Harbottle & Lewis LLP

Intellectual Property and Publishing

Shireen is a partner and head of our intellectual property and publishing practices.

Shireen advises on all types of intellectual property, with a particular emphasis on pragmatic and cost effective disputes and strategic advice. She also provides advice on the protection of IP, IP audits, the exploitation and disposal of IP and the management and enforcement programmes Her 30 years’ experience means that she is a trusted adviser to many leading businesses and has deep and strong experience in a number of sectors and issues.

Shireen works with clients in a wide range of sectors, including FMCG, retail, fashion, film, TV and theatre, publishing, music, video games and travel. She has a particular interest in the publishing industry (advising a number of leading publishers, authors, literary estates and content platforms) and in cutting edge issues such as the intersection between AI and IP.

Shireen has been listed as both a recommended IP lawyer and a recommended publishing lawyer by Chambers and The Legal 500 for many years. She has been ranked by IP Stars as a ‘Top 250 Women in IP 2025’, ‘Trade mark star 2025’, and ‘Transactions Star 2025’.

Shireen was a council member of the Advertising Standards Authority, adjudicating on advertising complaints, for six years. She currently sits on the Portman Group Independent Complaints Panel and the Games Rating Authority Appeals Panel.

Trained, Clifford Chance; qualified 1989, assistant solicitor 1989-1993; Assistant solicitor, Ashursts 1993-97; Partner, Rouse Legal (formerly Willoughby & Partners) 1997-2008; Partner, Harbottle & Lewis 2009 to present;

Shireen is a member of the Video Standards Council Appeals Panel and a former member and NED of the Advertising Standards Authority.

Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Blackburn; Balliol College, Oxford (MA Hons PPE)