Praised as ‘responsive, knowledgeable and always dependable’, Barker Brettell LLP has demonstrable experience acting before the UKIPO and the EUIPO, and remains one of the most active filers of trade marks. Led by Birmingham-based Catherine Wiseman, the team’s expertise spans the automotive, software, cosmetics, food and beverage, consumer goods and higher education sectors. The filing and prosecution of applications, global portfolio management, counterfeiting issues, as well as contentious matters such as opposition, cancellation and enforcement proceedings, make up the practice’s all-encompassing caseload. With an office in Sweden, the team is well-placed to provide an ‘excellent service’ to its roster of clients, including multinational corporations, start-ups, entrepreneurs, leading brands and technology companies, across Europe on post-Brexit matters. The practice also continues to maintain long-standing relationships with US law firms. In the firm’s Birmingham office, other key members of the team include Tracy Arch and Lucy Walker.

With offices in London, Frankfurt, Berlin and Madrid, as well as Cambridge and Reading, Boult Wade Tennant LLP’s ‘top-notch team’ is well-placed to assist clients in the protection, management and enforcement of UK and EU trade marks, domain name disputes, brand strategy matters and copyright issues. The team counts state-owned enterprises, financial service providers, medium-sized companies, start-ups, family-owned businesses and public entities, including hospitals and not-for-profit organisations, among its key roster of clients. Following the retirement of John Wallace in April 2022, Rachel Conroy leads the practice and other key members of the team include the ‘client-oriented’ Emma Pitcher, Tony Pluckrose, who is praised as ‘a walking encyclopaedia’ when it comes to trade mark prosecution work and opposition proceedings, Catherine Wolfe and Felicity Hide, who ‘has worked miracles’ before the UKIPO and EUIPO.

With offices in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, France and Ireland, HGF Limited’s sizeable trade mark practice assists well-known multinational companies with portfolio management, oppositions and litigation proceedings. The team is noted for its capability in the filing of UK and EU trade marks, and has demonstrable experience across the pharmaceuticals, automotive, food and beverage, media and entertainment, finance and retail sectors. In Leeds, David Potter heads up the trade marks team and advises clients in the entertainment and retail arenas on protection matters. Martyn Fish was promoted to CEO in July 2021, following the retirement of Paul Sanderson, and Jason Lumber is chairman of the firm. From the firm’s office in London, Geoff Smith advises fashion and retail sector clients on international trade mark protection strategies, and Jonathan Thurgood handles registration and enforcement matters. Other key members of the team include Birmingham-based Rebecca Field, and trade mark directors Claire Jones and Manchester-based Lauren Somers.

The ‘responsive and knowledgeable’ team at J A Kemp is frequently instructed by US and Japanese clients, primarily attorney firms, on trade mark protection mandates and maintains a strong presence in the UK, in addition to acting for a range of clients across Europe, including businesses in France, Spain and Scandinavia. Noted for its expertise in the pharmaceutical sector, the team has seen an increase in the filing of UK trade mark and design applications equivalent to an EUTM or RCD. The expanding team in Paris, combined with the expertise of the firm’s Munich office, further consolidates the practice’s cross-border capabilities and efficiency to service its diverse client roster, ranging from start-ups and spinouts to large corporations and notable academic institutions, on managing and developing global trade mark portfolios. James Fish leads the trade mark group, as well as the firm’s Paris-based trade mark practice, while Tom Albertini heads up the designs team.

Kilburn & Strode LLP ‘take away the heavy lifting’ from its roster of clients, and the team is able to provide a seamless UK and European service from its twin bases in London and Amsterdam, as well as leveraging the expertise of the firm’s offices in Munich and San Francisco. Demonstrating its continued capability in filing EU trade mark applications, the firm’s European presence remains strong, and the Dutch team is expanding, particularly in the agricultural and horticultural sectors. Carrollanne Lindley, who ‘never pulls any punches and neither does she downplay issues’, leads the practice and focuses on strategically managing global trade mark portfolios, while Rowena Tolley is praised by one client as ‘incredibly prompt, responsive and commercially sensible’. Key areas of expertise include the electronics, pharmaceuticals, automotive, cosmetics and charity sectors.

Mewburn Ellis LLP has demonstrable experience in providing strategic brand management advice and is well-placed to leverage the capability of the firm’s Munich office to offer trade mark and design services at the EUIPO following Brexit. With UK offices in London, Bristol, Manchester and Cambridge, the team frequently collaborates with the firm’s solicitors when advising on commercial agreements, disputes and other related matters, such as domain names and copyright issues. The practice’s caseload includes opposition, cancellation and revocation proceedings, as well as domain disputes and infringement actions, and clients range from start-ups and investors to international brands, universities and research institutions. In London, key contacts in the team include practice leader Kate O’Rourke, Andy King and Jacqueline Pang, while Rebecca Anderson-Smith is based in Bristol and manages the trade mark portfolios of pharmaceutical companies.

Counting SMEs, individual inventors, UK-based companies and academic institutions among its key roster of clients, AA Thornton’s ‘committed and reliable team’ houses both attorneys and solicitors, who advise on the development and management of trade mark portfolios. The practice’s caseload also includes opposition proceedings before the UKIPO, as well as matters relating to ownership and licensing issues, and the registration of domain names. Praised as ‘calm, considerate, and extremely knowledgeable’, Ian Gill leads the team, which includes Sarah Darby, who ‘offers pragmatic advice’ when handling global trade mark portfolios, and ‘superb’ senior associate Louise Foster. The practice has demonstrable experience across the food and beverage, fashion, pharmaceutical, life sciences, gaming and retail sectors; key clients include Virgin, Associated British Foods and Primark, to name a few.

Specialist IP firm Appleyard Lees assists multinational companies and household names, such as Moncler and Puma, as well as academic institutions, with strategic trade mark portfolio management, anti-counterfeiting matters, branding issues and litigation, often involving a cross-border element. With offices in Leeds, Halifax, Cambridge and Manchester, the team houses both attorneys and solicitors, in addition to dual-qualified practitioners, and has demonstrable experience in opposition proceedings at the UKIPO and the EUIPO. In Manchester, managing partner David Clark jointly leads the practice alongside Leeds-based Robert Cumming, while dual-qualified solicitor and attorney Chris Hoole, who operates from the firm’s office in Cambridge and is praised as ‘reliable and responsive’, was promoted to partner in April 2021. The team’s expertise spans the fashion, consumer goods, education and entertainment sectors.

Beck Greener LLP has a strong track record in contentious trade mark matters, often involving an international element, and has demonstrable experience in opposition and cancellation proceedings before the UKIPO. The team acts for multinational companies across the media, entertainment, cosmetics and fashions sectors, as well as start-ups and SMEs, and counts anti-counterfeiting matters and design enforcement issues in its workload. ‘Rock star’ Ian Bartlett leads the team and has experience before the UKIPO and Appointed Persons, while the team’s UK and EU filing and prosecution practice remains active with an office in Alicante, headed up by Rowland Buehrlen. Other key members of the team include Catherine Jewell, and associate trade mark attorneys Duncan Morgan, who is praised by one client as ‘simply tremendous’, and Kashif Syed.

Bird & Bird LLP’s team of attorneys and solicitors operate as a ‘buttoned-up, finely-oiled machine’, and remain active in the filing of UK and EU trade marks, as well as acting in opposition proceedings before the UKIPO. In the summer of 2022, the firm opened a new office in Dublin, which will host the EU operations of the practice’s client roster, including innovative enterprises, in addition to companies in the technology and life sciences sectors. Praised as ‘excellent in providing complex strategic advice in relation to trade mark portfolios’, dual qualified solicitor and trade mark attorney Mark Holah jointly leads the team alongside Allan Poulter, who has particular expertise in brand management matters. The practice, which is well-placed to leverage the firm’s international footprint to manage global trade mark portfolios and multi-jurisdictional disputes, has demonstrable experience in the retail, consumer goods, sports and gaming sectors.

Bristows LLP’s fully integrated team of attorneys and solicitors handles the full range of trade mark mandates, from brand creation with clearance searches to brand protection and global portfolio management, as well as opposition proceedings before the UKIPO and cancellation actions. The team, which is well-placed to leverage the firm’s international footprint when acting in multi-jurisdictional disputes, welcomed Nellie Jackson from Birketts LLP in July 2021, who has experience in brand protection and enforcement matters, in addition to trade mark portfolio management. Ian Gruselle, who has experience representing clients before the UKIPO and the EUIPO, leads the trade mark practice, while Simon Clark heads up the brands, design and copyright group. The team has demonstrable capability across a range of sectors, including the publishing, food and beverage, health, hospitality, fashion and retail industries.

Carpmaels & Ransford LLP is noted for its capability in opposition and appeal proceedings before the UKIPO and EUIPO, as well as handling trade mark mandates ranging from clearance searches and registration to licensing and transactional matters. The prosecution and opposition practice frequently collaborates with the firm’s dedicated litigation group to weather the increasing number of instructions on contentious trade mark matters and disputes. Roger Lush leads the practice and Jonathan Day, who is dual-qualified as a trade mark attorney and solicitor, has experience in brand protection, enforcement and management issues, in addition to opposition cases and EU brand clearance. The team has demonstrable expertise across the media and entertainment, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, technology, fashion and retail sectors. Senior associate and trade mark attorney Lara Elder is another key member of the team.

Cleveland Scott York’s trade mark practice takes a ‘proactive and diligent approach’ in opposition and invalidity proceedings before the UKIPO and the EUIPO, and has demonstrable experience in High Court and IPEC litigation. The team’s client roster spans the financial services, pharmaceutical, consumer goods, transport and fashion sectors, with key clients including Citigroup, Rolls-Royce plc and The National Trust, to name a few. Lorna Hobbs, who is praised for her ‘huge experience at the UKIPO’ and handles trade mark portfolio management of leading brands and filing programmes, jointly leads the team alongside Jonathan Clegg. The team houses practitioners who are dual-qualified as solicitors, including Claire Birro, who ‘finds creative solutions to knotty issues‘. Areas of growth for the practice include assisting US-based clients with UK and EU trade mark matters through their US attorneys.

Gill Jennings & Every LLP provides ‘thorough and diligent advice’ to its roster of clients, including multinational companies and UK-based corporates, as well as SMEs, start-ups and universities, on the filing of UK and EU trade mark applications and registrations, with offices in both London and Munich. Practice leader Alasdair MacQuarrie acts for pharmaceutical, entertainment, toys and games, and fashion sector clients on contentious mandates, including enforcement and anti-counterfeiting issues, and opposition and cancellation proceedings before the UKIPO and the EUIPO. Edward Carstairs, whose capability to ‘advise on different trade mark strategies is remarkable’, has experience in the food, drink and hospitality sectors. The team also counts freedom to operate issues, enforcement of rights against third party use, due diligence matters and strategic portfolio development and management in its caseload. Key clients include World Wrestling Entertainment, Under Armour and Pfizer, among others.

With several offices across the UK and internationally, Marks & Clerk’s sizeable team focuses on five key sectors: beauty and health, food and drink, entertainment, and fashion and retail, as well as technology, which crosses over from the firm’s patent team. On account of its international capability, the team remains one of the most active UK and EU trade mark filers and is well-placed to strategically manage global portfolios. Counting multinational companies and research institutions among its key roster of clients, opposition and appeal proceedings at the EUIPO continue to make up a large proportion of the practice’s caseload. From the firm’s office in Oxford, chairman Daniel Talbot-Ponsonby leads the team alongside Simon Mounteney and Tom Farrand, both of whom operate from the London office, while Oxford-based Samantha Collins and London-based Michael Barrett were promoted to partner in August 2021.

With offices across the UK, and in Munich, Luxembourg and Paris, Mathys & Squire LLP offers ‘highly targeted advice’ on the full range of trade mark protection and prosecution matters, from filings and renewals of UK and EU trade mark applications to opposition proceedings and invalidation actions. Noted for its cross-border capability, the team of attorneys is well-placed to leverage the expertise of the firm’s litigation practice to handle trade mark disputes in the High Court and the IPEC. ‘Deeply experienced and highly knowledgeable’ practice co-leader Margaret Arnott operates from the firm’s office in London and heads up the firm’s litigation practice. Based in Manchester, practice co-leader Gary Johnston handles anti-counterfeiting matters and has experience in contentious proceedings and appeals. The team’s client roster includes international corporations, as well as start-ups and SMEs, across the automotive, food and beverage, energy, cosmetics and technology sectors.

Anglo-German firm Maucher Jenkins has demonstrable experience in filing and prosecuting trade mark applications for clients across the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, medical devices, and media and entertainment sectors, as well as handling matters pertaining to domain names, copyrights and cybersquatting issues. The team frequently collaborates with the firm’s German offices to advise on contentious mandates, often involving an international element, and maintains a strong relationship with the offices in Switzerland and China. Dual-qualified trade mark attorney and High Court litigator Katie Cameron handles opposition proceedings before the EUIPO, while Angela Fox is qualified as a solicitor, Higher Courts litigator and advocate, trade mark attorney and New York attorney at law, bringing experience in domain name disputes and trade mark infringement matters. Cameron and Fox lead the practice alongside the ‘amazing‘ Tanya Buckley, who is noted for her expertise in the pharmaceutical, medical devices and biotech sectors.

Praised for its ‘impressive international reach’, Reddie & Grose LLP has demonstrable capability in the strategic development and management of trade mark portfolios for clients across the technology and financial sectors. With additional experience in the automotive, entertainment, electronics and telecoms industries, the team remains active in the filing of UK and EU trade mark applications, and counts opposition proceedings and enforcement matters in its caseload. Helen Wakerley, who acts for clients in the automotive sector, jointly leads the trade mark team alongside Patrick Lloyd, while chairman Alice Findlay, who has ‘oodles of experience, excellent knowledge and good commercial sense’, and Jan Vleck also oversee the practice. Other key members of the team include Tom Sharman, who focuses on assisting UK-based clients in developing and managing their trade mark portfolios.

Praised for providing ‘down-to-earth and pragmatic advice’, Venner Shipley LLP manages the UK, EU and global trade mark portfolios FTSE 100 companies and international corporations, as well as SMEs and start-ups. Since the firm’s merger with Brookes IP, the practice’s direct client roster continues to grow and the team is well-placed to leverage the expertise of the firm’s office in Munich on post-Brexit matters. Registry opposition and appeal proceedings, as well as domestic and cross-border litigation, take up a large proportion of the practice’s caseload. In Tunbridge Wells, Clare Turnbull leads the practice and the ‘exemplary’ Jane Martin has experience in international searching and filing programmes, while London-based David Birchall is qualified as both a UK and Irish solicitor and a UK and European chartered trade mark attorney. Also in London, other key members of the team include chartered UK trade mark attorneys Yoann Rousseau, Gloria Parmesan and Camilla Sexton.

Long-standing domestic and international clients continue to entrust Elkington + Fife LLP with the development and management of their UK and EU trade mark portfolios. Significant client wins include Fulham FC and the team has seen an increase in UK opposition and filing matters from commercial firms. The ‘venerable’ Chris McLeod, who operates from the firm’s London office and ‘can be relied on to provide direct, no-frills advice’, leads the practice and Sevenoaks-based Mark Scott focuses on design matters for key clients, including Corning and Xylem. In the London office, Allister McManus ‘is an associate on the rise’.

Praised for its ‘incredible knowledge of soft IP matters’, Fieldfisher has an active contentious registry practice and is well-placed to leverage the expertise of the firm’s ‘experienced litigators’ to represent clients in high-profile disputes. The team, which has demonstrable experience in developing and managing global trade mark portfolios, is noted for its expertise in the technology, life sciences, media and retail sectors. Leighton Cassidy jointly leads the practice alongside John Linneker, and dual-qualified solicitor and trade mark attorney Hastings Guise handles multi-jurisdictional clearance and trade mark protection projects. With the firm’s international footprint, the team acts for multinational brand owners and well-known domestic companies, as well as SMEs and start-ups.

Mishcon de Reya LLP provides a ‘seamless end-to-end service’ to clients across the fashion, retail, media and entertainment, automotive and pharmaceutical sectors and covers the full spectrum of trade mark prosecution matters, from searches and filing programmes to registry proceedings, as well as developing international portfolios. The team is noted for its expertise in enforcement mandates and is well-placed to leverage the firm’s global footprint to act for US, Chinese, Indian, Japanese and EU firms seeking advice on trade mark matters. Under the ‘fantastic direction’ of Sally Britton, the practice includes litigator David Rose, who is praised as ‘excellent in guiding clients through registrations to contentious litigation’.

Osborne Clarke LLP has demonstrable experience in managing international trade mark portfolios for clients across the technology, retail and life sciences and healthcare sectors, in addition to advising on trade mark issues faced by clients when entering emerging markets, including China and the Middle East. The team, which is led by experienced litigator Arty Rajendra, also counts trade mark prosecution and enforcement proceedings in its caseload. Richard May advises on trade mark protection matters arising out of the technology, gaming, retail and life sciences sectors, and trade mark attorney Roshani Muniweera joined from Allen & Overy LLP a month before director Mark Foreman retired in December 2021. Other key members of the team include litigator Robert Guthrie, senior trade mark attorney Leanne Gulliver and trade mark attorney Daniel Ramos.

Counting some of the UK’s largest non-profit organisations among its key roster of clients, Bates Wells is ‘highly capable in supporting the registration and protection of a charity’s trade marks’. The team, which is led by Mathew Healey, also acts for commercial clients and has demonstrable experience in handling clearance, enforcement, portfolio management and licensing matters, as well as contentious proceedings before the UKIPO and IPEC. Recently promoted partner Catharina Waller is praised for her ‘depth of insight, pragmatic approach and all-round wisdom’.

Dentons’ ‘cohesive’ team focuses on the strategic management of trade mark portfolios for international brands and UK-based companies across the technology, food and beverage, energy, consumer products and retail sectors. The team is well-placed to leverage the firm’s global footprint to advise on multi-jurisdictional mandates, ranging from licensing agreements and opposition and cancellation proceedings before the UKIPO to enforcement matters and high-profile trade mark disputes. ‘Stand-out’ solicitor Anna Copeman leads the practice and senior trade mark attorney Anna Brown advises on all aspects of trade mark and design prosecution work.

Housing a team of trade mark attorneys and litigators, Lewis Silkin manages international trade mark portfolios and handles a broad range of prosecution matters, while also representing clients in cross-border trade mark disputes. The team’s client roster, which includes start-ups and SMEs, UK and Ireland-based companies, as well as overseas investors, has expanded since its merger with specialist IP firm Forde Campbell in Belfast. Following the departure of Dominic Farnsworth to Locke Lord LLP in January 2022, Tom Gaunt leads the team and Nick Bowie, who handles online enforcement mandates and domain name disputes, was promoted to partner in April 2022.

Swindell & Pearson Ltd has demonstrable experience in the development and management of trade mark portfolios for regional, national and international clients across the retail, fashion, wellbeing, healthcare and manufacturing sectors, among others. The team, which is noted for its capability in litigation, continues to see an increase in UK trade mark filings and opposition proceedings before the UKIPO. In the firm’s Derby office, senior director Nick Womsley, who has considerable experience in the preparation, acquisition and enforcement of trade marks, leads the practice and Kieron Taylor is another key member of the team.