The Legal 500

United Kingdom > South East > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property

Editorial sections

Other

All countries

Sarah Hadland, former head of IP at Pitmans LLP, joined Boyes Turner in 2010, bringing contentious IP experience and clients including Marson Fabrics and Redsense Medical. The team advises retail, technology and pharmaceutical industry clients. Mark Blunden and Bill Gornall-King are recommended along with consultant Isabel Davies, who joined from CMS Cameron McKenna LLP in 2011 and is noted for patent and trade mark expertise.

‘Commercially aware and very responsive’, DMH Stallard LLP delivers ‘succinct advice’. It advises the Friday Media Group, Office Shoes and Alpargatas (UK and Europe) on all IP matters. London-based Tim Ashdown leads the ‘very professional outfit’, and Frank Jennings is ‘commercially minded’.

‘Good in negotiations’, the five-partner IP team at Manches LLP was boosted in 2010 with the arrival of associate Rachael Parman from Shoosmiths, who brought several retail and fashion clients, including Jimmy Choo, IKEA, Oakley and TK Maxx. The team advises science, technology and publishing sector clients, and recently acted for Oxford Biodynamics in a licensing deal with an Australian healthcare provider. Chris Shelley gives ‘business-orientated advice’.

Shoosmiths advises on IP infringement, patents, trademarks and branding. The ‘very good’ Gary Assim has retail industry expertise, and led the team in advising H&M in a patent case. Clients include Amazon, Shoe Zone, McDonald’s and Samsung Europe. Nick Fenner provides ‘authoritative advice’. Associate Rachael Parman joined Manches LLP in 2010.

The former Oxford-based Rouse Legal team created new specialist IP firm Sipara in November 2010. Rated for its ‘sound knowledge’, the team has significant international experience and an impresive client roster, featuring B&Q, Lloyds Pharmacy and Oxfam. Hugh Tebay has a ‘can-do approach’, and Rebecca Kaye is recommended. Robert Furneaux is a ‘strategic thinker’.

The ‘responsive and proactive’ Blake Lapthorn advised French telecommunications corporation Alcatel-Lucent on its UK trade mark strategy. Akzo Nobel is also a client. Jill Bainbridge has ‘up-to-date knowledge’ and experience in IP rights and domain name disputes.

The ‘commercial, responsive and practical’ team at Clarke Willmott LLP delivers ‘a great service to rival any London firm’, with ‘second-to-none’ knowledge. The ‘superb’ Paul Cox ‘displays endless legal knowledge of IP law’. Estelle Dimelor joined from Spratt Endicott in 2010, and has contentious IP experience. Trade mark manager Philippa Olden is recommended.

Morgan Cole has ‘very good knowledge of the legal field’. It is known for its healthcare sector expertise, and counts Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust, London SHA (National Cancer Action Team) and the Department of Health as clients. The team also advised Raymond Blanc and Blanc Restaurants in 2010. Reading-based Alison Patten-Hall and Gayle Curry in Oxford are recommended.

‘Responsive and thorough’, Olswang advises on trade mark and copyright matters. Iain Stansfield has expertise in IP commercial contracts and design and brand protection. Clients include Direct Wines, Net-a-Porter, Reader’s Digest, TMO Renewables and Yell.

Osborne Clarke advises clean tech and renewable energy sector clients, and in 2010 was appointed to the panel of the Carbon Trust. The team, led by Russell Bowyer, advised Liquavista on IP collaboration and supply agreements. It also advises First Water, Ubiquisys, Zotefoams, Novusmodus and Intersurgical.

asb law LLP delivers ‘outstanding service’ to a ‘high degree of expertise and professionalism’, and has notable travel industry expertise. Lyndsey Ratcliffe advised Stock Depositors in a design right infringement dispute. Associate Debbie Venn is ‘exceptional’.

The ‘approachable and good-value’ team at Barlow Robbins LLP features Nick Phillips, who has a ‘flexible, strategic approach’. It advises Maximuscle on trade mark issues, and also acts for Global Personals on brand protection and Ransat Ceramics on infringement matters.

EMW provides ‘sound and practical advice’ on trade marks, and design and patent work. In 2010, the team successfully defended Vax in a registered design infringement claim brought by Dyson. The ‘clever, concise, and quick’ Mark Finn is recommended for disputes, and Liz Appleyard handles non-contentious work.

‘Expert in the field’, palmer biggs legal is a specialist IP boutique with ‘in-depth knowledge’. It advises Evisu, JD Sports and Canon on UK civil anti-counterfeiting work, and also advises Visa on trade mark matters and domain names. Steve Palmer has ‘professionalism and an engaging personality’, and Dawn Osborne is also recommended.

The ‘simply excellent’ Mark O’Shea at Rawlison Butler LLP is ‘a cut above’ and has ‘thorough understanding and insight’. Clients include Zetes, Swarovski, Amadeus Marketing and Suzuki.

Stevens & Bolton LLP’s ‘unbelievably commercial’ team is representing Future Publishing in a High Court dispute against Edge Interactive Media and Edge Games. Gallaher and Rackspace US are also clients. David Wilkinson gives ‘strong and sensible advice’ in disputes, and Beverley Whittaker advises on the non-contentious side.

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