Brandsmiths > Manchester, England > Firm Profile
Brandsmiths Offices
CHANCERY PLACE 50 BROWN STREET
MANCHESTER
M2 2JG
England
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Brandsmiths > The Legal 500 Rankings
TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property Tier 2
Brandsmiths handles contentious and non-contentious IP matters for clients spanning the fashion, retail and media sectors. Michael Forrester heads the Manchester team, dealing with contentious matters involving registered and unregistered designs, trade marks and passing off. Co-head Andrew Lee is based in the London office. Associate Jacob O’Brien advises technology companies and brands on the enforcement, protection and exploitation of their intellectual property rights, Fellow associate John Battersby focuses on IP disputes.Practice head(s):
Michael Forrester; Andrew Lee
Other key lawyers:
Jacob O’Brien; John Battersby
Testimonials
‘The team are always responsive, work hard on our matters and have achieved the results we have required on everything we have given the team so far.’
Key clients
Lifestyle Equities CV
Iconix Brand Group (Umbro, Lee Cooper, Starter etc)
RW Invest North Ltd
TickX
Premiership Football Players
International Pipeline Products
Beyond Corporate / Beyond Group
Night Addict / Whispering Smith
SpectrumX Healthcare
Work highlights
- Advised Iconix Brand Group on a variety of contentious and non-contentious issues.
- Represented a blue chip brand owner on a wide range of business critical intellectual property issues, with impact across EMEA.
TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport Tier 2
Brandsmiths represents high-profile clients in boxing, football and athletics. The firm handles a range of commercial issues, including player transfers, sponsorship agreements and contracts. The practice also advises on defamation and libel claims against newspapers on behalf of sportspeople. Founding partner and practice head, Adam Morallee, retains particular expertise in football, boxing and motorsport. Michael Forrester is head of litigation and has considerable experience in offering regulatory, media, privacy and commercial advice to sports-based clients. Associates Tom Keane and David Seligman deal with football related legal issues.Practice head(s):
Adam Morallee
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Tom Keane has great experience and insight into dealing with sport sector issues.’
‘David Seligman is an expert in football law. He has genuine industry experiences.’
‘They are a experienced, responsive and friendly team. They have extensive knowledge of our business sector and think expansively on finding solutions.’
‘They are helpful and willing to explore different approaches. Tom Keane is brilliant to work with and works at a speed the suits our fast paced environment.’
Key clients
Roberto Carlos
Joe Joyce, Guido Vianello and Kody Davies (S-Jam Boxing)
New Era Global Sports Management Limited
WMG Management Europe Limited
Moussa Dembele
Ben Foster
Michael Keane
Sir Mo Farah, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Adam Peaty, Adam Gemili, Dina Asher-Smith and others (“Rule 40GB Case”)
YMU
Alex McCarthy
Steven Davis
Jeremie Frimpong
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Jade Jones
Liam Ridgewell
Mansa Sports Management Ltd
Elite Sports Management Ltd
Interstar Deporte
Consilium Sports Group
Bury AFC
Entourage Sports & Entertainment
OYS Sports Management
UMBRO
Laurence Bassini
Armand Traore
Jill Scott
Blue Carpet Management
Work highlights
- Provided advice to YMU’s football intermediaries and players in relation to regulatory, commercial and contractual matters.
- Provided advice to Umbro on a wide range of important matters for this internationally renowned sports brand, including sponsorship agreements, licensing arrangements, brand protection and contract litigation.
- Advised current Watford and former Manchester United and England goalkeeper Ben Foster on all aspects of his YouTube channel – ‘Ben Foster – The Cycling GK’.
TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design Tier 4
Complex trade mark litigation is at the core of the Brandsmiths‘ IP offering, with notable clients in the online and social media spaces. Proactive in litigation, the specialist boutique firm continues to be instructed by a high-profile client roster of domestic and international clients. Trade mark litigation expert Andy Lee leads the practice, and founding partner Adam Morallee maintains a strong practice advising clients in the sports and media industries. Senior associate Hayley Griffin and associate Amy Brooks are also of note within the team.Practice head(s):
Andy Lee
Other key lawyers:
Amy Brooks; Hayley Griffin; Jacob O’Brien; Adam Morallee
Testimonials
‘Brandsmiths is a niche practice in the field of trade marks and brands. They devote themselves to their clients assiduously and will always go the extra mile to support a client in a dispute.’
‘I have worked with Andy Lee and several of his team including Amy Brooks, Hayley Griffin and Jacob O’Brien. Andy is an extremely punchy and powerful individual who stands up for his clients at all times. The others are all highly competent and expert practitioners, whose assistance I have found invaluable.’
‘Very good value for money. Expertise in multi-jurisdictional trade mark or copyright matters. Very strong team at all levels, and so can provide cheaper advice.’
‘The team is young and energetic. Advice is always to the point and I appreciate the visibility of costs.’
‘Andy Lee is my main contact and he is very reactive and always willing to adapt to the circumstances. Their pricing is reasonable for the UK and perfectly justified by the quality of their work.’
Key clients
Vinted
Entertainment One
BMW/Mini
Lad Bible Group
Microsoft
Beverly Hills Polo Club
Trivago
Potter Herbal Remedies
PlayerAuctions
Clive Christian Furniture
Mo Farah
Work highlights
- Acting for Entertainment One in a multi-jurisdictional trade mark, copyright and passing off dispute against SConnect in respect of the Peppa Pig brand.
- Acting for Lifestyle Equities in the Court of Appeal against Amazon in respect of trade mark law as it pertains to foreign websites.
- Acting for imagination workshop against the owners of the copyright in the Only Fools and Horses tv scripts, including some novel points of law around character protection and the parody/pastiche defence.