Maier Blackburn LLP > Oxford, England > Firm Profile
Maier Blackburn LLP Offices
PRAMA HOUSE
267 BANBURY ROAD
OXFORD
OX2 7HT
England
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Maier Blackburn LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media and entertainment Tier 1
Deeply entrenched in the publishing industry, Maier Blackburn LLP handles a variety of IP matters for clients such as The Tolkien Estate and Agatha Christie Limited. Steven Maier
handles the contentious side and in a recent highlight represented The Tolkien Estate in a claim against a cryptocurrency platform regarding the use of names from Tolkien’s works. An expert in cross-border copyright, trade, and academic publishing, Cathleen Blackburn handles the non-contentious part of the practice.Practice head(s):
Steven Maier; Cathleen Blackburn
Testimonials
‘Sensitive and emphatic introductory discussions led to an immediate rapport being established that created a feeling of security and support that had been missing with inquiries at other firms.’
‘A very impressive understanding of what are probably uncommon issues made more complicated by the ever-shifting Covid situation.’
‘Cathleen Blackburn was very careful to understand fully the nuances of our position, and helped me reach contractual clauses that both protected our position while also enabling us to be generous should we deem that necessary.’
Key clients
The Tolkien Estate Limited
Agatha Christie Limited
Oxford University Press
M C Beaton Literary Estate
Watership Down Enterprises Limited
The Cochraine Collaboration
McFarland & Company Publishers
Romantic Novelists’ Association
Ayebia Clarke Publishing
Work highlights
- Advised The Tolkien Estate Limited in WIPO and elsewhere to shut down “JRRToken” cryptocurrency.
- Advised Agatha Christie Limited on a puzzle games claim.
- Advised US client McFarland & Company Publishers in UK litigation proceedings.
TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property Tier 2
Boutique firm Maier Blackburn LLP focuses on the creative industries, advising publishers, TV and film production companies, and interactive entertainment clients on their IP. Whereas Cathleen Blackburnis an expert in cross-border copyright in trade and academic publishing, Steven Maier focuses on the contentious side, handling privacy, libel, copyright, trade mark, and domain names.Practice head(s):
Steven Maier; Cathleen Blackburn
Key clients
The Tolkien Estate Limited
Agatha Christie Limited
Oxford University Press
M C Beaton Literary Estate
Watership Down Enterprises Limited
The Cochrane Collaboration
McFarland & Company Publishers
Romantic Novelists’ Association
Ayebia Clarke Publishing
Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 Tier 4
Maier Blackburn LLP advises publishing houses and estates of writers in copyright, trademark, and general commercial disputes. The 'exceptionally insightful' Steven Maierleads the litigation practice and focuses his expertise on media law, including libel and privacy, as well as confidential information. Additionally, he is appointed domain name adjudicator at WIPO and Nominet.UK panels.Practice head(s):
Steven Maier
Testimonials
‘Deep expertise in publishing and copyright law, coupled with fair-mindedness and a practical approach.’
‘In working with Steven Maier, we found him to be exceptionally insightful in analysing and discussing complex matters, always applying just the right touch in communications. He was unfailingly prompt and easy to work with.’
Key clients
The Tolkien Estate Limited
Agatha Christie Limited
Oxford University Press
Watership Down Enterprises Limited
McFarland & Company Publishers
The Romantic Novelists’ Association
Work highlights
- Advised The Tolkien Estate Limited in WIPO and other proceedings to shut down ‘JRRToken’ cryptocurrency.
- Advised Agatha Christie Limited in a claim against University Games regarding puzzle games entitled ‘The Orient Express’ and ‘Murder on the Nile’.
- Advised US company McFarland & Company Publishers in UK litigation proceedings.
Maier Blackburn LLP > Firm Profile
Maier Blackburn is a highly respected niche legal practice specialising in intellectual property, publishing and media law and commercial dispute resolution, acting for a prestigious client base nationally and internationally.
The firm: The firm has continued to go from strength to strength, adding clients and growing turnover year on year since its inception in January 2012. Founding partners Steven Maier (contentious) and Cathleen Blackburn (non-contentious) are both well known and recognised within the profession for their accumulated expertise and experience, outstanding levels of service and response, and ability to deliver exceptional results for their clients.
Types of work undertaken: The firm undertakes both non-contentious and contentious work for a wide variety of clients, including international publishers, authors and literary estates, learned societies and institutions, rights holders, and general commercial and individual clients.
Both partners in the firm are Oxford graduates and were trained at leading City firms before deciding to specialise in intellectual property, publishing and media work. Both held senior positions with a major London and regional practice before setting up Maier Blackburn in 2012.
Cathleen Blackburn leads on non-contentious matters. She specialises in intellectual property law, with particular emphasis on copyright, publishing and trade mark licensing. She acts for publishers, authors, libraries, museums and other cultural and heritage organisations. She also advises on commercial agreements and transactions generally.
Steven Maier specialises in dispute resolution for both publishing and media, and general commercial, clients. His work includes copyright and trade mark disputes, passing off cases, disputes concerning libel, privacy and confidential information, domain name cases, royalty and participation disputes, author disputes, and a wide variety of other contract and business cases. He is an appointed domain name adjudicator for the World Intellectual Property Organisation and Nominet UK.
The firm has consistently won recognition for its expertise from The Legal 500 and other legal directories, with both Cathleen Blackburn and Steven Maier regularly being rated as leading individuals.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managing partners | Steven Maier | ||
| Managing partners | Cathleen Blackburn | ||
| IP, publishing and media (non-contentious) | Cathleen Blackburn | ||
| IP, publishing and media (contentious) | Steven Maier | ||
| Commercial dispute resolution | Steven Maier |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Cathleen Blackburn | Cathleen specialises in intellectual property law, with particular emphasis on copyright, publishing… | View Profile |
|
| Steven Maier | Steven specialises in both IP and commercial litigation, with particular expertise in… | View Profile |