultancy agreement between restaurant chain Casamata and hotel group Marriott.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius has over 200 IP professionals in 18 offices globally and manages trademarks in over 129 jurisdictions. Although headquartered in the United States, the London office is at the heart of the group’s European practice, where its practitioners represent leading brands in the technology and retail sectors. The “smart portfolio management and litigation team” is led by Nicholas Bolter, who has “excellent experience working with many of Silicon Valley’s best-known companies”. Bolter provides strategic advice and portfolio management to the likes of Netflix, Twitter and Starz Entertainment. Supporting him on all of these briefs is WTR 1000 debutant Martin Henshall. “Martin is excellent, prompt, clear and extremely professional in his work. He truly cares about his clients and he is great to work with.”
Osborne Clarke
“The team at Osborne Clarke are extremely competent, highly responsive and very strong in trademark prosecution and enforcement in the UK.” The firm covers the gamut of trademark services, which attracts market-leading brands to the practice, including Nokia, Danone and JP Morgan. Robert Guthrie has been providing prosecution and strategy services to the latter as well as acting for Realisations, formerly Edinburgh Woollen Mill, in a major domain name case. Head of IP disputes Arty Rajendra has been managing the global portfolio of kitchen supplier Howdens and has also been acting in opposition proceedings for Peanut App. “Arty is a superb lawyer with great commercial nous. She is highly impressive, really smart and does a phenomenal job.” Also recommended are Richard May and Clare Robinson. May manages the portfolio of Toni & Guy and supports veterinary company Medivet in contentious matters. “Richard is a highly responsive and proactive practitioner who does a great job for clients.” Robinson has over 30 years of IP experience. She takes the lead on the Danone instructions and provides strategic advice to Eurostar. Handling a mixture of contentious and commercial IP work is Tamara Quinn. She has recently been providing IP support to tech and data company Transition Pathway Initiative.
Pinsent Masons
Pinsent Masons has significantly invested in its IP practice over the past two years and is currently reaping the rewards. With over 130 new patrons, a 100% increase in revenue and the team doubling in size, the international outfit has firmly established itself as a prominent player in the field. One of the latest additions is Désirée Fields, who joined from DLA Piper in 2021. “Désirée combines deep knowledge, thoroughness and the appropriate pragmatism when it comes to trademark work. She is also a great team player in international cases, where lawyers in various jurisdictions have to work collaboratively to achieve the clients’ objectives.” Also internationally minded is Florian Traub, who is an expert on the German IP market as well as the UK. “Florian is a top professional and provides great strategic insight. He is proactive, flexible, always available and his service is certainly value for money.” Next up are Tom Nener and Triona Desmond, who were recently promoted to legal director roles. “Tom is an impressive operator. In addition to having a strong understanding of the law, he is client focused and has a firm eye on the broader strategy. He is exactly the person you want on your side in a dispute.” Having spent time as global head of intellectual property for a global clothing and household brand, Desmond truly understands the needs of in-house counsel. Also highly rated are Jo Alderson and Iain Connor. Alderson takes charge of several M&A and private equity transactions, many of which involve cross-border elements, while Connor has experience in precedent-setting litigation bouts in the life sciences, retail and consumer goods industries.
Reddie & Grose LLP
The team at Reddie & Grose excels in finding creative solutions to avoid costly litigation for clients. Known for its excellent in-house training and robust filing practice, both domestically and internationally, the group is a top choice for patrons in the financial and technology sectors. Helen Wakerley co-heads the group and has been handling a host of Brexit-related matters lately. “Helen is a trusted adviser who provides useful, concise and thoughtful advice and recommendations. She is a go-to for difficult matters, as she is tenacious, responsive and finds creative solutions.” Tom Sharman and Alice Findlay have also been kept busy since Brexit. Sharman has recently been advising Volta Trucks on prosecution and opposition matters. “Tom is awesome. Unlike many other lawyers, he is able to see the bigger picture and tailor his advice to the specific needs of the client.” Partnership chair Findlay has over 30 years of IP experience. She been instructed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on multiple domain name disputes. Making his maiden appearance in the guide this year is Dale Carter. Carter spent five years in-house at Nestlé, where he managed its entire portfolio in the United Kingdom and also assisted with overseas work in Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway.
Simmons & Simmons
Home to an integrated international team that works across eight jurisdictions, Simmons & Simmons is well placed to handle cross-border trademark briefs on both sides of the contentious and non-contentious divide. Innovation is at the core of the practice, and in 2021 the group launched ‘the world’s first AI trademark lawyer’, Rocketeer, which can predict outcomes of disputes in seconds. Darren Meale is the mastermind behind the product and is widely known as “an innovator on the IP scene”. “Darren is an excellent mind with a stellar touch in taking a practical approach. He has a knack for making complex matters smooth and navigable.” Heading the intellectual property group and taking the lead on commercial mandates is Michael Gavey. He is an expert in handling life sciences and technology-related transactions.
Taylor Wessing
Global outfit Taylor Wessing is home to one of the top IP departments in the United Kingdom. Its prosecution practice manages over 30,000 marks and files an additional 1,600 each year, while the contentious team handled almost 800 registry disputes between January 2020 and April 2022. The group has also expanded over the past 12 months, following the opening of a new office in Liverpool and the addition of quality attorneys in London. Leading the brand management department is Roland Mallinson, who along with France Delord manages the global portfolio of telecommunications company Orange Brand Services. “Roland is a Rolls-Royce of a practitioner. He is incredibly responsive and provides clear, concise and thoughtful legal advice. He is very knowledgeable, experienced, personable and a pleasure to work with.” “France is highly experienced, comprehensive, knowledgeable and thorough in all of her work. She is sophisticated, nimble, capable and committed to providing superior client service.” Two more top performers are Mark Owen and Jason Rawkins. “Mark is excellent in disputes and offers a professional, speedy and efficient service. He is proactive, responsive, intelligent and a trusted adviser to his clients, who receive a stellar service.” “Jason is a consummate professional and a total expert. He provides invaluable advice and is a go-to attorney for complex trademark matters.” Next up are Charles Lloyd and Alison Cole. Lloyd represents the likes of Cisco and Ferrero and is known for his exceptional client service. Having joined the firm in 2022, IP regulation board examiner Cole brings over 20 years of private practice experience to the table.
Venner Shipley LLP
“Venner Shipley’s practitioners are highly knowledgeable, commercially minded, responsive and provide a service that is great value for money.” Combining a team of trademark attorneys, solicitors and barristers, the group can advise patrons from multiple angles and ensure maximum protection for their IP rights. After joining the firm through the merger with Brookes IP, Clare Turnbull heads the trademark practice. “Clare provides strategic and commercially appropriate advice, and makes a huge effort to really understand her clients’ businesses. Her pragmatism, professionalism and client-focused thinking are unrivalled.” Joining her on the prosecution front are Jane Martin, David Birchall, Gloria Parmesan, Camilla Sexton and Yoann Rousseau. “Jane acts as an extension of her clients’ in-house teams, offering sound, clear and thorough advice. She has excellent knowledge of the law and provides a friendly, commercial and responsive service.” “David provides solid and timely advice, with both a deep knowledge of legal regulations and a sharp sense of reality.” “Gloria is exceptionally helpful, thorough and professional. Her communications are clear, organised and easily comprehensible even to a non-legal eye. Gloria is an outstanding attorney and a trusted adviser.” “Camilla is an invaluable source of guidance in IP matters and her friendly approach and real-world pragmatism are refreshing. Camilla also has the ability to communicate what can be extremely complex or technical points with ease.” Rousseau is a commercially focused adviser and brings over eight years of in-house experience at Carphone Warehouse to the table. He has recently been managing TalkTalk’s global portfolio. For contentious briefs, James Tumbridge and Robert Peake are the names to note. “James is a highly experienced lawyer who is able to effect meaningful outcomes for his clients. He can see things from multiple angles and offers a cost-effective service.” “Robert is an able and conscientious lawyer who will do whatever it takes to achieve a favourable outcome for his clients. He is a person you can trust, as well as being affable, professional and personable.”
AA Thornton
Since its establishment in 1911, AA Thornton has always maintained a client-centric, tailored approach that meets the commercial needs of its patrons. From its bases in London and Alicante, the group supplies a host of IP services related to trademarks, designs, patents and domain names to companies throughout Europe, North America, India and the Far East. The name to note for trademark matters is Ian Stephen Gill. “Ian is a very trustworthy lawyer who is prominent within the profession. He writes excellent academic articles and is a brilliant expert on China.”
Abel + Imray
IP boutique Abel & Imray is trusted by a variety of organisations, from multinational corporations to local start-ups, and its individuals know exactly how to tailor its services accordingly. The firm maintains a European footing thanks to its Dutch office, which opened in late 2021. A key name at the practice in London is Simon Bentley. “Simon is very responsive and provides sound, business-focused advice regarding UK and EU trademark law.” Bentley marked 25 years on the team in 2022, and Bath-based Caroline Brooks is not far behind. Brooks is known for her portfolio management expertise and her ability to translate complex legal information into practical, commercial advice. Recently making the move from Mewburn Ellis is Sofia Arenal, who is fluent in French, Spanish and English. Arenal is skilled in both contentious and non-contentious matters.
Addleshaw Goddard LLP
Addleshaw Goddard seeks to maximise the value of clients’ creativity through providing commercial and practical advice. The IP team benefits from the expertise of the group’s other departments, and collectively they can supply patrons with a true full-service offering. The duo of Emma Armitage and Timothy Carter cover a comprehensive range of trademark services. Armitage heads the IP litigation practice and is particularly strong in the retail, consumer goods and financial services sectors. Carter focuses on supplying portfolio management services to the likes of Harrods, Kickers and Moneysupermarket.
Ashfords LLP
Ashfords’ combination of in-house attorneys and solicitors forms one of the largest trademark teams in the southwest of England. It manages the global portfolios of many top brands including the Roald Dahl Company, the Post Office and Michael Bublé’s music company, Pancho Music Inc. Acting as the lead partner for the Pancho Music Inc brief is dual-qualified trademark attorney and solicitor Clare Jackman. “Clare is responsive, practical, clear in her communications and creative with strategies. She is one of the go-to IP lawyers in the UK.” Also dual qualified is Carl Steele, who chairs the IP department. “Carl provides clear and practical advice that has a tangible impact on strengthening the value of brands. He is always available and gives all the information that is needed to make informed decisions.” Steele presides over the portfolio work for the Roald Dahl Company and has also recently advised this client regarding its sale to Netflix. Dan Cahill, who is deserving of a special mention, was also instrumental in this matter. “Dan is responsive, approachable and always provides highly accurate legal advice.”
Bear & Wolf
“Bear & Wolf is a well-oiled machine” that will exhaust every possible angle to file the most challenging of marks. The firm established an office in Denmark in 2021 which works closely with the London team to register and enforce trademarks before the UKIPO and EUIPO. Its German contingent, powered by FPS Partnerschaftsgesellschaft mbB, adds to the group’s robust pan-European offering. Founding partner Simon Tracey has been instrumental in growing the set since its establishment in 2012. “Simon is a straight shooter. He provides concise, strategic and targeted responses. He is a great strategist and his support is invaluable.” Tracey works in tandem with Mark Heritage. “Mark is very responsive, detail oriented and great at getting into the weeds. His and Simon’s skill sets complement each other very well. They both take a smart and pragmatic approach.”
Blake Morgan LLP
Key players in the retail, leisure, higher education and public sectors are just some of those who turn to Blake Morgan for trademark support. Nokia, LeMieux Limited and Charles Tyrwhitt have all benefited from the practice’s prosecution and portfolio management services over the past 12 months. Another major highlight was bringing the Metropolitan Police on board. The United Kingdom’s largest police force appointed the group to the national legal framework service, meaning the firm will now advise it on a range of IP issues. Jill Bainbridge and Ben Evans are the main points of contact on this brief. Bainbridge heads the prosecution offering and regularly advises on reputation management and defamation issues. “Ben is consistently reliable, thorough and understanding of his clients’ businesses and needs. He can communicate complex ideas in a digestible manner and he provides timely, pragmatic and thoughtful counsel.”
Browne Jacobson LLP
“Browne Jacobson is truly excellent to work with. The team is extremely thorough, incredibly detail oriented, dedicated and pragmatic.” It has a strong regional presence, with offices in London, Birmingham, Exeter, Nottingham and Manchester. On an international scale, the firm recently opened up a shop in Dublin. Head of Intellectual Property and Commercial Declan Cushley will be dividing his time between London and the new Irish office. “When working with Declan, you always know you are in the safest of hands. He always gives clear, well-considered advice and good judgement, and is always willing and able to help. Declan is quite simply a fantastic commercial adviser.” Also commercially astute is Selina Hinchliffe, who plays a key role in negotiating several complex R&D agreements. “The firm’s culture is to be open, flexible and commercial, and this is borne out in the work and approach of Selina. She has excellent experience, works for a range of companies and brings a perspective which helps to shape a commercial deal quickly. Selina is very much an extension of her clients’ in-house teams.” Two more top performers at the practice are Giles Parsons and Bonita Trimmer. The pair were recently involved in a high-profile matter for the Match Group, owner of the Tinder brand, in a dispute against Muzmatch, where they were successful on all counts at trial in relation to the Match Group marks. “Giles develops a great understanding of his clients’ businesses and his approach is always very commercial. He is excellent at explaining complex legal pieces of advice in a way that is easy to understand and relevant to business objectives.” “Bonita is one of the best when it comes to knowing the law. She gets stuck in and produces excellent quality work.” Further strength in depth is supplied by Faye McConnell, Mark Daniels and Nick Smee. “Faye is extremely knowledgeable and provides well-considered and pragmatic advice on a range of contentious and non-contentious matters. She is very skilled, dedicated and has a commercial mindset, which is highly appreciated.” “Mark prepares very carefully for his cases, investigates all possible avenues and is extremely strategic. He is a fantastic litigator.” Making his debut in the WTR 1000 this year, Smee has recently been supporting Ocean Technologies Group in an opposition against Huawei.
Burges Salmon LLP
“The Burges Salmon team is highly responsive, business savvy and cost effective.” The group manages trademark portfolios for patrons in over 60 countries, many of which are household names. On the prosecution side, the BBC, Discovery, Starbucks, Tesla, Yeo Valley and Victoria’s Secret & Pink all turn to the firm for trademark services. On the contentious front, recent instructions have come from Virgin Enterprises and Santa Barbara Polo Club. Transactional highlights include briefs from Bristol City Council and John Lewis & Waitrose. Responsible for these matters are Jeremy Dickerson, Emily Roberts, Chloe Perea Poole, Helen Scott-Lawler and Richard Hugo. Dickerson takes the lead on the Santa Barbara Polo Club litigation as well as a host of portfolio work. “Jeremy is incredibly commercially focused and his advice is underpinned by a deep knowledge of the law. He is also very responsive and attentive to client needs.” Roberts’s practice is similarly diverse. She was involved in the dispute work for Virgin Enterprises and is a main contact for Starbucks for prosecution work. “Emily is a brilliant lawyer who delivers exceptional commercial advice and results. She is very responsive, communicates effectively and provides invaluable support to in-house counsel. Emily is also extremely personable and down to earth. Her grasp of the law is second to none.” WTR 1000 debutante Perea Poole earns plaudits for her work on Victoria’s Secret & Pink: “Chloe is practical, sensible and commercial. Working with her is collaborative, efficient and a true pleasure.” Scott-Lawler is the standout commercial IP lawyer. “Helen is excellent at managing clients’ expectations, is cost conscious and delivers fantastic results.” She collaborates closely with Hugo in advising John Lewis & Waitrose on its IP issues. Hugo is exceptionally pragmatic and has experience on a diverse range of negotiations and transactions.
Charles Russell Speechlys
“Charles Russell Speechlys is a go-to firm for trademark work in the UK and the EU.” The practice acts as a one-stop shop for companies looking for IP support but the group is particularly strong in prosecuting challenging shape and colour marks. A major win for the team came recently when the High Court found in favour of long-term patron Cadbury, allowing the registration of the ‘Cadbury purple’ mark. Leading the group to this landmark victory was IP department head Mary Bagnall. Along with Cadbury, Bagnall also represents the likes of Wagamama and the Australian Manuka Honey Association. “Mary is a dynamic and highly efficient practitioner.” Working closely with her on the Cadbury and Australian Manuka Honey Association briefs is Olivia Gray, who is at her best when handling the most complex of instructions. Gray is a meticulous operator whose attention to detail is exceptional. Also recommended are Charlotte Duly and Nick White. “Charlotte provides clear, practical and business-oriented advice. She fully understands the nuances of trademark law and works to find creative solutions to secure registrations. Charlotte is a personable, down to earth and knowledgeable adviser.” White advises a range of top companies on IP matters including FIFA, the International Tennis Federation and Honest Burgers. “Nick has expertise across many industries and provides effective advice in enforcement, prosecution and transactional matters.”
Clifford Chance
International magic circle law firm Clifford Chance has a longstanding reputation in the intellectual property space. Its full-service operation sees it ranked for its prosecution, litigation and transactional offerings. Much of this work involves high-value multi-jurisdictional deals in the technology, media and telecommunications, consumer goods and retail sectors. The industry specialists at the practice bring immense knowledge and experience to proceedings, which is much appreciated by the major brands that the group represents. One top expert on board is Vanessa Marsland, who has been at the outfit since 1987. In the past year, Marsland has been advising Clayton, Dubilier & Rice on the acquisition of Wolseley UK in a high-value divestiture transaction. Joining her are Stephen Reese, Don McCombie and Emilie Adams. Reese excels in the healthcare and life sciences industries and recently advised Pfizer on its acquisition of ReViral. McCombie is another transactional specialist who has just made the move from Ashurst, and Adams is a dual-qualified English and French trademark attorney, who stands out for her portfolio management work.
Deloitte LLP
Deloitte Legal is home to over 350 lawyers, consultants and technology experts, who are able to provide support to clients in over 80 countries. Its trademark offering expanded significantly in 2021 with the acquisition of Kemp Little, and since then the expansion has continued. Jade MacIntyre recently joined from Allen & Overy to head the trademark group, bringing a blend of in-house and private practice experience to the table. She works closely with Rachael Barber in managing the portfolios of Supreme, YO! Sushi and IKEA. Barber is an expert in the retail, fashion and luxury goods sectors. She teamed up with Paul Garland to develop copycat detection solution tool Dupe Killer. Garland heads the intellectual property and technology disputes team, and has been strategically advising patrons for over 20 years.
DLA Piper
Multinational giant DLA Piper has made IP one of the supporting beams of its worldwide corporate practice: it has 400 dedicated IP practitioners in offices across all corners of the globe and a significant number of them are based in the United Kingdom. Contentious firepower comes from the likes of Richard Taylor, John Wilks and Ruth Hoy. Based in both Birmingham and Sheffield, Taylor heads up the Midlands IP group and manages heavyweight litigation as deftly as he negotiates major IP transactions. Wilks showcases similar versatility and provides staunch representation in domestic and international trademark, passing-off and domain name cases. Hoy heads up the UK IP offering and places her focus on the media and sports industries. Blending contentious and transactional nous is Claire Sng, who is also a member of the firm’s advertising group. She brings valuable insight from her time working as an in-house brand protection lawyer for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Recently making the move from Bird & Bird, Patricia Collis is as capable of steering global brand strategy as she is fighting fiercely in opposition and cancellation proceedings.
Elkington + Fife LLP
Elkington + Fife LLP prides itself on providing high-quality, pragmatic advice at competitive rates, making it attractive to a mix of smaller start-ups and multinational brands, including Formula One, Comcast and Fulham Football Club. Taking charge of these briefs is the highly esteemed Chris McLeod. “Chris is an extremely experienced and knowledgeable attorney, who combines his technical knowledge with a keen sense of strategy and a determination to deliver on his clients’ goals. He is very easy to work with, clear in the advice he gives and turns around work quickly without sacrificing on the quality.” His right-hand man is Allister McManus, who features in the WTR 1000 for the first time this year. “Allister is a wonderful attorney and an expert on trademark law. He is diligent, cost effective and is excellent at undertaking work for sophisticated US clients.”
Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
International law firm Eversheds Sutherland has more than 70 offices spread across 35 countries, with the UK offices in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Cambridge playing a vital role in the group’s success. The branding group that sits within the team’s alternative legal services arm Konexo combines with the top-tier contentious practitioners to deliver a first-class service to patrons. Making the move from Ashurst is “impressive litigator” David Wilkinson. “David is a really strong advocate for his clients and he has an excellent track record of building strong teams.” Supporting Wilkinson on the litigation side of the practice is Birmingham-based Rupert Bent, who has been advising patrons in high-profile disputes for over 20 years. Heading the branding group is Kate Ellis, who supports the likes of The Very Group with portfolio management services. “Kate provides excellent advice and is a trusted adviser for her clients. She is extremely helpful, adaptable and always able to hit tight deadlines.”
Foot Anstey LLP
Offering bespoke, high-quality advice at an affordable rate, Foot Anstey is able to attract a number of household names despite its modest size. “The practitioners at Foot Anstey are cost effective, efficient, business savvy and very responsive. They have a deep knowledge of trademark issues and provide practical advice in a clear manner. They are able to think outside of the box and offer creative solutions in difficult scenarios.” Two recent highlights include a global rebrand project for Wise Payments and the development of an international expansion strategy for the Eden Project. Head of Intellectual Property Paul Cox takes the lead on these instructions and is ably supported by senior associate Charlene Nelson. “Paul can always be counted upon to give sound and practical advice, and his solutions are always cost effective.” Nelson is a commercially minded practitioner who excels in the financial services, retail and media sectors.
Fox Williams LLP
Fox Williams is best known for its work in the retail, fashion and technology sectors, but the versatile IP team are able to tackle mandates in a diverse range of industries. Since Brexit the group has become a firm favourite for clients in the United States and the European Union, who are seeking to protect their rights in the United Kingdom. “The team at Fox Williams adopt a practical yet strategic approach to trademark matters. They communicate clearly, cut through legal jargon and tackle issues head on.” Heading the department is the multi-talented Simon Bennett, who features on the prosecution, litigation and transactions tables. “Simon is extremely knowledgeable, responsive and a go-to for disputes.” He has been representing fashion brand BOY London in a number of contentious matters this year. Bennett has also been supporting Superdrug, Savers and The Perfume Shop in managing their IP rights, as has Sarah Redmond, who is very popular with her patrons. “Sarah is an exceptional trademark prosecutor, who knows her way around UK and EU law very well. She offers smart and practical advice and produces excellent results.” On the transactional side of the practice, Stephen Sidkin is the key name to note. Sidkin is an expert in executing cross-border licensing agreements and has a long list of fashion-based clients who turn to him for support.
Gowling WLG
With over 200 dedicated IP professionals across 19 offices worldwide, Gowling’s international reach is scarcely rivalled, making the firm a top choice for cross-border instructions. The team’s sector-focused approach is another selling point, with its practitioners bringing a deep level of industry expertise to each mandate. Aston Martin, Major League Baseball and Weetabix are just a few of the top companies that the team works with. Co-head of global intellectual property Kate Swaine is responsible for advising these patrons. “Kate is such an approachable and knowledgeable lawyer with a super international outlook. She is also a fabulous person within a very reputable team.” Another top performer is John Coldham, who recently advised Team England on the protection of the Bring It Home brand in preparation for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Coldham also advised major food and beverage brand Oatly on a range of enforcement measures. “John is a very experienced and knowledgeable litigator. He is a clear communicator, knows his clients’ businesses well and always adopts a commercial and strategic approach.” Also receiving praise is Alexandra Brodie, who founded the firm’s global technology sector group. “Alexandra is a fantastic lawyer. Clients know they can trust her and that she really cares about their brands.” Her colleague Dan Smith excels at the intersection of advertising and intellectual property. He has recently been supporting Hovis and Volkswagen. Also recommended are Gordon Harris and Huw Evans. Harris has over 35 years of experience in intellectual property and has worked on cases involving multinational brands, including Volvo, O2 and British Airways. Evans heads the patent litigation department but is also an expert on trademarks. The life sciences, healthcare and technology sectors are his main specialities.
Harbottle & Lewis LLP
Offering a comprehensive suite of trademark services to high-profile patrons in the media, entertainment and technology sectors, Harbottle & Lewis operates at the cutting edge of trademark law. Leading video game company Electronic Arts and music artists Queen and Stormzy are a few of the group’s top patrons. Shireen Peermohamed and Sharon Daboul feature on all of these briefs. “Shireen is a brilliant, personable and solutions-focused adviser. Her knowledge of the law is superb and she is practical in its application. Shireen’s advice is clear and comprehensive, she is willing to go the extra mile and she truly understands her clients’ commercial goals.” “Sharon is delightful to work with. You always know that you will receive her full attention and that you will be given fast, accurate and precise responses when needed.” Also highly rated is Andrew Terry, who excels when advising on branding and advertising disputes. He provides strategic commercial advice to luxury brand Princess Yachts. Further quality is provided by Kostyantyn Lobov, who represents The Pokémon Company International. He can handle matters on both sides of the contentious and non-contentious divide.
Hiddleston Ltd
Making its WTR 1000 debut this year following impressive growth and outstanding feedback is Hiddleston Trade Marks. “The team offers high levels of client care and expertise at fair rates. The firm has an excellent set of practitioners who fill you with confidence in both contentious and non-contentious matters.” At the start of 2021 the group established an office in Portugal to maintain its presence in the European Union, which supplements the team’s main trademark hub in Kent, where Mark Hiddleston and Debra Hiddleston are based. “Mark is very experienced, thorough, practical and responsive. He provides strong, pragmatic advice that is always delivered in a succinct but comprehensive way. Mark never cuts corners when assessing matters, but is also careful not to weigh down advice with unnecessary discussion or explanations. Overall, he provides an excellent service.” “Debra is lovely to work with, extremely responsive and a meticulous expert when it comes to portfolio management. She will always go the extra mile and her advice is practical, clear and concise.”
Howard Kennedy LLP
The growing team at Howard Kennedy advises on IP issues in an array of sectors, but particularly stands out for its work in the creative industries. A large part of the practice spans several jurisdictions, including the group’s recent anti-counterfeiting work for streetwear brand Supreme. Filings and oppositions for technology company ePlus and an infringement dispute for the British Gymnastics Association are also among the recent projects. Chairing the trademark side is Colin Sawdy. The dual-qualified UK solicitor and US attorney at law is a highly astute manager of international portfolios. “Colin is a reliable, practical, responsive and cost-effective lawyer with excellent experience in IP.” Leading the IP and commercial department is Robert Lands, who excels in the technology and retail sectors. Alex Watt provides further quality on the commercial side of the practice. His experience on secondment at the BBC, Universal Pictures and the Telegraph Media Group gives him an excellent understanding of what his patrons’ in-house teams need.
K&L Gates LLP
While headquartered in the United States, K&L Gates operates as one cohesive international unit. Its more than 60 trademark professionals in four continents filed more than 4,500 marks and managed over 50,000 active marks in 2021. The international scope of the team’s work is highlighted by its successful litigation for Nike against Puma, which took place in the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United States, South Korea, Japan and Australia. London- based Arthur Artinian was instrumental in this victory and is well known for his skill set in the fashion field. “Arthur is unrivalled in his aptitude representing clients in the fashion and design industries. He combines expert technical skills with a thorough understanding of how the industries work. The quality of his advice is second to none.” Artinian is equally talented when it comes to prosecution work and has recently been advising BMI Group and TripAdvisor.
K&L Gates LLP
While headquartered in the United States, K&L Gates operates as one cohesive international unit. Its more than 60 trademark professionals in four continents filed more than 4,500 marks and managed over 50,000 active marks in 2021. The international scope of the team’s work is highlighted by its successful litigation for Nike against Puma, which took place in the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United States, South Korea, Japan and Australia. London- based Arthur Artinian was instrumental in this victory and is well known for his skill set in the fashion field. “Arthur is unrivalled in his aptitude representing clients in the fashion and design industries. He combines expert technical skills with a thorough understanding of how the industries work. The quality of his advice is second to none.” Artinian is equally talented when it comes to prosecution work and has recently been advising BMI Group and TripAdvisor.
Lane IP
While modest in size, Lane IP punches far beyond its weight. Its solutions-driven, commercially focused approach resonates with a litany of A-listers, each of which enjoys a personalised, bespoke service. The group’s innovative Fastlane platform gives clients instant visibility on their portfolios; combined with the expertise and skill of its team, this makes for a premium offering. Giving the firm its name is Steve Lane, who co-manages the practice with Natalie Clare. New-Zealand-born Lane is a qualified solicitor and barrister in his home country and has spent 16 years as a UK trademark attorney, giving him a cosmopolitan outlook. The equally versatile Clare – who competitors call “superlatively smart” – has spent time both in private practice and in-house at a number of sporting companies. Recently making the move from Lewis Silkin is Steven Jennings who has had a long and colourful career to date. He has spent time not only in private practice, but also in senior in-house roles at Cadbury and Gillette, and as an examiner at the UKIPO. “Steven is a trademark encyclopaedia. His knowledge of the law is second to none.” Also new to the practice is Mark Hickey, who joined from Murgitroyd in 2021. Hickey brings nearly 40 years of experience to the group.
Murgitroyd
For clients looking for a specialised IP service, Murgitroyd has over 135 attorneys worldwide, covering ground in three continents and providing a 24-hour office network. The firm recently acquired UDL Intellectual Property, Scottish boutique Creation IP and Dublin-based Hanna Moore + Curley, adding to its already impressive footprint. The UK group now manages over 32,000 trademarks, making it one of the largest in the country. Based in Leeds are Gareth Price, Sharon Kirby and Alan Fiddes. Price excels in all areas of trademarks and this is highlighted by his work for JD Sports, which encompasses prosecution, enforcement and licensing issues. Kirby is an expert on brand enforcement and recently launched a successful opposition for Burgess Pet Care. Fiddes is one of the most prolific attorneys when it comes to in-person litigation appearances. Working from London are consultant Mark Green and WTR 1000 newcomer Steve Waine. Green gained in-house experience while at Unilever and has also amassed over 30 years in private practice. Waine impresses for his trademark, copyright and domain name work, which includes representing fashion brand GUESS.
Norton Rose Fulbright
One of the largest IP teams in the world, Norton Rose Fulbright’s offering is spread across five continents, with its most recent expansion coming in China. Its international strength and depth attract patrons such as Nike and BNP Paribas along with a host of other companies in the consumer goods, food and beverage, and luxury goods sectors. Head of Intellectual Property for the Europe Middle East and Asia region is transactional specialist Mike Knapper. “Mike provides pragmatic, business-focused advice. He is professional, reliable, responsive and extremely knowledgeable.” Leading the prosecution effort is Abida Chaudri, who has a combination of private practice and in-house experience, having been seconded to GlaxoSmithKline and Diageo. She has recently been providing portfolio management services to BNP Paribas.
Page White & Farrer
Based in London, Leeds and Munich, Page White & Farrer marries abundant experience in trademark law with a fine-grained understanding of sectoral dynamics – including those of the healthcare, insurance, motoring, electronics, retail and fashion industries. Despite the trials of the last two years, the firm has managed to increase its headcount and, in response to Brexit, has taken on a slew of new UK instructions, with the Munich team standing by to handle issues in Europe. The “pragmatic, responsive and efficient” James Cornish has tackled more than 2,500 oppositions proceedings and got marks on the register in 170-plus countries throughout his illustrious career. At his side is Taryn Byrne, who was admitted to the High Court of South Africa before becoming a UK trademark attorney. She has been protecting, enforcing and exploiting trademarks for more than a decade, and has valuable insight from stints in-house at international pharmaceutical and beverage companies.
PBIP
Palmer Biggs IP makes its debut appearance in the WTR 1000 this year, building on the existing ranking of namesake Steve Palmer. “The impressive team at Palmer Biggs IP provide a highly accomplished service at extremely reasonable rates. Their skill and experience are equivalent to what can be found in the large city law firms, and whether they are acting in contentious or non-contentious matters, their approach is always commercial, pragmatic, thorough and conscientious.” The stellar service on offer has proved to be popular with top brands such as BMW, Hugo Boss and Liverpool FC, all of which turn to Palmer for trademark support. “Steve is highly experienced and skilled, has great connections with customs authorities in the UK and is very familiar with handling cross-border matters. He is easy to deal with, responsive, client focused and understands the needs of demanding international companies.”
Potter Clarkson
Bringing together a team of IP attorneys, litigators and solicitors, “Potter Clarkson is a leading IP firm in the UK with fantastic connections to the US”. Since Brexit the group has strengthened its connection with its EU counterparts, while continuing to develop its Swedish and Danish offices. Another selling point is the practitioners’ technical expertise and industry experience, which is exemplified by practice chair Sanjay Kapur, who has been a partner since 1998. “Sanjay is an excellent, user-friendly and experienced lawyer. He has great commercial judgement and a robust understanding of his clients’ businesses.” Also recommended are Sarah Talland, Emmy Hunt, and Chris Baume. Talland leads the fast-moving consumer goods group and is an expert in the food and drink, cosmetics and magazine publishing sectors. One recent highlight is prosecution and opposition work for the Economist newspaper in the European Union and Bulgaria. Hunt and Baume both adopt a commercial and strategic approach to their portfolio management and brand protection projects. Joining them this year is Mark Kramer who made the move from Shoosmiths in 2021. He now leads the litigation and licensing team from the London office.
RPC
In the words of one satisfied customer, RPC’s trademark practice is “astonishingly great” – the group has appeared in some seismic litigation and provided strategic advice to countless major brand owners in the last few years. David Cran, Jeremy Drew and Ben Mark are regularly involved. Cran is as capable in the courtroom as he is at the negotiating table, where he has a flair for the fine print of IP-related deals. His projects often have a cross-border element, thanks to his vast knowledge of European, US and Asian legislation. Drew – who heads up the trademark group – also works on both the contentious and non-contentious sides and is completely at home on multi-jurisdictional matters; he enjoys an elevated profile thanks to his lecturing and writing credits. Mark receives warm praise for his mixed advisory and disputes work: “Ben is a trademark shark with extensive knowledge of UK and EU IP law and practice. He provides clear, hands-on advice with a business focus.” Food and drink and retail are his happy hunting grounds. Heading the food and drink sector group is Ciara Cullen, who is “reactive, client-centric and always dissociates the theoretical risk and the commercial risk to help find a solution in line with business goals”. Dual qualified in England and Wales and Ireland, she regularly acts on a cross-border basis across the continent and beyond. Anchoring the brand management side is Oliver Bray, who brings two decades of experience across IP, advertising and entertainment law to the mix. He captains the commercial contracts team and has a fine-tuned understanding of advances in the digital world.
Sipara Ltd
Oxford-based boutique Sipara’s flexible and commercial approach is much appreciated by its patrons. “The practitioners do a great job of identifying risks and helping clients to get smooth and cost-efficient registrations across the world. The team is also excellent in negotiations or litigations when conflicts arise, but whatever the basis of the matter, their commerciality, extensive knowledge and personal approach always stand out.” Heading the group are Rebecca Kaye and Robert Furneaux. The pair are dual-qualified trademark attorneys and solicitors who have worked together for 20 years. Kaye is prominent in the retail sector and has recently taken over the portfolio for brands including Watches of Switzerland and Goldsmiths. “Robert tells it straight, in practical terms and doesn’t hedge his advice with theoretical caveats. He gives honest opinions that balance the legal with the commercial, offering valuable solutions rather than just noting problems.” Joining them from Swindell & Pearson is Katy Fuggle, who is highly astute in providing strategic advice on filing and transactional deals.
Squire Patton Boggs
With 45 offices in 20 countries, international outfit Squire Patton Boggs provides top-tier trademark assistance to patrons in the luxury goods, fashion, technology and many other industries. “The team is highly responsive, very commercial and provides excellent, tailored advice. They are a pleasure to work with and they really understand the dynamic and the priorities of their clients’ businesses.” Operating out of the London and Manchester outposts, Kerry Lee leads the UK practice. Lee was formerly the in-house counsel for Walgreens Boots Alliance, where he managed more than 2,000 marks. “Kerry is a dynamic and pragmatic expert whose in-depth IP knowledge is unparalleled. He adopts a commercial approach to brand protection and has the ability to calmly guide clients through the process step by step.” Supporting Lee is WTR 1000 debutant Carlton Daniel. His practice encompasses the full spectrum of IP advice in the advertising, marketing and media sectors.
Stevens & Bolton LLP
Stevens & Bolton continues to go from strength to strength, attracting the likes of Samsung, Nintendo and Brighton & Hove Albion FC. Contentious and transactional matters have always been key, but in 2021 the set established its filing practice, which has grown significantly under the leadership of Elaine O’Hare. She co-chairs the fashion and luxury group and has recently represented jewellery designer Olivia Brown in revocation actions. “Elaine has excellent expertise and her advice is always superb. She is clear, concise, practical and accurate.” Taking the lead on many enforcement briefs is IP head Tom Lingard, who is a key contact for Samsung and Brighton & Hove Albion. “Tom offers excellent commercial advice. He is pragmatic, clear, trustworthy and a really safe pair of hands.” Anchoring the transactional offering are Charlotte Tillett and Nicola Broadhurst. Licensing deals and collaboration agreements are Tillett’s forte while Broadhurst supports patrons in expanding their businesses, recently executing a joint venture arrangement for Icon Burgers Group.
Swindell & Pearson
Having been on the scene since 1878, Swindell & Pearson has a venerable history in the UK trademark market – and one that it more than lives up to. Rather than taking a traditionally lawyerly approach, however, its entrepreneurially minded practitioners consider both the legal and business sides of any matter to offer bespoke solutions to every client. Captaining the trademark practice is Nicholas Womsley, who has spent 30 years teasing out the knots of cross-border IP matters, and is a master of bending the law to his will. Also on his team is Kieron Taylor. Authorised High Court litigator Taylor has been managing worldwide portfolios and bringing the heat in disputes for two decades.
Taylor Vinters LLP
Making its debut appearance in the WTR 1000 this year is Taylor Vinters, following exceptional growth over the past 12 months. From its bases in Oxford and Cambridge, the team are able to offer a comprehensive suite of trademark services, with a particular specialism in the technology sector. Chairing the brand protection department is Louisa Dixon, a familiar name within the guide. Her client roster includes the likes of Bridgestone, Jessica Ennis and the estate of Professor Stephen Hawking. Joining Dixon this year is Gareth Dickson, who is also qualified to practise in New York. International online dispute resolution and opinion work are his main strengths.
Wedlake Bell
International brand protection, litigation and licensing are just a few of the IP services on offer at Wedlake Bell, which makes its maiden appearance in the guide this year. The versatile and flexible team are engaged by household brands on a regular basis, including Tesco, which turns to head of intellectual property and commercial Michael Gardner. In addition to his work for Tesco, Gardner has also been involved in a domain name dispute for Which? and an infringement matter for Lacoste. Chairing the trademark department is Charlotte Wilding, who often undertakes UK and EU clearance searches on behalf of US law firms.
Wiggin LLP
“Wiggin is a market leader when it comes to trademarks. The team provide invaluable advice, a timely service and ensure that their clients’ businesses are well protected.” The group covers the full spectrum of IP rights, managing over 14,000 active marks, devising online enforcement programmes and licensing intellectual property to maximise commercial value. On the prosecution side, the team represents brands such as Bet365, Palace and Honeywell. On the contentious front, Warner Bros, Microsoft and Gucci are some of the top names that call upon the group, which is headed by Sara Ashby. A highly reputed figure on the scene, Ashby excels in handling trademark, design and general commercial briefs. “Sara represents a diverse range of clients, offers a wealth of experience and is tenacious and strategic in her approach.” Next up are John Colbourn and “rising star” Joanne Gibbs. The pair work closely together on numerous instructions and receive great acclaim from patrons. “John and Joanne are strategic thinkers, extremely responsive, very practical and are excellent at handling highly complicated matters. They are really brilliant lawyers, excellent technicians and they always look at the bigger picture.” Also receiving praise is Rachel Alexander, who is at her best when acting in high-profile litigation bouts. “Rachel is superb in disputes, particularly in relation to technology-related trademark law.” Also recommended are Michael Browne and Calum Smyth. Betting companies LeoVegas and Bet365 are just two top names on Browne’s extensive roster, while Smyth is an expert in managing disputes for software and technology brands.
Withers & Rogers LLP
Though best known for its patent prowess, Withers & Rogers has a burnished reputation on the trademark side too, thanks largely to the work of “fantastic attorney” Tania Clark. Its multilingual team, along with a base in Munich, has allowed it to continue offering a truly pan-European service even after Brexit. Dual-qualified trademark attorney and barrister Clark has a bird’s-eye view of the IP world, having spent time working in the trademark departments of law firms as well as in-house at a subsidiary of Total. Her sparkling communication skills and adroit management of worldwide filing programmes make her a prime pick for ambitious brand owners.
Wynne Jones Laine & James
Operating from four offices in Cheltenham, London, Cardiff and Telford, Wynne Jones is a forward-thinking trademark prosecution shop which provides straightforward, value-added advice on everything from filings and portfolio management to oppositions, customs actions and domain name disputes. Its diverse clientele includes the likes of Ecclesiastical Insurance Office, which it has guided through a rebrand; and Bunzl Retail & Healthcare Supplies Ltd, whose filing and appeal needs it has been tending to. Leading the practice is Victor Caddy, who has been registering trademarks and devising IP strategies for the past 30 years, forging many a longstanding client relationship in the process. Also deserving of note is future star Jason Aghatise, who is reportedly “excellent at clearly and succinctly explaining problems, outlining possible solutions and making recommendations”.
Allen & Overy LLP
One of the most prestigious and elite law firms in the world, Allen & Overy has more than 40 dedicated IP lawyers in the United Kingdom, collectively covering all aspects of filing, disputes and commercialisation. The group is distinguished among other magic circle law firms as one of the few with an established filing practice. This team is housed in Belfast and is led by Karla Hughes, who has a wealth of experience before the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Court of Justice in Luxembourg. The Northern Irish contingent work closely with the London office on numerous matters. Hughes regularly joins forces with Global Head of Intellectual Property David Stone in representing NBC Universal and The Coca-Cola Company. “David has an excellent command of procedure, strategy and the law. His analysis is consistently thorough and action-driven, his communications are fully informative and his style is unfailingly professional, while still pleasant and witty. When litigation is required, his ability to craft persuasive and prevailing arguments is second to none.” Stone also supplies IP support to the likes of Samsung and Virgin Media, along with Neville Cordell and WTR 1000 debutant Adrian Dykes. “Neville is an experienced and highly respected litigator”, while “Adrian is incredibly knowledgeable on litigation and portfolio management. He works incredibly hard and is a great practitioner.” The transactional IP side is led by Jim Ford and Nigel Parker, who are both working on some of the richest IP-laden deals out there. “Jim is calm, confident and detail-oriented, which allows him to secure the best possible position on every facet of a deal. His experience is a great asset and he is always a pleasure to work with.” “Nigel is calm, reassuring, easy to work with and plays a critical role in many transactional affairs.”
Baker McKenzie
Some of the world’s largest brands turn to international powerhouse Baker McKenzie for the full spectrum of IP services. The impressive team in London, supported by offices in Manila, Belfast, Tampa and Buenos Aires, is responsible for over 600,000 marks worldwide. The UK office is well connected to all corners of the globe through the firm’s many overseas bases and foreign associates, which attracts high-profile patrons such as L’Oreal, who rely on Hiroshi Sheraton, Julia Dickenson and Rachel Wilkinson-Duffy to protect and manage their intellectual property. Sheraton excels in cross-border litigation cases, Dickenson is at her best when serving patrons in the fashion and luxury goods industries, and prosecution expert Wilkinson-Duffy is highly astute in the life sciences arena. “Rachel is very professional, dedicated and absolutely terrific to work with. She makes herself available, provides excellent advice, has a first-rate knowledge of trademark law and always goes the extra mile.” Also receiving high praise are Jessica Le Gros and WTR 1000 debutante Nadine Archer. “Jessica has a clear understanding of her clients’ needs and the level of support they require. She offers practical solutions and is a seasoned sparring partner and sounding board for all trademark-related matters.” “Nadine is a highly experienced attorney with a superb multi-jurisdictional professional network. She has strong business acumen and is an excellent contact for all clearing and prosecution-related matters.” Working on both sides of the contentious and non-contentious divide is Michael Hart. He has previously won cases before the UK High Court and the UK Supreme Court. Well versed on the commercial side of intellectual property are Ben Allgrove and Michelle Blunt. “Ben is highly knowledgeable in IP. He is an excellent communicator, responsive and a complete professional.” Blunt is at the core of the group’s commercial offering and stands out for her first-rate work in licensing and M&A transactions.
Bird & Bird LLP
With over 450 dedicated IP lawyers and support staff globally, Bird & Bird has one of the largest IP practices in the world. The newly opened Dublin office brings another European hub for patrons and reflects the firm’s continued growth aspirations. Other recent developments include a new digital rights and assets department to meet the demand for advice relating to AI and big data, and the introduction of innovative legal tech tool Fibonacci. The project management platform is a key asset for clients, who turn to the team for prosecution, litigation and transactional support. On the non-contentious front, the group has acted in over 900 trademark registry proceedings in the past year alone. Some key patrons on the prosecution side include Hello Fresh, Kingfisher and Monica Vinader. Head of trademark prosecution in London Mark Holah features on all of these instructions. “Mark is responsive, easy to work with and a fantastic communicator.” Another exceptional portfolio manager is Allan Poulter. “Allan is an extraordinarily perceptive and brilliant strategic counsellor, who provides nuanced and practical advice to large and emerging brands alike.” Also recommended is Christine Danos, whose work highlights include advising Fiorucci, Rogue Fitness and SC Johnson. On the contentious side of the practice, Peter Brownlow takes the reins: “Peter represents some great brands and does some top work. He is very efficient, experienced and knowledgeable.” Brownlow has been acting for Monster Energy Company in disputes against Red Bull and Acer, as well as in a landmark case for Prosecco. He teamed up with Poulter to obtain an injunction on the basis of a protected designation of origin, which is a rarity in the United Kingdom. The litigation department also had a major passing off case for Lidl. Ewan Grist took charge of this one and guided them to a successful outcome against Philip Warren & Son. “Ewan is knowledgeable, excellent at fighting his clients’ corner and is a pleasure to have on the other side.” Making their maiden appearances in the guide this year are Rebecca O'Kelly-Gillard and Tom Snaith. O’Kelly-Gillard’s strength lies in enforcement, particularly in areas with a digital or online focus. She co-heads the international copyright group. Snaith is a transactional expert with robust M&A and commercialisation experience. He is international co-head of the transactional IP department.
Bristows LLP
An expert team of solicitors and attorneys at Bristows join forces to offer the full suite of trademark services to some of the world’s most renowned brands. Over 15,000 applications and registrations are under the control of the IP department, which includes Ian Gruselle, Paul Jordan and Nellie Jackson. Gruselle heads the portfolio group and is part of the team that manages the global portfolio for the Financial Times. “Ian is highly experienced and supplies an effective and responsive service for prosecution and transactional briefs.” Jordan provides brand protection services to the Guardian, which range from clearance searches to enforcement. Dual qualified in England and Wales and New Zealand, Jackson features in the guide this year after returning to Bristows in 2021. “Nellie is a superstar. She is pragmatic, solutions focused and gives clear and concise advice in a timely fashion. Nellie has an impressive knowledge of the law in both the UK and EU.” Handling a mix of contentious and non-contentious matters is head of brands, design and copyright Simon Clark. “Simon is a seasoned all-round trademark specialist. He provides business-driven solutions and is a true strategist who excels in an international context. He is to the point, calm and an excellent negotiator. When needed, he also acts as a top-notch litigator.” Specialising in litigation is Jeremy Blum, who represents huge companies such as Diageo, Cadbury and Novartis. “Jeremy is very commercial, calm and highly skilled. He is a pleasure to work with, an excellent communicator and has a great understanding of his clients’ needs.” In addition to its elite prosecution and litigation offerings, the firm also boasts one of the largest freestanding transactional IP practices, which is home to the pragmatic and technical Claire Smith. Complex commercial deals are Smith’s forte, advising companies on how best to maximise and exploit their intellectual property. Operating as a consultant, Paul Walsh is a highly acclaimed figure on the scene, who has been involved in many landmark cases throughout his career.
Browne Jacobson LLP
“Browne Jacobson is truly excellent to work with. The team is extremely thorough, incredibly detail oriented, dedicated and pragmatic.” It has a strong regional presence, with offices in London, Birmingham, Exeter, Nottingham and Manchester. On an international scale, the firm recently opened up a shop in Dublin. Head of Intellectual Property and Commercial Declan Cushley will be dividing his time between London and the new Irish office. “When working with Declan, you always know you are in the safest of hands. He always gives clear, well-considered advice and good judgement, and is always willing and able to help. Declan is quite simply a fantastic commercial adviser.” Also commercially astute is Selina Hinchliffe, who plays a key role in negotiating several complex R&D agreements. “The firm’s culture is to be open, flexible and commercial, and this is borne out in the work and approach of Selina. She has excellent experience, works for a range of companies and brings a perspective which helps to shape a commercial deal quickly. Selina is very much an extension of her clients’ in-house teams.” Two more top performers at the practice are Giles Parsons and Bonita Trimmer. The pair were recently involved in a high-profile matter for the Match Group, owner of the Tinder brand, in a dispute against Muzmatch, where they were successful on all counts at trial in relation to the Match Group marks. “Giles develops a great understanding of his clients’ businesses and his approach is always very commercial. He is excellent at explaining complex legal pieces of advice in a way that is easy to understand and relevant to business objectives.” “Bonita is one of the best when it comes to knowing the law. She gets stuck in and produces excellent quality work.” Further strength in depth is supplied by Faye McConnell, Mark Daniels and Nick Smee. “Faye is extremely knowledgeable and provides well-considered and pragmatic advice on a range of contentious and non-contentious matters. She is very skilled, dedicated and has a commercial mindset, which is highly appreciated.” “Mark prepares very carefully for his cases, investigates all possible avenues and is extremely strategic. He is a fantastic litigator.” Making his debut in the WTR 1000 this year, Smee has recently been supporting Ocean Technologies Group in an opposition against Huawei.
Burges Salmon L
“The Burges Salmon team is highly responsive, business savvy and cost effective.” The group manages trademark portfolios for patrons in over 60 countries, many of which are household names. On the prosecution side, the BBC, Discovery, Starbucks, Tesla, Yeo Valley and Victoria’s Secret & Pink all turn to the firm for trademark services. On the contentious front, recent instructions have come from Virgin Enterprises and Santa Barbara Polo Club. Transactional highlights include briefs from Bristol City Council and John Lewis & Waitrose. Responsible for these matters are Jeremy Dickerson, Emily Roberts, Chloe Perea Poole, Helen Scott-Lawler and Richard Hugo. Dickerson takes the lead on the Santa Barbara Polo Club litigation as well as a host of portfolio work. “Jeremy is incredibly commercially focused and his advice is underpinned by a deep knowledge of the law. He is also very responsive and attentive to client needs.” Roberts’s practice is similarly diverse. She was involved in the dispute work for Virgin Enterprises and is a main contact for Starbucks for prosecution work. “Emily is a brilliant lawyer who delivers exceptional commercial advice and results. She is very responsive, communicates effectively and provides invaluable support to in-house counsel. Emily is also extremely personable and down to earth. Her grasp of the law is second to none.” WTR 1000 debutante Perea Poole earns plaudits for her work on Victoria’s Secret & Pink: “Chloe is practical, sensible and commercial. Working with her is collaborative, efficient and a true pleasure.” Scott-Lawler is the standout commercial IP lawyer. “Helen is excellent at managing clients’ expectations, is cost conscious and delivers fantastic results.” She collaborates closely with Hugo in advising John Lewis & Waitrose on its IP issues. Hugo is exceptionally pragmatic and has experience on a diverse range of negotiations and transactions.
Carpmaels & Ransford LLP
The combination of its specialised litigation and prosecution teams has proven to be highly successful for Carpmaels & Ransford, as the practice continues to thrive. Patrons receive expert guidance through all stages of the trademark lifecycle, from clearance searches to disputes, and transactional support from a selection of elite-level practitioners. Heading the trademark side is Roger Lush, who advises Bear Grylls Ventures on filing, portfolio management and licensing. Lush also counsels Align Technology on a host of IP-related matters. His colleague Jonathan Day has a stellar client roster, including one of the world’s largest entertainment companies. Another patron of his is luxury brand Byredo, which he has recently been representing in a dispute against Cartier. Working closely with him on this case is WTR 1000 debutante Lara Elder, who is adored by her patrons. Working on both sides of the contentious and non-contentious divide, Elder is involved in many of the firm’s top cases, including matters for Align Technology and Deere & Company. Focusing exclusively on soft IP litigation is Ian Kirby, who has over 25 years of experience in handling complex cross-border disputes. On the transactional side, Jake Marshall is the key name. Licensing, settlement agreements and commercialisation deals are some of his specialisms.
Charles Russell Speechlys
“Charles Russell Speechlys is a go-to firm for trademark work in the UK and the EU.” The practice acts as a one-stop shop for companies looking for IP support but the group is particularly strong in prosecuting challenging shape and colour marks. A major win for the team came recently when the High Court found in favour of long-term patron Cadbury, allowing the registration of the ‘Cadbury purple’ mark. Leading the group to this landmark victory was IP department head Mary Bagnall. Along with Cadbury, Bagnall also represents the likes of Wagamama and the Australian Manuka Honey Association. “Mary is a dynamic and highly efficient practitioner.” Working closely with her on the Cadbury and Australian Manuka Honey Association briefs is Olivia Gray, who is at her best when handling the most complex of instructions. Gray is a meticulous operator whose attention to detail is exceptional. Also recommended are Charlotte Duly and Nick White. “Charlotte provides clear, practical and business-oriented advice. She fully understands the nuances of trademark law and works to find creative solutions to secure registrations. Charlotte is a personable, down to earth and knowledgeable adviser.” White advises a range of top companies on IP matters including FIFA, the International Tennis Federation and Honest Burgers. “Nick has expertise across many industries and provides effective advice in enforcement, prosecution and transactional matters.”
Clifford Chance
International magic circle law firm Clifford Chance has a longstanding reputation in the intellectual property space. Its full-service operation sees it ranked for its prosecution, litigation and transactional offerings. Much of this work involves high-value multi-jurisdictional deals in the technology, media and telecommunications, consumer goods and retail sectors. The industry specialists at the practice bring immense knowledge and experience to proceedings, which is much appreciated by the major brands that the group represents. One top expert on board is Vanessa Marsland, who has been at the outfit since 1987. In the past year, Marsland has been advising Clayton, Dubilier & Rice on the acquisition of Wolseley UK in a high-value divestiture transaction. Joining her are Stephen Reese, Don McCombie and Emilie Adams. Reese excels in the healthcare and life sciences industries and recently advised Pfizer on its acquisition of ReViral. McCombie is another transactional specialist who has just made the move from Ashurst, and Adams is a dual-qualified English and French trademark attorney, who stands out for her portfolio management work.
CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
As one of the largest IP teams in the United Kingdom, CMS is home to an elite selection of practitioners who are well equipped to obtain, protect and monetise intellectual property for its stellar client base. On the prosecution front, recent highlights include brand protection and strategy work for Deliveroo and portfolio management for ITV. On the contentious side of the practice, litigation for Sky has been keeping the group busy with three sets of proceedings, all resulting in favourable outcomes for Sky. Among recent transactional mandates are a joint venture agreement between Equinor and BP and a licensing deal for security company Banham. Head of Intellectual Property Sarah Wright has been at the forefront of many of these briefs. “Sarah is a leading practitioner and a formidable opponent. She is knowledgeable, savvy and responsible.” Another top performer is Tom Scourfield, who is the global Co-Head of the Intellectual Property Group. “Tom is a superb all-rounder who provides excellent advice and produces fantastic results. He is efficient, knowledgeable and responsive.” Scourfield pairs with Kelly Saliger in advising Nestlé on how to secure protection for the shape of its four-finger Kit Kat at both UK and EU level. “Kelly is very experienced in handling the most complex of cases. She is a top strategist, a great communicator and her legal knowledge is faultless. Kelly’s advice is clear and comprehensive, yet succinct and accessible. She is also extremely personable and an absolute pleasure to work with.” Also receiving high praise from patrons are Joel Vertes, David Parrish, Louise Gellman and Eleanor Merrett. “Joel adopts a reasoned, commercial and well-thought-out approach. His responsiveness is stellar and the team around him are great. Joel is also well connected with lawyers in other disciplines and jurisdictions.” “David thinks outside the box and has a friendly, relaxed and professional manner. He is always proactive and provides clear and concise advice.” “Louise is an extension of her clients’ in-house teams. She is highly responsive, detail-oriented, strategic and a strong advocate.” “Eleanor is highly commercial, responsive, knowledgeable about the brands she works with and provides practical, solutions-oriented advice. She is a breath of fresh air.” After joining from Locke Lord in 2021, Ben Hitchens and Paolo Andreottola both continue to achieve excellent results. Hitchens focuses on digital and online industries, and in the past 12 months has been advising clients on the metaverse, AI and NFTs. “Paolo is a highly talented adviser who is able to translate complex aspects of trademark law into simple language for clients.” Entering the WTR 1000 for the first time this year is Anna Brackenbury. “Anna is excellent at managing international portfolios. She is very approachable and has a fantastic knowledge of trademarks.” Recently making the move from Herbert Smith Freehills is Mark Shillito, who has a wealth of experience advising high-profile companies, including Apple, ITV and Sky.
Fieldfisher
Between its 25 offices in 11 countries across Europe, the United States and Asia, Fieldfisher manages a portfolio of over 57,000 trademarks, designs and patents. In 2021 alone, the firm filed over 1,200 new applications and, at present, they are managing over 1,200 disputes. In addition to the group’s filing and contentious work, the team is also particularly strong in monetising intellectual property for its clientele, making it an effective one-stop shop for patrons across the globe. Jointly co-heading the intellectual property department are Leighton Cassidy and John Linneker. Cassidy is qualified to practise in New Zealand, Ireland, England and Wales, making him an attractive choice for international companies including Samsung and Forbes. “Leighton is always accurate, efficient, professional and his advice balances both the legal and the practical. He also takes the time to develop a robust understanding of his clients’ businesses and goals.” Linneker continues to act for SkyKick in the landmark bad faith dispute with Sky. “John is an excellent lawyer, highly responsive and has a thorough understanding of his field. He is extremely pleasant to work with.” Some key members of the prosecution arm include Hastings Guise, Harriet Seymour and Christopher Benson. Guise has recently been supporting Boparan Private Office, owner of numerous restaurant brands as well as the trustees of Borough Market. Seymour has been providing portfolio management and litigation services to Sazerac, which owns the likes of Southern Company and Fireball. “Harriet is an utterly dependable, highly responsive, business-oriented and practical lawyer. She has a deep knowledge of trademark law, her level of effort is outstanding and she and her team are an amazing group of people. Harriet will not let you down.” Benson’s success has continued since joining from Taylor Wessing in 2021. He has played a key part in the group’s work for Forbes. Also recommended are Nick Rose and James Seadon. The pair have recently been enforcing Dell’s IP rights, including the comparable UK marks that were created post-Brexit. “James is a knowledgeable, practical counsellor who consistently provides an excellent service. He has an incredible work ethic, is extremely thorough and a real pleasure to work with.” For transactional briefs, Gordon Drakes and David Bond are the names to note. Drakes builds excellent relationships with his patrons, many of which are in the food and beverage industry. “David is a really tough litigator. He is very protective of his clients’ interests, but is also willing to compromise when a deal needs to be done.” Making her debut in the guide this year is Amy Reynolds. Her recent highlights include prosecution and strategy work for luxury shoemaker Edward Green and international manufacturer Sullair.
Fox Williams LLP
Fox Williams is best known for its work in the retail, fashion and technology sectors, but the versatile IP team are able to tackle mandates in a diverse range of industries. Since Brexit the group has become a firm favourite for clients in the United States and the European Union, who are seeking to protect their rights in the United Kingdom. “The team at Fox Williams adopt a practical yet strategic approach to trademark matters. They communicate clearly, cut through legal jargon and tackle issues head on.” Heading the department is the multi-talented Simon Bennett, who features on the prosecution, litigation and transactions tables. “Simon is extremely knowledgeable, responsive and a go-to for disputes.” He has been representing fashion brand BOY London in a number of contentious matters this year. Bennett has also been supporting Superdrug, Savers and The Perfume Shop in managing their IP rights, as has Sarah Redmond, who is very popular with her patrons. “Sarah is an exceptional trademark prosecutor, who knows her way around UK and EU law very well. She offers smart and practical advice and produces excellent results.” On the transactional side of the practice, Stephen Sidkin is the key name to note. Sidkin is an expert in executing cross-border licensing agreements and has a long list of fashion-based clients who turn to him for support.
Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
Herbert Smith Freehills has built an enviable international reputation on the IP scene. Its 25 offices are stationed across four continents, with key trademark hubs in England, France, Italy and Australia. The hallmark of its services in the UK is the group’s commercial acumen, which gives it the edge in transactional affairs. The sale of General Mills’ European Dough Business and Stagecoach Group’s merger with National Express Group have kept the team busy this year. Deserving of praise are Andrew Moir and Jonathan Turnbull, who are responsible for these successes.
Howard Kennedy LLP
The growing team at Howard Kennedy advises on IP issues in an array of sectors, but particularly stands out for its work in the creative industries. A large part of the practice spans several jurisdictions, including the group’s recent anti-counterfeiting work for streetwear brand Supreme. Filings and oppositions for technology company ePlus and an infringement dispute for the British Gymnastics Association are also among the recent projects. Chairing the trademark side is Colin Sawdy. The dual-qualified UK solicitor and US attorney at law is a highly astute manager of international portfolios. “Colin is a reliable, practical, responsive and cost-effective lawyer with excellent experience in IP.” Leading the IP and commercial department is Robert Lands, who excels in the technology and retail sectors. Alex Watt provides further quality on the commercial side of the practice. His experience on secondment at the BBC, Universal Pictures and the Telegraph Media Group gives him an excellent understanding of what his patrons’ in-house teams need.
Jones Day
Jones Day has almost 220 IP lawyers and patent agents working across Europe, the United States and Asia. The globally minded group collaborates closely to handle many international portfolios and complex cross-border disputes. The team in London plays a key role in several of these instructions, with Rebecca Swindells being the name to note. Her focus is on the technology, media and telecommunications, retail and financial services sectors, where she advises clients at all stages of the trademark lifecycle, from registration to licensing.
Keystone Law
The innovative and dynamic approach at Keystone Law distinguishes the outfit from many of its competitors. With 41 partner-level lawyers drawing upon a mix of technical and commercial expertise, clients are able to choose from a deeply experienced selection of practitioners to handle their trademark issues, including Rebecca Halford-Harrison, Will Sander and Karen Fong. Halford-Harrison focuses her attention on chemistry-based industries and is also an expert on geographical indications. Dual-qualified solicitor and trademark attorney Sander is well versed in handling disputes both in the United Kingdom and abroad. “Karen is a top expert who provides sage advice. She is very user friendly, super responsive and a pleasure to work with.” Transactional duo Simon Chalkley and Anthony Misquitta have a wealth of experience in executing commercial deals. Chalkley is a pragmatic operator and a well-known figure on the scene while Misquitta is highly skilled in both trademark and copyright cases. Making her debut in the guide this year is Jessica Bent, a direct, practical and client-oriented lawyer with a focus on the technology sector and the creative industries.
Lewis Silkin LLP
Lewis Silkin’s team of solicitors, patent attorneys and trademark attorneys collectively manage over 2,000 registered designs and 37,000 marks. The growing outfit recently merged with Belfast-based IP shop Forde Campbell, meaning the firm’s reach now covers England and Wales, Northern Ireland, the European Union and Hong Kong. As a result, huge international companies regularly turn to the practice for IP support, including the likes of Dr Martens and Visa, who have recently instructed Giles Crown. A leader within the team, Crown is spearheading growth and the implementation of innovation across the group. He is joined by “calm and talented IP lawyer” Simon Chapman. He is responsible for managing the portfolio of Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Making his first appearance in the guide this year is newly made partner Nick Bowie. “Nick is very commercial, he knows his areas extremely well and has a great network of associates. He is part of an impressive team at Lewis Silkin.”
Mishcon de Reya LLP
With more than 40 dedicated IP lawyers based in the newly launched innovation department, Mishcon de Reya has one of the largest trademark practices in the United Kingdom. Whether it is brand management, litigation or commercialisation, the group are at the cutting edge of developments. Recent highlights include representing Iceland Foods in invalidity proceedings, supporting Alexander McQueen with portfolio management and disputes, and obtaining a website blocking injunction on behalf of Nintendo. Pivotal to the success of the practice is department head David Rose, who is famed for his work in the landmark victory in the Sky v SkyKick litigation. “David is a truly top-tier lawyer. He is highly skilled, diplomatic, knowledgeable and is always focused on the client’s objectives. David’s insight and experience are invaluable.” Two more top performers are Sally Britton and Jeremy Hertzog, who play instrumental roles in the work for Iceland Foods. “Sally is an excellent attorney. She is proactive, creative and has a deep understanding of her clients’ needs.” “Jeremy is a leader in IP matters and is excellent at guiding clients through tough litigation. He is a first-rate lawyer and one of the best in his field. Jeremy’s advice is solid, thorough, reliable and prompt.” Hertzog works closely with Cassandra Hill in representing Thom Browne in an infringement dispute against Adidas which spans the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States. The pair also come together to support Hewlett Packard Enterprise in litigation that includes issues of counterfeiting, infringement and passing off. Hill was recently made partner, as was Peter Nunn, who is an expert on cross-border customs detentions and enforcement matters. Nunn is a regular contributor to the firm’s ‘Turning Losses Into Profits’ programme, which has helped to recover over £300 million for patrons who suffered losses through counterfeiting operations. Leading the transactional side is Lewis Cohen, who has lately been executing a licensing deal and consultancy agreement between restaurant chain Casamata and hotel group Marriott.
Norton Rose Fulbright
One of the largest IP teams in the world, Norton Rose Fulbright’s offering is spread across five continents, with its most recent expansion coming in China. Its international strength and depth attract patrons such as Nike and BNP Paribas along with a host of other companies in the consumer goods, food and beverage, and luxury goods sectors. Head of Intellectual Property for the Europe Middle East and Asia region is transactional specialist Mike Knapper. “Mike provides pragmatic, business-focused advice. He is professional, reliable, responsive and extremely knowledgeable.” Leading the prosecution effort is Abida Chaudri, who has a combination of private practice and in-house experience, having been seconded to GlaxoSmithKline and Diageo. She has recently been providing portfolio management services to BNP Paribas.
Osborne Clarke
“The team at Osborne Clarke are extremely competent, highly responsive and very strong in trademark prosecution and enforcement in the UK.” The firm covers the gamut of trademark services, which attracts market-leading brands to the practice, including Nokia, Danone and JP Morgan. Robert Guthrie has been providing prosecution and strategy services to the latter as well as acting for Realisations, formerly Edinburgh Woollen Mill, in a major domain name case. Head of IP disputes Arty Rajendra has been managing the global portfolio of kitchen supplier Howdens and has also been acting in opposition proceedings for Peanut App. “Arty is a superb lawyer with great commercial nous. She is highly impressive, really smart and does a phenomenal job.” Also recommended are Richard May and Clare Robinson. May manages the portfolio of Toni & Guy and supports veterinary company Medivet in contentious matters. “Richard is a highly responsive and proactive practitioner who does a great job for clients.” Robinson has over 30 years of IP experience. She takes the lead on the Danone instructions and provides strategic advice to Eurostar. Handling a mixture of contentious and commercial IP work is Tamara Quinn. She has recently been providing IP support to tech and data company Transition Pathway Initiative.
RPC
In the words of one satisfied customer, RPC’s trademark practice is “astonishingly great” – the group has appeared in some seismic litigation and provided strategic advice to countless major brand owners in the last few years. David Cran, Jeremy Drew and Ben Mark are regularly involved. Cran is as capable in the courtroom as he is at the negotiating table, where he has a flair for the fine print of IP-related deals. His projects often have a cross-border element, thanks to his vast knowledge of European, US and Asian legislation. Drew – who heads up the trademark group – also works on both the contentious and non-contentious sides and is completely at home on multi-jurisdictional matters; he enjoys an elevated profile thanks to his lecturing and writing credits. Mark receives warm praise for his mixed advisory and disputes work: “Ben is a trademark shark with extensive knowledge of UK and EU IP law and practice. He provides clear, hands-on advice with a business focus.” Food and drink and retail are his happy hunting grounds. Heading the food and drink sector group is Ciara Cullen, who is “reactive, client-centric and always dissociates the theoretical risk and the commercial risk to help find a solution in line with business goals”. Dual qualified in England and Wales and Ireland, she regularly acts on a cross-border basis across the continent and beyond. Anchoring the brand management side is Oliver Bray, who brings two decades of experience across IP, advertising and entertainment law to the mix. He captains the commercial contracts team and has a fine-tuned understanding of advances in the digital world.
Simmons & Simmons
Home to an integrated international team that works across eight jurisdictions, Simmons & Simmons is well placed to handle cross-border trademark briefs on both sides of the contentious and non-contentious divide. Innovation is at the core of the practice, and in 2021 the group launched ‘the world’s first AI trademark lawyer’, Rocketeer, which can predict outcomes of disputes in seconds. Darren Meale is the mastermind behind the product and is widely known as “an innovator on the IP scene”. “Darren is an excellent mind with a stellar touch in taking a practical approach. He has a knack for making complex matters smooth and navigable.” Heading the intellectual property group and taking the lead on commercial mandates is Michael Gavey. He is an expert in handling life sciences and technology-related transactions.
Stephenson Harwood LLP
“Stephenson Harwood is an excellent firm with a stellar reputation in IP across the globe. It is a cut above both in terms of strategy and creative thinking. The team are highly reliable, exceptionally professional, responsive and flexible.” The practice stands out for its work in cross-border disputes and non-traditional marks, and is a top performer in the retail and life sciences industries. Heading the IP and life sciences groups is Alexandra Pygall, who has degrees in both chemistry and law. “Alexandra is an outstanding lawyer who has a calm but authoritative understanding of the issues facing businesses when handling IP disputes. She has excellent scientific expertise and is a pleasure to work with.” Also highly rated is Rob Jacob, who has a history of winning precedent-setting cases in the UK courts. “Rob is extremely helpful and responsive, and his advice is always straight to the point while still covering all the possible legal ramifications. His level of expertise and professionalism is of the highest standard. Rob is intelligent, trustworthy, approachable and very committed to his work.” On the transactional side, Naomi Leach is the go-to lawyer. Licensing and collaboration agreements are some of her specialities, particularly in relation to the life sciences, technology and leisure industries. Eifion Morris continues in his role as CEO alongside his impressive global strategic advisory work.
Stevens & Bolton LLP
Stevens & Bolton continues to go from strength to strength, attracting the likes of Samsung, Nintendo and Brighton & Hove Albion FC. Contentious and transactional matters have always been key, but in 2021 the set established its filing practice, which has grown significantly under the leadership of Elaine O’Hare. She co-chairs the fashion and luxury group and has recently represented jewellery designer Olivia Brown in revocation actions. “Elaine has excellent expertise and her advice is always superb. She is clear, concise, practical and accurate.” Taking the lead on many enforcement briefs is IP head Tom Lingard, who is a key contact for Samsung and Brighton & Hove Albion. “Tom offers excellent commercial advice. He is pragmatic, clear, trustworthy and a really safe pair of hands.” Anchoring the transactional offering are Charlotte Tillett and Nicola Broadhurst. Licensing deals and collaboration agreements are Tillett’s forte while Broadhurst supports patrons in expanding their businesses, recently executing a joint venture arrangement for Icon Burgers Group.
Stobbs IP
Nearly 100 fee earners in Cambridge, London, Sheffield and Munich operate under the innovative Stobbs structure. Its prestigious client base speaks for itself and includes multinational giants such as PepsiCo, Nike and Instagram. “The practitioners deliver an excellent, timely service and are particularly good at devising creative solutions to novel problems. Their fees are extremely competitive, and the diverse cultural, linguistic and educational backgrounds within the team mean they are able to cope very well with complex international matters.” Founder Julius Stobbs is the mastermind behind the operation. “Julius is the go-to attorney for practical, no-nonsense advice. Not only is he very responsive, he is incredibly smart, commercially pragmatic and so knowledgeable about IP law.” Heading the solicitor and the litigation teams, respectively, are Chris Sleep and Geoff Steward. “Chris is able to get himself up to speed with a case extremely quickly and provides practical, business-focused advice. He understands IP enforcement intuitively and is able to achieve fantastic results for his clients.” Steward is a trial lawyer with over 25 years of experience representing top brands, including Mars, Capri Sun and Liverpool FC. Also highly rated are Emma Pettipher and Claire Breheny. “Emma provides nuanced and strategic advice on trademark diligence and protection matters for some of her clients’ most important brands.” “Claire has excellent technical knowledge and is able to clearly explain complex information into practical and applicable advice for global businesses. She is commercial, diligent, trustworthy, personable and a pleasure to work with.” Further expertise is provided by Victoria Leach, Jessica Wolff, Louise Goodsell and Harpreet Dhaliwal. Leach excels in advising brands in the retail sector; Wolff is at her best when handling trademark cases that intersect with other forms of intellectual property; Goodsell is well versed in managing a range of contentious briefs; and Dhaliwal’s commercial approach is gratefully received by her patrons. For anti-counterfeiting matters, Caspar Rebling is the standout practitioner. “Caspar provides exceptional brand management and enforcement support. He has a high level of legal expertise, great experience, flexibility and exemplary responsiveness.”
Trowers & Hamlins LLP
“The Trowers & Hamlins team has a deep knowledge of trademarks and can clearly explain complex issues, as well as the associated implications, in a simplified manner. All of the practitioners are well prepared, professional and practical. They take the time to get to know their clients and their commercial goals, and then find the best way to achieve them.” The highly rated practice is led by Caroline Hayward. “Caroline is immensely friendly and professional with a great depth and breadth of knowledge.” She has teamed with Alice Gould to manage the international portfolio of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, one of many of the group’s patrons in the oil and gas field. “Alice is a highly experienced practitioner with an excellent knowledge of trademark law. She always provides practical, client-focused advice, and is a pleasure to work with.”
Wiggin LLP
“Wiggin is a market leader when it comes to trademarks. The team provide invaluable advice, a timely service and ensure that their clients’ businesses are well protected.” The group covers the full spectrum of IP rights, managing over 14,000 active marks, devising online enforcement programmes and licensing intellectual property to maximise commercial value. On the prosecution side, the team represents brands such as Bet365, Palace and Honeywell. On the contentious front, Warner Bros, Microsoft and Gucci are some of the top names that call upon the group, which is headed by Sara Ashby. A highly reputed figure on the scene, Ashby excels in handling trademark, design and general commercial briefs. “Sara represents a diverse range of clients, offers a wealth of experience and is tenacious and strategic in her approach.” Next up are John Colbourn and “rising star” Joanne Gibbs. The pair work closely together on numerous instructions and receive great acclaim from patrons. “John and Joanne are strategic thinkers, extremely responsive, very practical and are excellent at handling highly complicated matters. They are really brilliant lawyers, excellent technicians and they always look at the bigger picture.” Also receiving praise is Rachel Alexander, who is at her best when acting in high-profile litigation bouts. “Rachel is superb in disputes, particularly in relation to technology-related trademark law.” Also recommended are Michael Browne and Calum Smyth. Betting companies LeoVegas and Bet365 are just two top names on Browne’s extensive roster, while Smyth is an expert in managing disputes for software and technology brands.
Individuals: Anti-Counterfeiting
Individuals: enforcement and litigation
Gold tier
Silver tier
Bronze tier
Individuals: prosecution and strategy
Gold tier
Silver tier
Bronze tier
Individuals: transactions
Luminaries
Other recommended experts
A highly reputed figure both domestically and internationally, Gary Assim is a trademark and anticounterfeiting expert who has represented the likes of H&M, Jimmy Choo and Dr Marten’s. He is based out of Shoosmiths. Solicitor-advocate Tim Bamford deftly coordinates both IP and media disputes, often in a cross-border context. He works out of Collyer Bristow. Nicholas Briggs, IP head at Shakespeare Martineau, has both patents and trademarks on lock and is no stranger to multi-jurisdictional litigation. His fluency in French and German is a big help on cross-border mandates. Making their debut in the guide this year are Tom Broster and Ben Prangell at Asenda Law. “Tom and Ben offer a first-class service and are experienced experts on the protection of IP across several industries.” Splitting his time across London and Leeds, Womble Bond Dickinson’s Patrick Cantrill has been devising IP strategies and managing high-profile infringement disputes both at home and abroad for the past 30 years. He is an especially valued adviser to university spin-outs. Trademark attorney Clare Cornell is a portfolio strategist and enforcement maven with a special knack for working with Chinese practitioners on the opposition and cancellation of bad-faith trademark registrations. She leads Finnegan’s London trademark group. Giving Meissner Bolte a presence in the UK is Jorandi Daneel. “Jorandi is responsive, highly knowledgeable, cost-effective and produces top quality results.” Working across trademarks, patents and designs, the technically minded Michael Douglas has been executing filing strategies, managing portfolios and appearing in oppositions for the past two decades. Players in the sports and entertainment, food and drink, retail and industrial products sectors especially benefit from his support. Widely capable trademark and patent attorney Paula Flutter is based at EIP and has diverse experience, including time spent on secondment in-house with one of her current clients. She has also previously worked in Germany and is a fluent German speaker, granting her added value on the continent. Linklaters’ Nemone Franks is a skilled drafter of commercial contracts and a measured negotiator of IP-rich cross-border M&A deals. Past highlights include advising on Hutchison Whampoa’s £10.5 billion potential acquisition of the UK O2 mobile communications business. Joining her is Paul Joseph, who made the move from Norton Rose Fulbright in 2022. He offers robust representation in IP and data disputes, as well as in the negotiation of related M&A and joint venture deals. Claire Freeman is head of trademarks at Dummett Copp, having called the firm her home for the last 20 years. She is known for her business-focused, cost-conscious approach to trademark portfolio management. Newly based at Open Plan Law, Sarah Hadland excels on both sides of the contentious and non-contentious divide. “Sarah is a top IP lawyer. She has excellent legal knowledge and adopts a commercial, pragmatic and efficient approach to trademark issues. Sarah is a force to be reckoned with in disputes and effectively an extension of her clients’ in-house legal teams.” Another debutant in the WTR 1000 this year is Janette Hamer. “Janette is skilled, conscientious and proactive. She can be found at Forresters. Splitting her time between Manchester and London, Vanessa Harrow leads the UK trademark practice at Novagraaf. In addition to her filing, opposition and litigation work, Harrow is also well versed in managing cross-border settlement agreements. Albright IP’s Julia House has chalked up 25 years both in private practice and in-house, including time spent at Unilever managing its sweeping portfolio of 30,000 trademarks. Also at Albright is Katie Oliver, who has been heading the firm’s trademark department for 13 years now. She guides clients through each step of the branding process, from creation to exploitation, and is known for her keen commercial sense. The titular Manish Joshi of Joshi IP delivers advice in a clear, concise and confident way. Reflecting his global mindset, he heads up the firm’s international division. Paul Kavanagh of Dechert is an international IP counsellor whose influence stretches across Europe, the United States and Asia. An authority on all things Brexit, he handles everything from filing strategies to licensing disputes. Solicitor Nick Kounoupias has been working in IP since 1986 and is a font of knowledge on anti-counterfeiting issues. He runs his practice out of the self-titled Kounoupias IP. European and French trademark attorney Anne Lacaze, is a smooth pan-continental operator, working out of Harrison IP’s Manchester office and heading up its outpost in Limoges, France. She undertakes precision prosecution for a clientele which includes major names in the healthcare, clothing, and food and drink spaces. Claire Lehr made the move from EIP to Edwin Coe in 2021 – her 20 year-career has seen her work in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Germany, and spend time both in private practice and in-house at Adidas and Dalgety PLC. The name to note at Dolleymores is Christopher Lewis. “Christopher is a great lawyer with a fantastic client base. He is cost-effective and very easy to deal with.” Heading up Edwin Coe’s IP department is Simon Miles, who merges trademarks, copyright and designs know-how with knowledge of database rights to superb effect. Operating out of his own self-titled firm is Roger Moore. “Roger is efficient, cost conscious and delightful to work with.” Global portfolio management expert Christiana Loizides heads up the trademark team at Sheridans. “Christiana is an intelligent and responsive professional, who produces top-quality results. She always goes the extra mile and is great to work with.” McCarthy Denning is home to Jennifer Pierce, an IP monetisation sage who works across both patents and trademarks and combines technical legal know-how with a deep-rooted understanding of licensing issues. Working out of Maguire Boss are David Tate and Sylvie Tate. “David and Sylvie are very fast, responsive, hardworking and have excellent analytical skills.” Bringing 35 years of experience to the table is Trevor Wright, co-founder of Groom Wilkes & Wright and a driving force behind the firm’s success. His remit extends from efficient filings to acting in oppositions and advising on infringement issues. Heading up Zacco’s UK trademark group is Iram Zaidi. “Iram is very professional, efficient, knowledgeable and can explain complex issues in a clear manner. She thinks issues through quickly and always has a strong, logical and effective answer. Iram has exceptional judgement and expertise, and is one of the best in her field.”
