Addleshaw Goddard’s full service intellectual property team handles work across the practice area, including IP portfolio management, contentious and non-contentious IP. The department advises clients within the retail and consumer, financial services and energy sectors. Paul Bentham leads the team, handling a broad range of intellectual property matters whilst also heading up the firm’s brands and designs group. James Whittaker focuses on the acquisition and exploitation of intellectual property rights. Legal director Nadine Waters handles the full scope of non-contentious intellectual property issues, often in the context of corporate and finance transactions.

Clarke Willmott LLP advises a range of high-profile international clients across sectors on the protection, enforcement and exploitation of their intellectual property rights. The department is particularly recognised for its substantial trade mark filings practice and anti-counterfeiting expertise. Practice head Roy Crozier and Andrew Stone are the key contacts.

HGF Law, a specialist IP firm, acts for clients within the life sciences, education and retail sectors on soft and hard IP matters. The team is able to draw on teams of specialist patent and trade mark attorney colleagues for technical advice. Practice head Janet Knowles has particular expertise within the life sciences industry and in working with educational institutions and their spin-out companies. Legal director Michelle Davies is a transactional IP specialist. Antony Gold stepped down as partner in 2021 and is now a consultant for the practice.

Brandsmiths handles contentious and non-contentious IP matters for clients spanning the fashion, retail and media sectors. Michael Forrester heads the Manchester team, dealing with contentious matters involving registered and unregistered designs, trade marks and passing off. Co-head Andrew Lee is based in the London office. Associate Jacob O’Brien advises technology companies and brands on the enforcement, protection and exploitation of their intellectual property rights, Fellow associate John Battersby focuses on IP disputes.

DLA Piper advises local, national and international clients across a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, food and beverage, consumer goods, fashion and retail. Sarah Bell oversees the firm’s North West offering. Lee Brierley heads the Manchester office, handling matters in relation to brand acquisition, technology partnering arrangements and, licensing and manufacturing agreements. Peter Brook leads the Liverpool office and deals with commercial non-contentious IP issues. Legal director Jim McDonnell focuses on technology transactions and IP litigation.

DWF is instructed by clients on contentious and non-contentious IP matters. On the contentious side, the specialist IP litigation practice advises leading brands, manufacturers and retailers across the full spectrum of intellectual property rights; this includes patent, design, copyright, trade mark disputes and breach of confidence claims. The non-contentious team offer expertise in brand exploitation. Asima Rana heads the IP litigation team. Co-head James Lonsdale leads the non-contentious department, focusing on the acquisition and disposal of IP rights, patent and trade mark licensing and R&D agreements.

Pannone Corporate LLP acts for clients in the retail, fashion and technology sectors. The litigation lawyers in the practice are recognised for advising clients on fashion disputes, franchise litigation and employee breach of restrictive covenant disputes. On the non-contentious side, the team specialises in brand licensing, sponsorship agreements, and technology, patent and know how licensing. Melanie McGuirk heads the IP and media litigation teams, handling trade mark infringement, passing off and design rights, while Amy Chandler leads the non-contentious side of the practice. Sarah Bazaraa focuses on contentious IP disputes in the fashion and retail sectors.

TLT operates a dedicated specialist chemical, mechanical and electrical engineering patent disputes practice with UK and international elements. The contentious side of the department includes a specialist design dispute practice and handles claims relating to trade mark and copyright infringement, passing off and domain name dispute resolution. The non-contentious side of the team focuses on the strategic licensing of existing IP rights, combination of existing IP to deliver new products and solutions, and managing the transfer of IP in the context of major commercial transactions. Graeme Orchison leads the team, offering expertise in brand protection and anti-counterfeiting strategies for retail clients. David Gardner works on non-contentious matters, handling ownership and licensing, branding and promotion issues.

Gateley Plc assists clients with brand licensing, complex technology exploitation and IP litigation across ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ IP issues. The practice focuses on the technology and life sciences, sport, retail and manufacturing sectors. Jonathan Moakes heads the team, recommended as an IP litigator and for his expertise in dealing with life sciences and technology-related matters. Legal director Robert Lye acts for clients on both contentious and non-contentious IP issues.

Kuit Steinart Levy LLP advises on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious IP law, with a particular focus on licensing, software and database protection, franchising, patent litigation and international trade mark litigation. The practice acts for clients across the fashion, sports, retail and entertainment industries. Bruce Jones heads the team and is dually qualified as a European Patent Attorney. Consultant Ian Morris and Claire Meyers focus on contentious work, while senior associate Yasmin Kalantari advises clients across a variety of sectors on IP disputes.

Myerson Solicitors LLP advises a diverse range of clients, comprising wealthy individuals, owner-managed businesses, SMEs and PLCs on a broad range of IP matters, ranging from initial registration and exploitation through to protection and enforcement. The specialist IP litigation team also handles business disputes involving intellectual property rights. Carla Murray and Tim Norman lead the practice.

Gorvins Solicitors advises clients across intellectual property matters including copyright, design rights and trade marks. The team also handles intellectual property licenses either on a stand-alone basis or as part of a wider commercial or corporate arrangement. Andrew Curwen, head of the corporate/M&A department, leads the team and focuses on non-contentious IP work. Co-head Guy Lightowler acts for clients on IP disputes, while Christian Mancier deals with IP issues that arise during corporate transactions.

Irwin Mitchell handles a diverse range of IP work for clients, including copyright, trade marks, patents and design issues. Practice head Laura Harper leads the team and is recognised for her work advising clients within the creative industries and digital sectors on complex IP matters.