Next Generation Partners

Intellectual property in Wales

Blake Morgan LLP

The 'exceptionally knowledgeable' team at Blake Morgan LLP provides 'first-class' advice to public and private sector clients, including those within the media and retail space, across a broad swathe of non-contentious and contentious IP matters. Team head Lee Fisher has deep knowledge across both "hard" and "soft" IP, leveraging his broader commercial litigation skills to good effect for clients bringing or defending claims, including in injunctive proceedings. Joanna Corbett-Simmons also continues to develop a strong reputation in relation to IP litigation, including on disputes relating to the breach of confidentiality and misuse of confidential information.


Practice head(s):

Lee Fisher


Other key lawyers:

Sarah Whittle; Joanna Corbett-Simmons


Testimonials

‘The team are exceptionally knowledgeable and provide first-class advice.’

They were efficient, to the point, but empathetic and very keen that we not only understood the options, but that everyone in our team understood why they were giving the advice they were.’

 

Key clients

Clarins (UK) Limited


University of South Wales Trinity Saint Davids


Personnel Hygiene Services Limited


Dot on Technologies Limited


Aquaspira Limited


Work highlights


  • Advised Clarins (UK) Limited in relation to grey market imports following the UK’s exit from the European Union including acting on injunctive proceedings against a retailer selling goods outside of the selective distribution network.
  • Provided a government backed IP Audit service to an SME to fully review the existing and potential IP of the business and advise as to the existing commercial licensing terms.
  • Advised eight former employees of Identity Experts Limited in defending injunctive proceedings alleging breach of contract, fiduciary duties and restrictive covenants, misuse of confidential information and unlawful means conspiracy arising out of a team move.

Capital Law Limited

Capital Law Limited handles non-contentious and contentious IP work as a function of its broader commercial law and commercial litigation offerings at the firm. Commercial head Maria Coggins is well-versed in advising technology, media and sports clients on contractual issues regarding the effective commercialisation of their IPR. Associate Kellsey Logue  regularly provides IP due diligence concomitant to M&A work handled by the firm, as well as providing an IP auditing service to help clients develop and implement effective IP strategies.

Practice head(s):

Maria Coggins


Other key lawyers:

Chris Coughlan; Kellsey Logue; Tod Davies; Simon Williams; Sarah Morgan;


Key clients

TXO Systems Limited


Pixsy Inc.


Cardiff City Football Club Limited


NUBY UK LLP


Clear Angle Studios Limited


Lean Competency Services Ltd


Ultimate Battery Company


Sero Life Limited


University of South Wales


Handmade Films Group


Cardiff Metropolitan University


Marcos Cars Limited


Virtus Tech Limited


Solicitors Regulation Authority


Work highlights


  • Advised Ultimate Battery Company on their IP strategy in connection with collaborating and carrying out research and development activities with universities.
  • Advised Marcos Cars Limited in a business critical trade mark dispute against Marcos Sportscars Limited.
  • Supporting Clear Angle Studios (CAS) on the protection and exploitation of their proprietary intellectual property and software for the purposes of managing and creating 3D images to be used in computer games.

Geldards LLP

Geldards LLP's balanced practice represents private and public sector clients across non-contentious and contentious IP matters relating to trade marks, copyright, design rights and patents. Vastly experienced team head Michael Lindsey continues to protect and litigate the IPR of numerous well-known companies/brands, including as it relates to their trade marks. Senior associate Gosia Evans leverages her broader commercial litigation smarts to good effect for clients (including those within the digital space) engaged in IP infringement matters, as well as ownership and licensing disputes. On the non-contentious front, Chris Williams regularly advises clients on IP commercialisation strategies as a function of his role as head of commercial law, while Justin Harrington is particularly adept at advising on fintech/insurtech-related matters.

Practice head(s):

Michael Lindsey


Other key lawyers:

Chris Williams; Justin Harrington; Gosia Evans


Key clients

Sofa Brands International Ltd


Mountain Warehouse Limited


Hoover Limited


British Boxing Board of Control Limited


CanSense Group Limited


The Welsh Whisky Company Limited


G Plan Upholstery Limited


Work highlights


  • Advise the Welsh Whisky Company, proprietors of Penderyn Distillery, in relation to an endorsement agreement involving various Intellectual Property rights with former top Welsh football player, Gareth Bale.
  • Advise Sofa Brands International in relation to management and enforcement of their Intellectual Property rights.
  • Advised G Plan Upholstery Ltd on its collaboration agreement with Jay Blades of the BBC’s The Repair Shop in relation to designing and endorsing a furniture range to be sold via major UK retailers.

Harrison Clark Rickerbys

IP law forms a central pillar of Harrison Clark Rickerbys‘ work flow out of its Cardiff office, and since it was established in 2020 the team’s offering has continued to grow, with noted IP litigator Wayne Beynon the latest renowned practitioner to join the team following his arrival from Capital Law Limited in January 2023. Beynon’s arrival adds more balance to the practice, which had hitherto had more of a non-contentious focus, particularly within the technology sector – an area that team head David Beynon  has vast experience negotiating and drafting complex commercial contracts ensuring the effective commercialisation of IPR. The team is rounded out at a partner level by Nicola McNeely, who puts forward ‘practical and commercially sensible solutions’ to clients including on cutting-edge IP matters relating to blockchain and digital assets.




Practice head(s):

David Beynon


Other key lawyers:

Nicola McNeely; Wayne Beynon


Testimonials

‘The team quickly and effectively: 1) Identified the level of my experience with IP legalities 2) Understood the particular applications of the technology under development and therefore potential associated commercial risks 3) Communicated the situation and options clearly, demonstrating deep prior relevant experience of similar experiences.’

‘Nicola McNeely stands a class apart. She communicates the most complicated of legal situations in the most simple and straight forwards terms so all parties may grasp the salient points.’

‘Nicola McNeely puts forward practical and commercially sensible solutions to address the challenges faced.’

‘Nicola McNeely is an asset to any team as works harder, more diligently and goes the “extra yard” to more than exceed her client’s expectations of all the lawyers that I have had the pleasure to work with during my career.’

Key clients

Tessitura Network, Inc.


Prima Dental Manufacturing Limited


allpay Limited


ITS Software Systems Limited


Carbon Technology Research Foundation CIC


Ripl Ltd


SY Holdings Limited


Concrete Canvas Limited


Heart Safe Communities UK


Open Medical Limited


Work highlights


  • Advise Tessitura Network, a US headquartered global provider of innovative relationship management and ticketing platforms, across range of IP and licencing related matters.
  • Act for fintech business, allpay limited, across a broad range of IP- related matters.
  • Advise Prima Dental Manufacturing Limited in respect of its strategically important research and development collaboration with a leading academic institution.

Acuity Law

Led by Cordelia Payne, who divides her time between the firm’s Cardiff and London offices, the ‘very knowledgeable and responsive‘ team at Acuity Law provides ‘proactive and solutions-driven advice’ to a private sector- focused client base on the protection, commercialisation and enforcement of their IPR. Much of Payne’s workload relates to contentious matters for retail clients, including on trade mark and passing off infringements, an area that, as well as UK-based work she also has expertise handling matters before the EUIPO. The arrival in January 2022 from Vistra Corporate Law of the ‘very knowledgeable and hardworking’ Declan Goodwin  strengthens the team’s ability to advise clients on the effective commercialisation of their IPR.


Practice head(s):

Cordelia Payne


Other key lawyers:

Aisha Wardell; Declan Goodwin


Testimonials

‘The team is very knowledgeable and responsive. They understand our business and provide proactive and solutions-driven advice.’

‘Declan Goodwin has been a star. He understands our business, is proactive, very knowledgeable and hardworking.’

 

Key clients

AU Vodka Limited


Alma de Ace Limited


BIPVCo


Elizabeth Day


REDA Industrial Materials FZE


Portman Healthcare Limited


One Rebel Limited


Luther Pendragon Holdings


Arra Distribution Limited


Really Epic Dog Limited


DST Innovations Limited


Richard Mire t/a RDM Creations


Bluestone Resorts


Guru Systems


Work highlights


  • Acting for up-and-coming fashion brand, Alma de Ace, in a design right infringement claim against a major high street brand and plc which resulted in a favourable settlement to our client.
  • Advising REDA Industrial Materials FZE, the Dubai based, international chemical distribution company on its brand protection matters for its expanding number of products with a particular focus on EU protection.
  • Acting for premium, Welsh-based, vodka brand, AU Vodka in relation to a passing off claim against a competing Welsh vodka brand, NE10 Vodka, with a similar looking bottle and product.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP

Led by Matthew Gough Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP is particularly adept at advising on non-contentious IP matters, including on the effective commercialisation of IPR and on digitisation strategies for clients. Niche areas of strength include consumer law compliance and work for software providers and users of software on licensing matters. The financial services sector is also a key area of focus, with Eve England , the other partner in the group, regularly providing IP due diligence for fund client Pollen Street Capital on its M&A work in the sector.


Practice head(s):

Matthew Gough


Other key lawyers:

Eve England; Zoe Haden


Key clients

Aon Plc


Pollen Street Capital Limited


Specialist Risk Group


Schools Software Solutions Limited


Multiple retailers, manufacturers and leisure businesses (UK and international)


Work highlights


Hugh James

Led by Aled Walters , who was formerly in-house counsel at S4C, Hugh James is noted for its ability to 'manage all aspects of the legal framework surrounding IP in the media industry'.  On the contentious front, the 'exceptional' Tracey Singlehurst-Ward excels in handling media-related defamation matters, as well as being adept at representing clients on copyright and trade mark infringements, breach of confidence and passing off matters.


Practice head(s):

Aled Walters


Other key lawyers:

Tracey Singlehurst-Ward; Emily Powell; Ilan Jones


Testimonials

‘Hugh James delivers a 360 degree legal service which has the scale and experience in-house to deal with every eventuality. In terms of IP, the team have the knowledge and expertise to deal with projects of all sizes and complexity.’

We work with Hugh James because of their professionalism and their ability to manage all aspects of the legal framework surrounding IP in the media industry. Whether we are working in the US, Europe or the UK the team are capable of managing and protecting our IP.’

‘Aled Walters brings a wealth of experience when dealing with IP across the board in the media sector. Aled always works in a positive and effective way to deliver the best result for his clients and we have been extremely grateful for that.’

‘The genuinely exceptional Tracey Singlehurst-Ward is charming, resilient and brilliant.’


Key clients

SJJ System Services Limited


Bar 44 Limited


Route Media


Inspired Entertainment Inc


Celtic Manor Resort


Wales International Convention Centre


Welsh Government


Wildflame Productions Limited


Novomatic Netherlands B.V.


Work highlights