The Legal 500

United Kingdom > North West > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property

Editorial sections

Other

All countries

Addleshaw Goddard LLP has significant strength in depth across IP. Recent work includes brand protection advice for Liverpool FC; and trade mark infringement advice for Piaggio & C. Spa. Practice head Paul Bentham stands out for his ‘real technical excellence’, and James Whittaker and Martin Lewis are also recommended.

DLA Piper UK LLP’s IP team, led by Graeme Orchison, continues to handle cutting-edge patent, trade mark and design right cases. Highlights included advising Qualtex UK Limited in a high-profile passing off dispute. Katie Withers joined the team from Eversheds LLP.

Brabners Chaffe Street LLP is best known for its advice in relation to brand protection in the sports industry, but acts for a number of other household names in other sectors, including Corgi Group Limited. The practice includes patent, unregistered design rights and copyright issues. Nik White is ‘extremely knowledgeable about the games industry’, and ‘an excellent negotiator’.

Cobbetts LLP conducts a mix of contentious and non-contentious IP work. The experienced Robert Roper recently defended infringement proceedings for a major client in the gaming industry, while non-contentious work included patent licensing matters.

Former Halliwells heavyweight Craig Chaplin joined DWF LLP, with two other fee-earners and a variety of IP-rich clients. Chaplin is ‘an exceptional lawyer – technically very good and commercially even better’. Paul Attwood is recommended for his expertise in the food sector.

Eversheds LLP’s is well placed to advise on branding and technology licensing transactions. Head of contentious IP Antony Gold ‘brings an assured confidence and calmness’ in complex matters. Tom Bridgford joined from Squire Sanders Hammonds.

Pannone LLP has a growing specialism in IP work for the fashion and sportswear sector, acting for the British Fashion Council and Admiral Sportswear Limited among others. In contentious matters, Paul Jonson’s ‘thorough approach leaves nothing to chance’; and Bill Lister and Melanie McGuirk are also recommended.

Beachcroft acts for a number of multinational companies and public sector bodies. Recent work includes advising on IP litigation for INFOR. Head of the team is associate Harald Loeffler.

Gateley has been busy on large-scale and complex IP licensing projects for clients such as Comic Relief. Other work included advising a Premiership football club on various IP disputes; and advising an international retailer on a high-value trade mark assignment. Jonathan Moakes leads the team.

Hill Dickinson LLP was boosted by the arrival of Harvey Stringfellow, Colin Gibbons and Megan Jones from Halliwells. Following Philip Woods’ move to set up the firm’s IP practice in its Singapore office, ‘fabulous lawyer’ Peter Harrison now heads the team.

Kuit Steinart Levy LLP successfully acted on a number of high-profile litigation matters in 2010, for Worldwide Sales Corporation and Baker Street Clothing Limited. The experienced Ian Morris leads the team.

Shipley IP Ltd has expanded its client base in recent years and now acts for a number of household brands and AIM-listed biotech companies, among others. Mark Shipley heads the team.

Squire Sanders Hammonds is prolific in non-contentious IP work, where team head Peter Donaldson (‘an invaluable “go-to” person’) has particular expertise in technology issues. Tom Bridgford left for Eversheds LLP.

Clarke Willmott LLP welcomed Roy Crozier and his team from JMW Solicitors LLP. Clients include easyGroup, Playboy and Fred Perry.

George Davies Solicitors LLP’s experience includes website-related matters, and the exploitation and licensing of IP.

Hillyer McKeown has acted for a number of international companies in contentious and non-contentious matters. Joanne Shelley is recommended.

Durham Grigg now heads the IP team at JMW Solicitors LLP, after Roy Crozier and Andrew Stone left for Clarke Willmott LLP.

Nexus Solicitors has long acted for SMG, the largest stadium and arena operator in the world.

Rosemary Jay at Pinsent Masons LLP advises on privacy, confidentiality, data protection, access and related information law issues.

Search News and Articles

Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to

Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

  • COUNCIL TAX

    In Harrow LBC v Ayiku [2012] EWHC 1200 (Admin) Sales J held that the word “or” in the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992, art 3 Class N, had a disjunctive meaning, therefore it was sufficient for the non-British spouse of a foreign student to satisfy one or other of the two conditions, namely being prevented from taking paid employment or being prevented from claiming benefits, in order to qualify as a “relevant person” who was exempted from liability to pay council tax.
    - 11KBW

  • QUEEN’S SPEECH

    Bills already introduced pursuant to the Queen’s Speech on 9 May 2012 include Local Government Finance Bill and Electoral Registration and Administration Bill, both accompanied by Explanatory Notes, which in each case address ECHR compatibility.
    - 11KBW

  • Standards

    In R (Calver) v Adjudication Panel for Wales [2012] EWHC 1172 (Admin) Mr Calver was a member of Manorbier Community Council who successfully challenged the decision of the Panel to dismiss his appeal against a decision by Prembrokeshire County Council Standards Committee censuring him for a number of comments or blogs posted by him on a website he owned and controlled.
    - 11KBW

  • A justified retrospective

    Clive Sheldon - QC debates the pros & cons of retrospective tax legislation
    - 11KBW

  • Public Sector Equality Duty (“PSED”)

    In R (Greenwich Community Law Centre) v Greenwich LBC [2012] EWCA Civ 496 the Court of Appeal held that the Council had had “due regard to the PSED when making changes to its funding of community legal advice services”. At para 30 Elias LJ said:
    - 11KBW

  • Public Sector Equality Duty

    Surrey County Council conducted a review of its Library Service. This culminated in a Report to the Council’s Cabinet. The Recommendations in the Report included that there should be consultation about a community-partnership approach at selected Libraries.
    - 11KBW

  • Judicial Review

    The Judgment of Lindblom J in The Manydown Co Ltd v Basingstoke and Deane BC [2012] EWHC 977 (Admin) repays attention. The Claimant sought to challenge by judicial review 2 decisions of the Council: (1) the Council’s refusal to reconsider its position on the development of a site that it owns (and is the subject matter of a Joint Development Partnership Agreement with the Claimant); and (2) a decision of the Council’s Cabinet approving a selection of sites for development which did not include this site.
    - 11KBW

  • The Health and Social Care Act 2012: impact on adult social services

    After its torrid passage through Parliament, the Health and Social Care Bill received Royal Assent on 27 March 2012. The Act deals principally with healthcare reform, but it also contains some amendments to the legislative framework for social care. It will come into force on a day yet to be appointed by the Secretary of State.
    - 11KBW

  • Immigration update May 2012

    In this issue:
    - Penningtons Solicitors LLP

  • Premium service for tier 2 and 5 sponsors to be launched

    A premium service for sponsors will be launched by the UKBA on 6 April 2012. The service is designed specifically for companies that sponsor international employees under tier 2 and 5 of the points based system and aims to provide them with enhanced support.
    - Penningtons Solicitors LLP

Press Releases in the UK

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
© 2012 www.legal500.com