Hall Of Fame

Rising Stars

Intellectual property in East Midlands

Browne Jacobson LLP

Browne Jacobson LLP is a nationally recognised intellectual property practice with a focus on beauty, retail and automotive, with a unique offering in influencer and social media conversation; acting for major brands their engagement with influencers. While key Nottingham partner Selina Hinchliffe  left for Shakespeare Martineau LLP, the office is still home to a number of dedicated IP practitioners, including senior associate Kulpreet Virdi, who work in tandem with colleagues in the firm's national practice.

Other key lawyers:

Kulpreet Virdi


Key clients

JNCC


Baird Foods/Extrawurst UK


University of Law


Work highlights


  • Advising JNCC on a major collaboration with government entities across the UK jurisdictions for the collaboration and sharing of research and intel into marine life and systems.  This involves the identification of copyright, licensing of the same, including vast amounts of crown copyright.
  • Advising Baird Foods on a new business venture in the UK.
  • Advising the University of Law on a bespoke professional services training programme in conjunction with a number of major law firms.

Gateley Legal

In 2022, Gateley Legal acquired Adamson Jones, part of Gateley Legal, an East Midlands-based patent and trade mark attorney firm housing one of the region’s largest specialist patent, design and trade mark teams covering the full spectrum of IP, from filings, to enforcement, commercialisation and advice in relation to advertising and media. John Buckby chairs the national intellectual property and sports department. Patent and trade mark attorneys Simon Cooper and David Gwilliam have a keen interest in medical devices and healthcare sector. For portfolio management and enforcement actions, associates Natasha Walker and Paven Munder are recommended.

Practice head(s):

John Buckby


Other key lawyers:

Simon Cooper; David Gwilliam; Natasha Walker; Paven Munder


Testimonials

‘John Buckby has provided us incredible service, advice and insight. He is always responsive and quick to understand our needs and requirements and provides a solution that fits our business setup. We are very pleased with the service we have always received from all the team.’

‘John Buckby always offers relevant, concise and insightful advice to us in a professional and prompt manner. We always feel like we are truly valued as clients.’

Key clients

Ideagen Limited


Toikido Limited


Institution of Occupational Safety & Health


SnowDome Limited


Augmented Instruments


NFP Corp


Work highlights


  • Acting for Ideagen Limited on UK and international trade mark and IP matters, including managing their worldwide trade mark portfolio and handling oppositions and IP disputes around the world.
  • Represented IOSH Services Limited in High Court proceedings against NCRQ Ltd for trade mark infringement and passing off.
  • Represented a US jeans brand in UK trade mark opposition proceedings.

Howes Percival LLP

Howes Percival LLPcouple excellent knowledge and experience in this field with a hands on, personable approach’, handling intellectual property litigation, international trade mark portfolio management on behalf of retails, manufacturers and food and drinks clients. Team leader Matthew Talbot is ‘a highly capable, personable and problem-solving IP lawyer’ specialising in complex trade mark, copyright, patent and design rights disputes. With a background in food and drink law, he is well-equipped to advise on European Food Protection matters such as PGIs, PDOs and TSGs. Hannah Steggles‘ practice focuses on patent, trade mark and design right litigation. Directors Jenna Bruce and trade mark attorney Sarah Dacre are also of note.

Practice head(s):

Matthew Talbot


Other key lawyers:

Hannah Steggles; Jenna Bruce; Sarah Dacre


Testimonials

‘The team couple excellent knowledge and experience in this field with a hands on, personable approach. This combination means that they are a delight to work with.’

‘I have worked with Hannah Steggles on a number of cases over the last 4 years. I have consistently been impressed with the commercial, common sense approach she brings to cases. I have not worked with any one who is more committed to their clients than Hannah. This coupled with her excellent technical knowledge means that I have repeatedly recommended her and will continue to do so.’

‘Matthew Talbot – a highly capable, personable and problem-solving IP lawyer. Highly recommend.’

‘I have worked with other law firms in the past but I can honestly say that Howes Percival and the team have been fantastic from start to finish from the advice to implementation and for dealing with curve balls easily efficiently and delivering the desired result.’

‘Hannah Steggles is extremely experienced at Howes Percival. Whilst anyone qualified can do what they do, no one can quite deliver it in the way they do…and I know this as I’ve used other law firms!’

Key clients

Business Software Alliance, Inc. (“BSA”)


Start-rite Shoes Limited


FibreFab Limited


Prokon Software Limited


Just Hype Limited


Toatee Limited


Robovision Limited


Craft Buddy Limited


Imperial International Ltd


The National Forest Company


Autodesk Ltd


Internetwork Media Ltd


Samworth Brothers Ltd


Viridian International Limited


Alyssa Smith Jewellery Limited


Digital Media Technologies Limited


Gibbs Croft Limited t/a Soreen


Synergy Devices Limited


Microstrategy Incorporated


Starkers Group (including Brand X, Tutti Rouge and JoJoe)


The Breeze Drinks Company


South East Dons Football Club


Sowvital Ltd


Morningside Pharmaceutical Ltd


Red Helix Limited


Work highlights


  • Advising Business Software Alliance Inc, whose members include Autodesk, Siemens, PTC, Prokon and Graphisoft as well as many other software companies and advising generally on infringement actions.
  • Acting for Just Hype Limited in various contentious and non-contentious matters including cross border infringement actions, licensing and international trade mark portfolio management.
  • Advising South African engineering company, Prokon Software Limited on its IP strategy in the UK and Europe including obtaining trade mark protection and protection measures generally.

Potter Clarkson LLP

Potter Clarkson LLP’s litigation and licensing team has continued to build on its strong and growing reputation in high-profile, high-value intellectual property disputes and negotiating and drafting IP-centric, agreements across a range of cutting-edge technologies. Working alongside its trade mark and patent attorneys, the team offers full-service capabilities for clients in the life sciences, automotive and FMCG. Litigation and licensing specialist Oliver Laing has built up a following advising investor clients and VC funds on the acquisition of technology-rich businesses, as well as in multi-territorial collaboration and licence agreements. Patent litigators ‘super-intelligent and commercially savvyRichard Roberts and Nick McDonald , a ‘great strategist, fantastic on technical detail’ are its key figures. Dave Holt and associate Georgia Carr are also highly recommended.

Practice head(s):

Nick McDonald; Richard Roberts; Oliver Laing


Other key lawyers:

Dave Holt; Georgia Carr


Testimonials

‘Potter Clarkson are an excellent team, with particular strength and expertise in patent litigation. Uniquely, they form an incredibly cohesive team between solicitors and patent attorneys to provide a service that is second to none. They have expertise across the board of patent litigation. Their friendly and down-to-earth approach is refreshing and they offer a brilliant service to their clients. The team is a real joy to work with.’

‘Nick McDonald – great strategist, fantastic on technical detail and brilliant with clients.’

‘Dave Holt – charming, bright and fantastic at getting the job done.’

Key clients

Nanexa AB


Thelper AS


ChangeMaker 3D


Work highlights


  • Advised Nanexa AB, a Swedish pharmaceutical client, in respect of an infringement claim against competitor, US based VitriVax Inc, relating to Nanexa’s patented enabling technology used to create controlled release of pharmaceutical compositions.
  • Advising Thelper, providing patent prosecution, filing, exploitation and IP strategy advice as well as negotiating commercial research agreements and licences with major pharmaceutical partners relating to its proprietary technology.
  • Advising Changemaker3D on IP and strategic support issues.

Shakespeare Martineau LLP

Shakespeare Martineau LLP has significant experience in patent actions, design, particularly in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, which makes the firm well suited to work for SMEs, as well as in IP for universities and brand related work. Transactional lawyer and head of practice, Edward Wright focuses on protection and exploitation of IP through acquisition, licensing and commercial agreements. Martin Noble left for Freeths LLP in August 2022, but the practice was boosted by the arrival of transactional and advisory IP specialist Selina Hinchliffe from Browne Jacobson LLP in 2023.

Practice head(s):

Edward Wright


Other key lawyers:

Selina Hinchliffe


Key clients

Cenex


Cambridge Weight Plan


JDS Foods


Moviebox Megastores (International)


Oriental Star Agencies


Source Bioscience


Phenotypeca


Replay Maintenance/Passport365


Proodle Solutions


University of Nottingham


Spirit Health Group


BPR Medical


Heavyweight Air Express


Purpose Media


North South Wines


Recresco


Endurance Zone


Work highlights


  • Advising BPR Medical on IP licence and distribution agreement with Medclair, a leading Swedish-based specialist in safe nitrous oxide use, that gives BPR Medical exclusive rights to supply Medclair’s mobile nitrous oxide conversion technology (MDU) in the UK and Ireland.
  • Advising Phenotypeca on and preparing an appropriate contractual document set with heavy IP ownership/licensing consideration and provisioning, consisting principally of laboratory and non-laboratory services supply terms, cell strain licensing terms and cell strain maintenance and storage services supply terms.
  • Advising University of Nottingham on Ingenuity Programme IP licence agreements to be entered with each host university and the trade mark licence and non-disclosure agreements to be entered into with each contributor university participating in/contributing participants to any Ingenuity Programme rollout being hosted by a host university.

Geldards LLP

Known for its work in the sport, media and entertainment sectors, Geldards LLP has a non-contentious focus, advising on sponsorship, licencing and social media ambassador agreements. The team also provides registration services for trade marks and more complex matters such as the acquisition or transfer of trade marks out of insolvency. With a background in sports, Jamie Goldberg works with high-profile athletes on image rights licences and related intellectual property commercialisation issues.

Practice head(s):

Jamie Goldberg


Nelsons Solicitors Limited

Highly knowledgeable in both contentious and non-contentious disciplines, Nelsons Solicitors Limited‘s ‘standout‘ lawyer, Emma Toes provides ‘swift and useful assistance with deep practical insight’ and continues to drive the trade mark practice, having attracted a number of national prosecution instructions before the UKIPO and filing applications for international registrations. She also advises on proceedings issued before the Company Names Tribunal. Harpreet Sandhu left for an in-house position in July 2022.

Practice head(s):

Emma Toes


Testimonials

‘The team offers all the knowledge and skill of a City firm, but without the associated fuss or eye-watering bills.’

‘Emma Toes is a stand-out lawyer. She is hugely capable, breathtakingly efficient and would grace a seat at the partnership table of any firm in the country.’

‘I worked closely on the matter with Emma Toes, who always responded duly and gave invaluable advice concerning the procedure and practice of the IPO. The services of Nelson were also cost-efficient and client-friendly.’

‘Emma Toes is an experienced IP attorney who always provided swift and useful assistance with deep practical insight. Her devotion to IP laws and deep understanding of client needs and situation was also remarkable.’