Particularly active in the automotive, beauty, green technology, and retail sectors, Browne Jacobson LLP is well-regarded for its IP litigation capabilities, for which Nick Smee is a key contact. On the non-contentious side, the practice is also geared to handle blockchain matters, licensing, payments, portfolio management, as well as R&D agreements. Head of IP and technology and trade mark specialist Declan Cushley enjoys over two decades of experience in the sector. Mark Daniels leads the patents sphere and is noted for his strength in IP strategy and enforcement, as well as contentious copyright, database, and patent work. Other key members of the team include Cat Driscoll and Kulpreet Virdi, who are proficient in commercial contracts.
Intellectual property in East Midlands
Browne Jacobson LLP
Practice head(s):
Declan Cushley; Mark Daniels
Other key lawyers:
Nick Smee; Cat Driscoll; Kulpreet Virdi; Bonita Trimmer; Jess Zareh
Testimonials
‘They have strong bench depth and in particular, are a top-tier patent practice. I work with Mark Daniels, he is an exceptional patent practitioner and perhaps one of the best in the UK for patent disputes.’
‘The Browne Jacobson team does a great job putting together a team of highly skilled individuals who have the requisite experience. The team is well-balanced and always seems to be built to precisely serve the needs of the client and case. The partners are strategic in approach and take a practical application of the law.’
‘Browne Jacobson always offers professional and high-quality service. The IP team is service-minded, highly skilled, and dedicated.’
Key clients
JNCC
Baird Foods/Extrawurst UK
University of Law
Nottingham City Transport
Bollin Group Limited
Biozone Scientific Group Limited
The National Trust
Ocean Technologies Group
National Trust
Work highlights
Gateley Legal
With a full-service IP offering encompassing design registrations, disputes and enforcement, as well as patent and trade mark filing, the sizeable practice Gateley Legal is led by John Buckby. Buckby is vastly experienced in licensing agreements, while Simon Cooper often handles patent filings and trade mark issues for a breadth of organisations across the healthcare and medical devices sectors. David Gwilliam is active in the pharmaceutical sector, and is knowledgeable of trade mark filings and portfolio management. Paven Munder is frequently engaged in trade mark registry disputes. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Nottingham, unless stated otherwise.
Practice head(s):
John Buckby
Other key lawyers:
Simon Cooper; David Gwilliam; Paven Munder
Testimonials
‘Paven Munder and John Buckby are standouts. The advice they gave us on trademark and IP was expert and gave real confidence that we were making the right business decisions.’
‘John Buckby and Paven Munder are both very skilled, responsive, and affordable. They are a winning combination and what my clients are asking for.’
‘We have worked with John Buckby for several years now and know he has a huge amount of experience. We completely trust his and Paven’s opinions on all matters and their advice is always valuable. John always treats our business like his own and that is what we value – the care and attention.’
Key clients
Ideagen Limited
Derby County Football Club
Skims Body, Inc
K Brand, Inc
Corinne Day Estate
Toikido Limited
Frame LA Brands, LLC
The One Glove Company Limited
Institution of Occupational Safety & Health
Hammonds Furniture Limited
AeroCloud Systems Limited
Work highlights
- Advised London Entertainment on the ‘Wagatha Christie’ trade mark matter, including trade mark filings and an opposition before the UK Trade Marks Registry.
- Represented Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian before the UK trade marks registry, dealing with the UK filings for the popular ‘KHY’ and ‘SKIMS’ brands of their companies, K Brand Inc and Skims Body Inc.
- Represented the William Morris Gallery in 4 parallel trade mark oppositions relating to the ‘William Morris at home’ brand.
Howes Percival LLP
Geared to handle collaboration agreements, IP litigation, and trademark portfolio work, Howes Percival LLP enjoys a strong reputation in the fashion, food and drink, as well as software sectors. Matthew Talbot
leads the practice and splits his time between Leicester and Northampton. Talbot is an experienced IP litigator and often handles copyright, design rights, patents, and trade mark disputes. Leicester-based Hannah Steggles is knowledgeable of IP licenses and IT outsourcing agreements, she is also experienced before the UK Intellectual Property Office. In Northampton, Jenna Bruce is skilled in IP licensing, maintenance agreements, and software developments, while Stephen Ruse’s caseload encompasses infringement matters.
Practice head(s):
Matthew Talbot
Other key lawyers:
Hannah Steggles; Jenna Bruce; Stephen Ruse; James Howarth; Kavita Raikundalia
Testimonials
‘Hannah Steggles is one of the best partners I have had the pleasure of working with in my career. I have been consistently impressed with how she handles cases. She and the HP team are my go-to referral for clients requiring solicitors. Hannah has excellent legal knowledge and provides excellent strategic advice.’
‘Stephen Ruse is an excellent associate who is calm and focused in his approach.’
‘Matt Talbot is knowledgeable and strategic, Hannah Steggles is enthusiastic and creative, and Stephen Ruse is an up-and-coming associate with good knowledge and sound judgment.’
Key clients
Business Software Alliance, Inc. (“BSA”)
Start-rite Shoes Limited
FibreFab Limited
Prokon Software Limited
Robovision Limited
Craft Buddy Limited
Imperial International Ltd
The National Forest Company
Autodesk Ltd
Internetwork Media Ltd
Samworth Brothers Ltd
Viridian International Limited
Work highlights
- Advised Business Software Alliance Inc on behalf of the BSA, whose members include Autodesk, Siemens, PTC, Prokon, Exocad, Maxon and Graphisoft on infringement actions.
- Advising Prokon Software Limited on its IP strategy in the UK and Europe, including obtaining trade mark protection and protection measures.
Potter Clarkson LLP
With in-depth IP litigation expertise, Potter Clarkson LLP draws upon support from its international network, including offices across Copenhagen, London, and Stockholm. The Nottingham-based practice enjoys a strong reputation in the life science sector, and is also frequently engaged in IP agreements, for which Oliver Laing is a key contact. Richard Roberts is principally focused on IP litigation, and he has experience before both the UK and European Union Intellectual Property Offices. Nick McDonald’s caseload encompasses copyright, designs, pharmaceutical patent litigation, and trademarks, while David Holt is active in the biotechnology sector. Georgia Carr is a strong choice for electronics and fashion entities.
Practice head(s):
Oliver Laing; Richard Roberts; Nick McDonald
Other key lawyers:
David Holt; Georgia Carr
Testimonials
‘The Potter Clarkson team are unique because of their ability to service client’s needs across a multitude of disciplines and sectors, and do so to a very high standard.’
‘The response time is far better than that of any other firm I have worked with in the UK. But even more than that I like that they come up with out-of-the-box responses, you can be certain that they have given the problems deep thoughts.’
‘I think that the PC team is extremely experienced, competent, and always delivers the highest quality of services. It has also been wonderful to get the legal services aligned with the patenting process to make sure that all our contracts protect our IP rights. Also, the legal team has been very fast and effective with our contract questions.’
Key clients
Astellas Pharma Inc. (“Astellas”)
Trailerlogic LLC
Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine (“AIRM”)
Catering UK Ltd
Earlybird Health Management GmbH & Co. K
Origen Power
Thelper AS
Work highlights
- Acted for Astellas on a project directed to the opting-out of its European patents (EPs) and applications from the jurisdiction of the UPC.
- Acted for Trailerlogic LLC on matters surrounding its patent for its collapsible and adjustable racking for the storage of cadavers.
- Represented Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicine (“AIRM”) in two of the first patent revocation actions to be filed before the Unified Patent Court (“UPC”).
Shakespeare Martineau LLP
A key port of call for various Russell Group universities on the registration of trade marks and licenses, Shakespeare Martineau LLP
is well-versed in brand, design, and patent litigation. With over two decades of experience, Ed Wright oversees the Nottingham-based practice and is primarily engaged in non-contentious matters, including the creation, ownership, protection and exploitation of intellectual property. Selina Hinchliffe is proficient in transactional work, in addition to IP licensing, reorganisation, and strategy. Charlotte Cassells is noted for her strength in property infringement disputes.
Practice head(s):
Ed Wright
Other key lawyers:
Selina Hinchcliffe; Charlotte Cassells
Key clients
Cambridge Weight Plan
Source Bioscience
Phenotypeca
Replay Maintenance/Passport365
Proodle Solutions
University of Nottingham
Spirit Health Group
BPR Medical
Heavyweight Air Express
Recresco
Endurance Zone
Medishout
Work highlights
- Advising BPR Medical on an IP licence and distribution agreement with Medclair that gives BPR Medical exclusive rights to supply Medclair’s mobile nitrous oxide conversion technology (MDU) in the UK and Ireland.
- Advising Medishout in relation to several application software/IP licence agreements with multi-national licensees such as Olympus and B.Braun for cloud-based technology for reporting faults in medical devices/equipment.
- Advising the University of Nottingham on IP licence agreements surrounding the Ingenuity Programme.
Geldards LLP
Potential infringement risks, the acquisition of trade marks out of insolvency, and trade mark applications remain a cornerstone of the practice at Geldards LLP. Splitting his time between Derby and Nottingham, Jamie Goldberg oversees the practice. Goldberg advises golfers and tennis players on endorsement, image rights and licensing, as well as sponsorship, he is also lauded for his ‘great industry knowledge.’ In Derby, Saima Shabir and Tamsin Mason-Rowe are experienced in data protection and contractual work.
Practice head(s):
Jamie Goldberg
Other key lawyers:
Saima Shabir; Tamsin Mason-Rowe
Testimonials
‘Jamie Goldberg has great industry knowledge, and always gives good advice.’
Key clients
Jellyfish Pictures Limited
British Association for the Advancement of Science
Work highlights
- Advising Jellyfish Originals on the funding and production of “Stan & Gran”, an original production commissioned by Channel 5’s preschool block Milkshake.
- Advised The British Association for the Advancement of Science on consultancy and service agreements in respect of a science festival hosted across the country.
Nelsons Solicitors Limited
Led by Emma Toes, Nelsons Solicitors Limited’s recent caseload encompasses filing and prosecuting national applications before the UKIPO. Toes works out of Birmingham and often assists clients on the exploitation, ownership, and protection of intellectual property in the manufacturing and design industries. She is also praised as ‘breathtakingly efficient, organised, and extremely well-informed. ’
Practice head(s):
Emma Toes
Testimonials
‘Nelsons have a strong litigation team. The work they get is good quality and they dispatch it well. Nelsons in an innovative firm and always has been. Its electronic working practices were developed long before the COVID pandemic. They were streets ahead of others.’
‘Emma Toes particularly stands out as a litigator. She is breathtakingly efficient, organised, and extremely well-informed.’
Key clients
Symrise
ECU Testing Ltd
Cardzone
GEW2