Sahira Khwaja > Hogan Lovells International LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Hogan Lovells International LLP
ATLANTIC HOUSE
HOLBORN VIADUCT
LONDON
EC1A 2FG
England

Work Department

Intellectual Property

Position

Partner

Career

Sahira Khwaja works with her clients to protect their brands and underlying Intellectual Property (IP) rights. Sahira helps her clients obtain, protect, and commercialize these assets so that they are of the most benefit and use to her clients’ businesses. Sahira leads our brands practice in London and is the co-head of the firm’s Fashion and Retail group.

Many of Sahira’s clients are in the consumer and technology and telecommunications sectors, and she has a keen knowledge and understanding of the underlying commercial drivers for those businesses. She gives her clients commercially pragmatic advice that fits the demands of the sectors and markets in which they operate. She helps her clients register new IP rights for new brands and products, has assisted them in stopping their competitors from misusing their IP and in licensing, and franchising them to take advantage of new business opportunities.

Sahira’s career began at one of the UK’s leading IP boutique firms before she joined Hogan Lovells in 2001 as an associate, becoming a partner in 2012. Sahira has worked in-house, on secondment to a major UK terrestrial broadcaster where she spent two years launching new television channels, closing down others, and negotiating EPG, platform, and carriage arrangements.

Languages

English

Memberships

International Trademark Association (INTA).

Education

Diploma (Intellectual Property Law and Practice), University of Bristol, 1999.

M.A. (Law), University of Cambridge, St Catharine’s College, 1991.

Lawyer Rankings

London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design

Praised for its ‘timely, accurate and sound advice’, Hogan Lovells International LLP counts household name brands in its client roster, advising on various UK prosecution matters, as well as managing global trade mark portfolios. The practice is well-versed in handling matters arising from the telecoms and automotive sectors. ‘Expert’ Joel Smith, who is reputed for his work on high-profile disputes, IP contractual matters and IP-rich transactions, jointly leads the team alongside Sahira Khwaja, who spearheads the firm’s brands practice, conducting numerous trade mark infringement and portfolio matters for luxury brands in particular. Commended for her ‘excellent client management skills’, senior associate Emily Sharkey is another key contact in the group.

London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport

Sponsorship and partnership agreements for sponsors, competition rights holders and team competitors across football, golf, F1 and the Paralympics are frequent mandates for Hogan Lovells International LLP‘s interdisciplinary sports team. Richard Welfare, who heads up the practice, is regularly supported by IP and TMT specialist Sahira Khwaja. Penny Powell is a name to note for motorsport-related M&A instructions, while head of the real estate practice Daniel Norris is also a key contact.