The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - Solicitors > London > PATMA: Trade mark attorneys

‘We have used the services of AA Thornton for many years, and have no hesitation in recommending them to other commercial entities who have sought advice on IP or trade mark matters.’

‘We have every confidence in the advice given from the team at AA Thornton, not only on technical aspects we might not have considered, but also on practical approaches to solutions.’

‘What sets Ian Gill apart from other professionals I have met is his unique combination of being very approachable and having an extensive knowledge of all areas we seek advice on, and the ability to explain often complex matters in a way we can then understand from our perspective in the commercial world.’

‘Ian Gill is dependable, brilliant, great fun, a total expert in his field and good to have as part of our wider team.’

‘A great team of specialist trade mark attorneys and practitioners. Down-to-earth, business-friendly advice from people who not only know the technicalities of trade mark law and practice here and elsewhere, but understand how trade marks work for businesses.’

‘Ian Gill is very calm, knowledgeable and thinks outside the box to provide solutions. He gives advice and not just options. He is very accessible and responsive and you feel that you really get his attention.’

‘Knowledgeable, communicative, punctilious.’

‘They have a great team. Knowledgeable, clear and good communicators. They understand our business.’

‘Ian Gill is excellent in his specific fields.’

‘Business oriented, fast and efficient.’

‘The AAT team is extremely talented and their technical IP expertise is impressive. They are great at adapting to the client’s business needs and they appoint the most appropriate team member to each matter.’

‘Sarah Darby is a particular star as she is extremely bright and technical but can explain legal issues effectively and without unnecessary complication. In short, she sorts the wheat from the chaff brilliantly. Sarah manages her team well and is an expert on long-term strategic thinking for the business.’

‘Very professional and approachable organisation that carefully and clearly takes you through the complexities of legal issues.’

‘Ian Gill has demonstrated solid commercial acumen and has a practical, pragmatic approach, which differentiates him from most other practitioners I’ve come across in this sector. Most practitioners will execute what has been asked for without necessarily running their own commercial rule over what they think makes sense for the business. I know with Ian that if he has doubts commercially he’ll express them.’

‘The team have given a lot of time to getting to know our business, our risk profile and what we are trying to achieve. They are always available, quick to respond and knowledgeable. I cannot fault their level of service.’

‘Catherine Wiseman stands out for her dedication, accessibility and overall understanding of the needs of our business. She is an invaluable team member for our business rather than a supplier.’

‘Commercial, with real depth of technical knowledge (within sector-specific areas of technology). Barker Brettell is filled with people who I am delighted to introduce my clients to and there are some real stars in the junior ranks too. With the opening of their Swedish office, they are now moving in a fuller service – and are keeping apace with their competitors on this front.’

‘The senior trade marks team of Catherine Wiseman, Lucy Walker and Tracy Arch is superb to work alongside in brand management matters. They have fantastic international connections and a crop of junior talent to boot. Straight-talking and solution-focused, this team is not just about numbers of filings, but about monetising and exploiting IP portfolios.’

‘The communications we receive are always clearly and simply written, delivered in a timely manner and, above all, drafted with the specific client and their needs in mind.’

‘We have been working with Lucy Walker for several years and find her to be an exceptional trade mark attorney – responsive, technically excellent and always provides a commercial solution to the client’s problems. She is also personable, easy to work with and a great mentor to her junior colleagues and trainees.’

‘Louis Pittortou is very helpful when it comes to specific transactions (e.g. M&A, divestments, joint ventures), where he provides key IP advice tailored to us and our transaction. He also takes a very commercial and pragmatic approach to difficult issues, and is willing to give his opinion.’

‘I’ve always valued Tracy Arch’s judgement and she has particular insights which are effective and have stood the test over a long period of time.’

‘The team is very responsive and provides the most thorough analysis when requested to do so. I am always amazed by the depth of their briefing on a question. They are very skilled in both trade mark and patent prosecution.’

‘Lisa King and Rosalyn Newsome are standout attorneys who care deeply about doing a good job. I can trust that I will have an answer in a timely way every time.’

‘Bird & Bird LLP is a large, full-service firm that feels very personal.’

‘Mark Holah is both incredibly smart and has very good judgement in how to handle thorny prosecution matters in a strategic and practical manner. He provides sound, thoughtful advice in every situation. He handles all UK and EU prosecution matters for us and understands our business, always taking it into consideration when devising strategy.’

‘Excellent sector-specific knowledge.’

‘Patricia Collis is a standout practitioner.’

‘B&B invest a lot of time to really get to know and understand their client, what their priorities and needs are, and how they like things done. We find them very approachable, reliable and pragmatic. They also provide value-added services such as regular bulletin updates, seminars/webinars and regular catch ups to ensure that we are not missing anything we need to be aware of.’

‘Mark Holah is very good at assisting in putting together and discussing how best to structure our IP trade mark strategy. This includes challenging what we sometimes think is necessary and helping us in putting together a robust and cost-effective approach. He has a very good understanding of our business to provide this pragmatic advice.’

‘Mark Holah has a deep knowledge of our business, having worked with us for a number of years. His advice is excellent and always tailored to our business, brand-aware and budget-sensitive. He makes a concerted effort to keep abreast of developments in our fast-moving business which enables him to keep delivering a first-class service.’

‘A very knowledgeable team on trade marks and designs. The advice is pragmatic and the team is down to earth and easy to work with.’

‘I mainly work with Patricia Collis on UK prosecution work and UK trade mark searches. She is very knowledgeable and gives pragmatic and commercially minded advice. Patricia is also very personable and great to work with.’

‘We were happy to work with the D Young & Co LLP team on various trade mark cases. We appreciated their transparency and the team effort put into diligently and rapidly solving conflicts, as well as their out-of-the-box and forward-thinking approach.’

‘Richard Burton’s expertise and friendly approach was crucial in solving a conflict in a way that was beneficial for both parties.’

‘Great team with impressive skills. An excellent approach to the client. Very business oriented.’

‘They are practitioners whose skills are out of the ordinary.’

‘Efficient. International capability. Good knowledge.’

‘Jackie Johnson is responsive, a good communicator and good to work with.’

‘The team provides excellent legal advice at reasonable rates. They consistently take a business-friendly position, not always relying on technicalities, but focusing on what the client needs.’

‘Jeremy Pennant is responsive and always provides excellent and useful advice. He is very easy to work with, and given his vast experience, his billing rate is quite reasonable. I consider Jeremy one of my top outside counsels.’

‘Totally professional. Good systems in place.’

‘They understand the client’s goals and provide very pragmatic, commercially focused advice to help reach those goals.’

‘Strong, strategic and practical advice on the legal aspects of trade marks as well as an efficient registration/renewal process.’

‘Charlotte Stirling is responsive, knowledgeable and personable in equal measure.’

‘We have had dealings with J A Kemp over a long period of time. What makes them an outstanding partner is the quality of their people and of the advice they provide. They are always happy to work with you swiftly to rule in or out new concepts and thus minimise wasting money. And once we proceed with a project the service is always first class.’

‘James Fish is a tremendously talented individual as well as having an extremely open and warm disposition. He is always available to chat, responds swiftly, and his advice is clear and to the point, which is exactly how we like it.’

‘Excellent one-stop shop for litigation advice/support, IP registration work and general IP advice. Combines brilliant academics with practical commercial advice and understanding of the needs of our business. They feel like a part of our in-house team.’

‘John Peacock has endless knowledge and enthusiasm. One of the nicest people you will meet in the business with fantastic experience and comprehensive understanding of issues.’

‘Friendly and efficient.’

‘Very professional, quick to respond and easy to work with.’

‘Commercial, accurate and easy to use.’

‘An impressive group of dedicated and hardworking trade mark attorneys.’

‘The Bristows team are always extremely proactive and get to know their client’s business inside-out. They really are an extension of the in-house legal team.’

‘The work of the team shows a strong sense of responsibility, and replies are very clear and targeted. The most important thing is the team has a strong sense of mission, that is, it must help clients achieve their goals.’

‘Ian Gruselle is very good at proposing strategies for clients. He is so kind and cares about the interests and benefits of the clients. He always does work proactively.’

‘Great people, great listeners, understand the client’s aims.’

‘Roger Lush has helped us manage a deeply complex range of marks across the globe with ease and while managing costs.’

‘GJE provide us with great advice on our trade mark portfolio. They are highly commercial and help us to decide which battles are worth fighting. Of all the law firms we use, across all areas, GJE represent the best value for money.’

‘Ed Carstairs provides excellent and highly commercial advice.’

‘GJE have been acting for us over a number of years on all legal matters in relation to trade marks. The firm’s specialism in intellectual property means that we have total confidence in their expertise and pragmatic advice. The fact that they have dealt with most issues before allows them to give informed opinions and respond quickly to all enquiries. This efficiency also ensures that costs are minimised.’

‘All of the individuals that we have dealt with at GJE have been professional, but personable. They have a genuine interest in our business. They took the time to understand our market and our company culture, resulting in more relevant advice. Edward Carstairs provides clear, detailed guidance and we trust his advice.’

‘GJE have truly acted in the capacity of trusted adviser to advise and support our business. Their team has strength and depth and has been an absolute pleasure to work with. Nothing is ever too much trouble. Given this level of client service, it has been an excellent value for money outcome for us.’

‘What stands out for me is the clarity of communication.’

‘A strong, client-focused team, particularly on the trade mark side.’

‘Ed Carstairs is responsive, providing high-quality advice and creative solutions.’

‘GJE is a rare breed, in that its patent and trade mark attorneys are as sharp and intelligent as you would expect from specialists in those fields, but are also extremely personable and commercially aware.’

‘Edward Carstairs reflects the wider firm at GJE given that his technical knowledge is exceptional and he’s also extremely personable. As a result, he delivers high standards of client care and I have no hesitation in referring my clients to him when they need trade mark advice.’

‘Very knowledgeable, professional and efficient.’

‘The team is commercial and gives useful, pragmatic advice which is appreciated by clients.’

‘Ed Carstairs and Alasdair MacQuarrie are a delight to work with. They have a wonderful manner with clients.’

‘A partner-led service which has made a strong effort to meet our requirements and adapt to changes within the business.’

‘Margaret Arnott has played a hands-on role in managing all of our trade mark work, and promptly makes herself available to discuss matters and management issues. She has quickly adapted the way her team works to meet our operational requirements and manage costs.’

‘Margaret Arnott explains everything in plain English, which makes decision-making much more straightforward.’

‘Very much like working with people who are members of the same team as you.’

‘The team provide us with in-depth knowledge and expertise in relation to all trade mark matters and provide pragmatic advice whether we are registering new trade marks or taking steps to protect existing ones.’

‘The team under Margaret Arnott’s lead are well organised, reliable and responsive. We value their timely reminders and also that they are always keen to provide advice and support.’

‘This practice is very knowledgeable of trade mark laws and gives detailed advice for handling matters.’

‘Andy King is excellent in providing recommendations with clear legal reasoning, plus the benefits and risks for different courses of action.’

‘We have received a professional service related to patents and trademarks from Mewburn Ellis for over 15 years. They have provided us with accurate advice and effective information. Our company and Mewburn Ellis have established a good relationship over a long time.’

‘Helen Wakerley is the doyenne of trade mark law. Her advice is excellent. She is very commercial and extremely client friendly. She and her team also turn work around really fast. I greatly enjoy working with them.’

‘The Reddie team provides clear, concise and practical advice with the client’s business objectives in mind.’

‘Helen Wakerley is exceptionally responsive and available. She is a great sounding board, out of the box thinker, and someone who is a team player. I rely on Helen’s strategic contributions.’

‘A good team of bright, knowledgeable people across trade marks and patents.’

‘Alice Findlay’s huge experience is reflected in her broad knowledge base, excellent commercial sense and commitment to her clients’ needs. Tom Sharman also stands out.’

‘Reddie & Grose are timely in their responses. They have been efficient and effective with our cases.’

‘With Helen Wakerley in particular, we feel confident sending requests that are out of the box. Helen is efficient when it comes to standard trade mark work, and remarkably effective in terms of helping us develop strategies to protect atypical works. She is also cognisant of our budgetary restraints and direct in terms of keeping us focused on sticking to financial goals.’

‘Carl Steele is friendly, attentive and passionate about his work.’

‘They are a very pleasant team to deal with, and stick to their deadlines. Their communication levels are extremely good and they are generally very responsive.’

‘With Carl Steele, I never have to wait long for a response, even if it is just a holding email. When I do get the advice, I always know that it is technically spot on, and clearly thought through and structured. He is also a very nice guy.’

‘Everybody is very laid back, but super knowledgeable. The advice provided can be very easily used and it’s to the point. Basically, they know their stuff and I can only highly recommend working with them.’

‘They are highly responsive, know their stuff and, most importantly, understand the commercial context of their advice. Other PATMAs I’ve dealt with focus on the technical aspects rather than commercial practicalities.’

‘Ian Bartlett is an excellent trade mark expert and I am always sure that I will get a positive outcome.’

‘Thorough knowledge and experience.’

‘Duncan Morgan is well versed in trade mark matters and thorough.’

‘They stand out for their sheer professionalism and enormous depth of specialist knowledge, both individually and as a firm. They are friendly, very approachable and take the time to explain complex issues in a clear and understandable way. They put the client first and ensure that we understand the risk and timescales involved before commencing any action.’

‘Top class. It was a pleasure working with them.’

‘Rowland Buehrlen and his team provide an excellent service. They are real professionals and make all IP matters as easy as a walk in the park for us.’

‘I would recommend Rowland Buehrlen to anyone looking for a great trade mark attorney. He knows what he is doing, and works hard to master what the client is looking for. I gave him a recipe of what I wanted; he took that recipe, worked with it, added to it, and turned it into a masterpiece. He works hard, and is fair with his billing. Rowland not only has that ‘big firm’ background and expertise, but he is great to work with on a smaller level for people like us.’

‘Chris McLeod is fantastic. We trust him for his trade mark prosecution and enforcement skill.’

‘Chris McLeod is great, as is his colleague Allister McManus. Their prices are highly competitive. Communication with Chris and Allister is clear, helpful and prompt.’

‘The team is highly experienced and efficient. They are responsive and accessible from the most senior to junior members and demonstrate a consistent approach throughout. They have a varied client base with a strong international focus. They have particular expertise in contentious work before the UKIPO on trade mark matters thanks to Chris McLeod, who presents his clients’ arguments in a clear, concise and effective way.’

‘Chris McLeod is a well-known and respected figure in the UK IP profession. His pragmatic and considered approach is effective with clients, his opponents and the UKIPO. He has great practical experience coupled with a good feel for how a case might go. He runs his team with a light touch which allows more junior members to come to the fore rather than shuffle papers in the background. His highly professional approach is leavened by his sense of humour.’

‘Good communication and practical advice.’

‘Chris McLeod consistently provides an excellent service.’

‘We are highly satisfied with the excellent work of the team of Elkington and Fife LLP and Chris McLeod.’

‘Chris McLeod is efficient and knowledgeable, always providing a timely and clear response.’

‘Chris McLeod is extremely knowledgeable. He is truly exceptional in this area and knows the law inside and out. He makes complex tasks seem simple and approachable. He is also a great character to work with – you instantly feel like you have known him for years. He makes it his business to get to know his clients, which makes for a great working relationship.’

‘E&F is, in my view, an excellent, unpretentious, hardworking, talented shop and all the people with whom I have worked have provided excellent support to me. I trust these guys, and find them practical, down to earth and always available to me.’

‘The team is incredibly responsive, knowledgeable, and genuinely practical. They think ahead and own the matter. I rely on them implicitly to keep me in the loop on the matters they are handling. Their advice is always detailed and proficient.’

‘Expertise, commercial and market knowledge, always responsive.’

‘Fieldfisher’s team covers the entire range of needs for international clients. Their advice is always commercial. They always seem to have experience of what a client thinks is its unique problem, which gives clients confidence that the lawyers are not learning at the expense of the client. They have an excellent international presence and network which is vital for this area of the law.’

‘Leighton Cassidy has one of the finest intellects in this area of law and unsurpassed experience across the widest range of issues. He is one of Europe’s top lawyers. He manages the team effortlessly and will always find the right expert for the job. He makes the legal analysis of commercial problems seem easy and straightforward, which is a real gift, and is therefore able to create the right team to help the client reach a solution.’

‘They are extraordinarily responsive and knowledgeable and are my go-to firm for matters in the UK and the EU.’

‘Chris Morris is exceptional. He is very responsive but also gets good results for clients.’

‘HLK have become an extension of our legal team, not merely an external resource. The practice have developed their own relationships with key stakeholders in our business and have worked extensively to understand our business as a whole.’

‘Amanda Mallon’s advice is always practical, tailored to the audience and with our business goals firmly in mind.’

‘Exceptional white-glove personal attention.’

‘Brilliant team and good outcomes in cases.’

‘Richard May and Arty Rajendra are outstanding attorneys.’

‘Everyone on the team is always up to date on where the case is and what the next move is. You don’t have to worry that you are going to have to fill someone in. They are all very knowledgeable and work well together.’

‘All the partners seem to be experts in their own fields. In addition to their great knowledge and guidance, they have a natural ability to understand and work with the client in a manner that both relaxes and gives the client confidence. This is so much better than my experience with other firms.’

‘Yoann Rousseau is particularly good. He takes the time to explain things in detail to a level where I can understand him rather than talk in purely technical jargon. He is also very persistent when dealing with issues and keeps me updated. Furthermore, he shows me all the options on the table and explains the merits and downsides of each one and thus enables me to make decisions based on the best possible advice.’

‘The team are very responsive and provide an excellent level of support. Also, their international knowledge and global relationships with other agents make them a one-stop shop, particularly on the trade mark side.’

‘David Birchall provides a very responsive service with a great level of clarity of advice.’

‘The Venner Shipley intellectual property law team is sharp, responsive and committed to excellence.’

‘David Birchall and Yoann Rousseau provide unparalleled support for US clients.’

‘They provide practical, business-minded advice and are very good at devising strategies that align with budget and business goals.’

‘The trade mark team works as a responsive and cohesive unit in support of our varied needs. They are very experienced in international affairs and have a broad reach through their extended network in overseas territories.’

‘Catharina Waller and Mat Healey are our go-to trade mark attorneys. They are very experienced and knowledgeable and, importantly, they condense and communicate complicated subject matters so that we, as lay people to this specialism, can make sensible and well-informed decisions.’

‘The team at Bates Wells provided a very thorough trade mark service. They were also proactive and diligent in staying in touch and seeing our various trade mark applications through to the end.’

‘Catharina Waller was very thorough in her work and her advice on which trade marks to secure and how to surmount hurdles was clear and accurate. Furthermore, Catharina explained complex information clearly and was easy to speak to on the phone.’

‘I have worked mainly with Catharina Waller and her team for the past year and there hasn’t been a time where I had to chase for updates/outcomes. The services provided are consistent and timely. Great client service.’

‘The PATMA team is unique in that the team are able to appreciate the subleties of trade marks and when no action is the best action. I feel confident that I can talk through the options and that all aspects are being considered, not just those that will incur more fees.’

‘Mathew Healey is particularly strong. He is technically very knowledgeable but also has a sense of humour which is a big help.’

‘They understand our brand and our business and have tailored their service approach to us accordingly – they actively engage with us.’

‘Courteous, professional, considered and supportive.’

‘The team are reputable, professional and knowledgeable.’

‘Catharina is very responsive, flexible and clear in her communications.’

‘We find that Bates Wells are very practical, respond quickly, and are experts in their respective fields.’

‘Mat Healy understands our needs and tailors his advice accordingly. He doesn’t just advise on the law but on what steps to take in given situations.’

‘I have worked with Dentons’ trade mark practice on a number of occasions. They are always engaged and responsive. A key strength of the practice is the collaborative approach – you really do feel as though you are working as part of a team. I very much enjoy working with them.’

‘Anna Brown is a senior trade mark attorney at Dentons. She is very knowledgeable when it comes to trade mark law and I was particularly impressed with her excellent client-handling skills. Very confident and approachable and she really put the client at ease.’

‘I strongly recommend Claire Lehr. Claire is extremely dedicated, hardworking and knowledgeable.’

‘Full-service IP capabilities.’

‘Claire Lehr is experienced and knowledgeable in brand protection and commercialisation, with an international mind-set.’

‘I would describe them as efficient, practical and cost conscious. They don’t just know the law, but also how to apply it.’

‘Claire Lehr is great to work with. I very much like her thoroughness, attention to detail and client focus. She combines knowledge with practicality.’

‘The team is very well qualified and experienced and proactively suggests practical solutions to issues.’

‘EIP are unique because of their business-focused advice. They are efficient, incredibly responsive and practical. I know I can trust them to provide real advice and not just safe advice.’

‘Claire Lehr is a total standout. She is personable, intelligent, diligent and responsive. She provides very practical and business-focused advice. She has become a trusted adviser.’

‘EIP provides fabulous trade mark services and broad intellectual property advice. They are experts in their field and are amazing to work with. They really know their stuff.’

‘Claire Lehr is professional, intelligent and a pleasure to work with. Claire impresses her clients with exceptional advice, and always goes above and beyond to achieve successful outcomes. She is clever and strategic about her advice, always with the client’s best interests at heart.’

‘EIP have built a strong team and quite rightly deserve their excellent reputation. We know that we can put our queries to anyone in the team and that they’ll provide the help that we need. Costs are always set out clearly so there are never any surprises when the bill arrives. Everyone we’ve dealt with has been helpful and efficient.’

‘We really enjoy working with Claire. Her expertise in global intellectual property matters is excellent and she is able to provide useful insights into the idiosyncrasies of the international trade mark industry. Claire offers business-focused, pragmatic legal advice and always operates with the utmost discretion. She is very detail oriented, really listens to us and provides tailored solutions that work for our business.’

‘Kieron Taylor communicates in a manner that I can easily understand, and his knowledge of IP is excellent and very up to date. If an issue arises he reacts to it professionally and promptly.’

‘Kieron Taylor is excellent. He manages and protects our whole portfolio and treats it as if it were his own. He is extremely trustworthy, reliable and commercially astute.’

‘Professional approach. Broad knowledge.’

‘Profound legal knowledge combined with knowledge of how businesses really work.’

‘Nick Womsley and Katy Fuggle are both personable, professional, knowledgeable and grounded in the real world. They are a pleasure to deal with.’

‘We’ve worked with Swindell and Pearson for many years now and have always had great service. Staff are always very polite and responsive. Both trade mark and patent attorneys are extremely knowledgeable and have helped our company build a IP portfolio which is well maintained and managed.’

‘I favour the team because of its professionalism, responsiveness and willingness to help.’

‘Kieron Taylor and Shaun Sherlock are excellent attorneys. They always manage to respond to my inquiries in a timely manner, understand my position so well and are willing to go the extra mile to exceed my expectations.’

‘The work is always done quickly and efficiently. The firm doesn’t require endless reminders to acknowledge our instructions and to act upon them.’

‘Kieron Taylor always provides timely and comprehensive instructions for all matters. If he believes that a brief discussion is warranted regarding a matter, he doesn’t hesitate to pick up the phone for a quick call. This makes him both accessible and available which can’t always be said about other law firms.’

‘Strong technical skills combined with a commercial approach and a can-do attitude makes this my go-to team for contentious and non-contentious matters. Advice is always practical and solutions to problems meet our business needs.’

‘They get things done while avoiding an overly aggressive approach.’

‘James Love is highly responsive, offering technically adroit and clear commercial advice. He delegates well to his team so the service offered gives excellent value for money.’

‘Rachel Hearson has managed with aplomb a variety of contentious and non-contentious trade mark matters. Her advice is clear and she works well as a team with counsel on complex matters.’