The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - Solicitors > South West > Intellectual property

Burges Salmon LLP acts for major international brands and has a particularly strong list of US-based clients, including Starbucks, Victoria's Secret and the Discovery Channel. The ongoing expansion of its practice is evidenced by the fact that the firm was recently appointed to the IP panels of John Lewis/Waitrose and the BBC/BBC Studios. Practice head Jeremy Dickerson is experienced in both transactional and contentious issues; his expertise includes the protection and enforcement of IP rights, trade mark infringement and portfolio management. Helen Scott-Lawler has advised RAC and Fever-Tree on technology transfer and IP issues relating to sponsorship and advertising. Senior associate Emily Roberts specialises primarily in contentious IP and often supports Dickerson on infringement matters.

Osborne Clarke, which is noted for its sector-focused offering, has an IP practice which is embedded in multiple teams across the firm. Its recent work has spanned industries such as digital business and technology, food and drink, transport and healthcare. Led by team head Clare Robinson, the group particularly excels in handling cross-border IP issues for household-name clients. Equally strong in advisory and contentious matters, it covers trade mark filings, commercial IP projects, copyright infringement and patent registration and enforcement. Tamara Quinn joined from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP.

Ashfords LLP has a highly reputed trade mark capability and its sizeable team manages the worldwide portfolios of clients such as Penhaligon's, Princess Yachts and Majestic Wine. The firm fields three chartered trade mark attorneys, and has increased the number of filings it handles year on year. Practice head Mark Lomas, who specialises in the commercial exploitation of IP rights on an international scale, focuses on the luxury retail goods and medical devices sectors. Team head Carl Steele works alongside Lomas in the retail goods sector.

Foot Anstey acts for a wide range of household name clients, including Sky and Harper Collins, on contentious and non-contentious matters. The firm handles numerous disputes in the patent litigation arena. In addition, it assists clients with the management of IP portfolios. Practice head Paul Cox has particular experience of patent infringement claims, and he also assists clients with filing and prosecuting trade marks and designs all around the world, as well as conducting brand clearance searches. Neil Parkes has extensive expertise in contentious IP, anti-piracy and media litigation, and counts several high profile media providers as his clients. Rachel Warren specialises in contentious litigation up to the High Court.

Specialist IP firm Humphreys & Co. predominantly handles contentious work, notably passing off, design and copyright work, and trade mark prosecution, with a substantial international element. Ruth Annand is a Lord Chancellor's Appointed Person to hear Trade Marks Registry appeals, and is a specialist in this area of law. Name partner Robert Humphreys leads the practice, and often works with Tristan Morse, whose capabilities span both contentious and non-contentious matters.

Although Michelmores LLP's IP practice has a strong focus on the South West market, it is gaining increasing prominence nationally, with it being recognised for its capabilities in cross-border matters. Practice co-heads Tim Richards and David Thompson lead the contentious and non-contentious offerings respectively. Charles Courtenay, who recently joined from Latham & Watkins LLP, is dual-qualified to practise in the US and England and Wales. Working closely with colleagues in the tax and competition teams, the IP group manages copyright and design rights for large-scale projects, and also assists clients with identifying and protecting rights, trade marks and patents.

TLT's full-service IP practice undertakes both contentious and advisory roles for a sizeable number of clients nationally and internationally. It has seen rapid growth in its workload across a number of industries, including the food and beverages sector, where Jo Pritchard and Dan Read advise on portfolio management, contentious disputes and IP transactional work. The team also works with start-ups and upscale companies in devising IP protection measures and strengthening trade marks. James Touzel leads the practice.

DAC Beachcroft LLP advises a broad range of clients on the protection, exploitation and enforcement of IP assets, as well as portfolio management and trade mark filings. Andrew Allan-Jones advises on intellectual property disputes, licensing deals and corporate transactions.

Mewburn Ellis LLP handles IP issues Europe-wide for clients ranging from start-ups to international suppliers. Its team advises on contentious and non-contentious issues associated with trade marks and patents. The firm's Bristol office often works closely with the London and Munich offices on matters with a cross-border dimension. Sean Jauss is a name to note.

Thrings LLP has an excellent reputation among clients based in the South West, including owner-managed businesses and large companies. It is also active in cross-border work, generating mandates from places as far afield as Canada and Australia. Led by Graeme Fearon, the team assists clients with applications, registrations, contracts and enforcement. The food and beverages, digital and media, and retail and leisure sectors are among the areas of strength for the group.

Doug Locke leads the team at VWV, which has a particularly strong track record in the education sector. It acts for a large number of schools, and also counts more than 50 universities as clients. The scope of its work includes advising on international school licensing projects and cross-border school trade mark prosecutions, as well as assisting universities with the protection and commercialisation of IP. Elsewhere, the team provides trade mark advice to clients ranging in size from start-up companies to multinational corporations. It is a first port of call for many clients in the charities sector in Bristol. The firm also works with international agents on contentious trade mark matters.

BPE Solicitors LLP's credentials in the IP sphere are illustrated by the fact that it regularly generates referral work from international law firms. Also notable is that its trade mark work is often of a cross-border nature. Practice heads Iain Garfield and Riyaz Jariwalla specialise in advisory and contentious work respectively. Garfield assists clients with trade mark and design registrations, trade mark and patent licensing agreements, trade mark oppositions and cancellations, and the protection of IP brand rights. Jariwalla is experienced in IP disputes involving trade marks, patents, copyright infringements and confidentiality breaches.

Keystone Law assists businesses, which range from start-ups to large corporations, with copyright and database rights, trade mark registrations, patent licensing and dispute resolution. Jessica Bent, who is a recent arrival from Royds Withy King, advises on both contentious and non-contentious issues. Charlie White, who joined from Edwin Coe LLP, is experienced in IP-related commercial contracts and data protection.

Willans LLP strengthened its non-contentious IP offering by hiring consultant solicitor Kym Fletcher from a global sporting federation in 2018. Fletcher has 25 years of private practice and in-house experience, and is is particularly knowledgeable about the sports, media and technology markets. On the contentious side, team head Paul Gordon handles disputes involving trade mark, design right, copyright infringements and passing off claims. Gordon has acted for clients in a number of complex High Court and IPEC cases. Other notable practitioners are Nick Cox, senior associate Nick Southwell and solicitor Kathie Duthie.

Battens Solicitors Limited's group heads are Brian Levine and Peter Livingstone, who lead on the firm's non-contentious and contentious IP work respectively. The firm combines a first-rate media and entertainment practice with extensive IP expertise to assist clients in the industry (primarily rights holders) with a full range of issues. The team's experience includes handling licensing deals for TV producers, contract arrangements for media production companies and negotiating publishing rights. Complex infringement matters are are an area of growth for the practice.

Laceys' IP team works in close conjunction with the firm's corporate and commercial teams to advise clients on trade mark registrations, copyright protection and the negotiation of distribution contracts for clients in the music and entertainment industries. In addition, the team has a strong track record in contentious disputes, notably pursuing infringement claims and defending clients in trade mark disputes. Brendan Herbert, who recently made partner, is the key name in the disputes space. Luke English mainly handles advisory matters.

Bath-based Royds Withy King is proficient in both advisory and contentious IP, with notable expertise in licensing contracts and dispute resolution. Philip Banks-Welsh is the name to note.

Steer & Co advises clients on all aspects of the IP lifecycle; its work ranges from product inception and trade mark registration to drafting franchising contracts and dispute resolution. The practice has had a marked uptick in IP work from clients in the tech and digital sectors, advising on AI products and research and development licensing. Name partner Rebecca Steer is supported by senior associate Nic Ruesink-Brown, who is a recent arrival from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP.