Intellectual property in East Anglia

US firm Goodwin set up in Cambridge in 2020 with a series of eye-catching hires; the team now provides both domestic and international clients with a full suite of services, among which the development, protection and enforcement of IP portfolios is a prime focus. Since joining from Taylor Wessing LLP, Malcolm Bates and Tim Worden have built a strong presence for the firm in the life sciences IP market, with work for prestigious clients on licensing matters, commercialisation, patent strategy and IP due diligence in financings, acquisitions, IPOs and collaborations. Associate Georgia Powell handles non-contentious IP and commercial matters, with a focus on the life sciences, technology and healthcare sectors.

Mills & Reeve LLP has a strong presence in the technology, life sciences, automotive, food and agriculture, education and sport sectors, with the firm's work encompassing both IP disputes and commercial IP agreements, R&D and collaboration contracts, branding, technology transfer arrangements, IP licensing and exploitation for both domestic and international clients. Mark Pearce, who works in both Leeds and Cambridge, leads the practice, which calls upon the skills of Cambridge-based head of life sciences James Fry, who frequently handles research and technology collaborations and intellectual property licensing matters. Consultant Alasdair Poore and principal associate Richard Plaistowe, along with trade mark attorney Nicola Hanglin, also play central roles in the practice.

Advice on IP strategy, acquisition, enforcement and commercialisation is a core part of Taylor Wessing LLP's global practice, in which the Cambridge office plays a pivotal role. The group - which is led by Adrian Toutoungi, 'a strategic visionary with unrivalled intellect, knowledge and expertise' - acts for spin-outs, early-stage and multinational companies in the life sciences and technology sectors, as well as their investors. Tasmina Goraya, who specialises in compliance and regulatory matters, and Colin McCall, who handles transactional IP matters for life sciences and medtech clients, are key partners. Associate Charlie Adams, who joined from Mills & Reeve LLP, specialises in patents law in the life sciences and technology sectors, while senior associate Nabil Assad, a hire from Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP, provides IP and regulatory advice.

Birketts LLP is 'efficient, commercial and extremely helpful’ and acts for a host of large companies in the region, among them the UK's largest brewer and pub retailer Greene King Plc. Legal director Nellie Jackson in Ipswich leads the trade marks and branding team, while legal director Maria Peyman in Cambridge leads the IP disputes practice. Cambridge-based partner Quentin Golder leads the non-contentious IP group, which hired Andrew Priest from HCR Hewitsons in 2020. The team focuses on the commercial exploitation of IP rights, including patent licensing, development agreements, merchandising and collaborations. Associate Samantha Woodley is 'very helpful, patient and excellent to work with'.

Marks & Clerk‘s Cambridge team is ‘very knowledgeable and helpful‘. The office is part of one of the largest IP firms in the UK, which has a deep bench of lawyers, patent attorneys and trade mark attorneys operating out of nine offices across the UK. Simon Portman and Michael Moore lead the commercial IP transactions practice, in which associate Rayyan Mughal plays a key role. The practice handles the IP commercialisation, IP strategy, due diligence, brand protection, portfolio management, commercial contracts and industry-specific regulatory issues, particularly for companies in the technology and life sciences sectors.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP has a six-partner IP practice across its London, Oxford and Cambridge offices, and it advises on patents, designs, trade marks, copyright and rights in confidential information, particularly in the publishing and life sciences sectors. The team combines specialists with contentious and non-contentious expertise and Rachel Bradley, who leads the Cambridge team, has more than 15 years’ experience, including a stint as corporate counsel for a pharmaceutical company. Associate Natasha Bowyer Irvine focuses on drafting commercial agreements, including IP licences, for clients in the life sciences sector.

Greenwoods GRM has specialist knowledge of the media sector, particularly magazine and online publishing, which sees the firm involved in complex IP matters. Finance partner Jonathan Reardon in Cambridge, who joined from Al Tamimi & Company, leads the practice along with corporate partner Alastair Gunn and litigation senior associate Jamie McConnell in Peterborough. Their work includes advice to companies on investments and acquisitions involving the development and exploitation of IP, as well as contentious matters and support to early stage companies on the protection, development and licensing of IP rights.