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A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland handles IP disputes and non-contentious matters. Brendan Fox represented Siemens in bringing a rare patent infringement claim in Northern Ireland; and acted for a consumer products manufacturer in an unauthorised parallel imports case. Its IP protection and enforcement work included pursuing a passing off action against a client’s rival, and advising a foodstuff producer on trade mark infringement. Mark Thompson leads on non-contentious 
matters.

Carson McDowell’s IP team is ‘very good and very responsible, and gives quick and excellent advice’. It is advising University of Ulster on licensing matters; defended Seagate Technologies against a High Court patent infringement claim brought by Siemens; and represented Goodyear Dunlop in bringing a trade mark infringement claim. Declan Magee, who leads on contentious matters, is ‘very commercially astute, and gives good advice which is legally accurate and practical’. Dawn McKnight heads the non-contentious side, and is ‘incredibly efficient and intelligent’; she ‘has an in-depth knowledge of the law, and is a great negotiator’.

McGrigors Belfast LLP advises on IP licensing 
and management, including trade mark registrations, 
and IP disputes. It advises John Graham Holdings on its trade mark portfolio, and acted for Brunch Box in resolving disputed ownership of a trade mark. Paul McBride is experienced and ‘no nonsense’; and David Kirkpatrick and associate Thomas Dickson are also recommended.

Tughans advises venture capital investors and technology companies on exploiting and defending their IP rights. ‘Excellent’ IT and IP expert Adrian O’Connell advised Sliderobes Group on its trade mark portfolio; and Consilium Technologies, Crescent Capital, and SOPHIA Search on IP issues.

Alan Taylor is the key figure in Arthur Cox’s IP team, which advises on commercial agreements, including licensing, and IP protection. Clients include B Secur, Dunbia and Kingspan. Anne Gilroy moved in-house to Tayto.

Cleaver Fulton Rankin advises on IP licensing and other commercial agreements, and also acts for clients in media matters such as defamation defence. Clients include Caterwaste Services and Northern Ireland Science Park. Practice head Scott Kennedy is recommended, and has ‘good customer-facing skills’.

Elliott Duffy Garrett’s Kevin McVeigh and Michael Wilson advise companies on IP matters.

Paul Spring at Mills Selig advises on IP disputes and has a significant defamation defence and media rights practice.

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Legal Developments in the UK

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