AA Thornton > London, England > Firm Profile

Diversity

AA Thornton has a long established commitment to Diversity and Inclusion as one of the first signatories of the profession wide IP Inclusive Charter in 2016.  Our internal mission statement is:

‘To provide a friendly, supportive and inclusive working environment that enables all staff to work to the best of their abilities’

The statement sets out the principles by which decisions about our people policies are made and underpins the expectation we have of each other in our daily interactions.

Marianne Privett, our internal Diversity & Inclusion Committee Lead, was recently named as one of WIPR’s global Diversity Champions.  This recognition is a reflection of the commitment  Marianne, and the partnership as whole, place on creating a diverse and inclusive working environment.

Our internal Diversity & Inclusion Committee members meet regularly to drive forward the D&I agenda and many of our colleagues play an active role in IP Inclusive projects, such as ‘Careers in Ideas’ in which we champion the improvement of access to the intellectual property professions regardless of disability, age, gender, sexual orientation or social, economic and cultural background.  Marianne Privett and Karen Genuardi, Head of People, are members of the IP Ability Committee.  Along with members of our own internal Diversity & Inclusion Committee, we actively encourage all of our staff to attend IP Inclusive or InterLaw events and to become an ally for all groups.

‘Bring Your Whole Self to Work’ has been an important aspect of our commitment to diversity and inclusion for several years.  The firms’ leadership and management have taken deliberate actions to continue this theme during the pandemic to ensure people feel supported and included.  The firm initiated a number of short surveys to understand people’s different needs, from which a number of temporary flexible policies and initiatives were put in place to facilitate individual support such as flexibility around family and caring responsibilities/logistics, providing regular guidance to managers in supporting their teams remotely, and signposting access to support when needed.  A calendar of wellness and social activities were put in place to help everyone to stay connected and to support those struggling with the need to work remotely.  Maintaining an environment where people feel able to bring their whole self to work and to be open and authentic, remains a key priority for the firm.

We are delighted to have supported the Sutton Trust summer school for the last two years as well as hosting work shadowing activities.  It was great to see so many of our partners and fee earners getting involved in speed mentoring and networking sessions, providing insights into the careers of Trade Mark Attorneys, Patent Attorneys and IP Solicitors/Litigators. We also contributed to the Sutton Trust Careers Week in April 2021 and held a panel session on ‘Legal roles you never thought of’. Litigation Partner Geoff Hussey hosted the panel with Senior Associate Sarah Neil, representing the TM Attorney profession. We were delighted that clients Dan Caunt (Admiral) and Bill Budd (Virgin) agreed to sit alongside us on the panel.  Additionally, we recently provided work experience for university students in the form of remote Insight days, which ensured the experience was accessible and flexible.

Client Testimonials

COMPANY/FIRM: IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Professionals 2022

TESTIMONIAL: Published in its 2002 report, the IAM 1000 mentioned Dr Craig Turner’s “stellar track record before the EPO” and he was noted for his life science work. AA Thornton chairperson Adrian Bennett was recommended for mechanical engineering and Mike Jennings was identified as a “strategic thinker”. Mike particularly wishes to thank clients who told IAM’s researchers that “Mike is top-class in terms of his knowledge, skills and expertise. He is highly regarded as an AI expert and provides creative solutions.”

This adds to recent recommendations for the firm in the Financial Times report Europe’s Leading Patent Law Firms, and recent recognition for Dr Varuni Paranavitane and Dr Simon Davies in WIPR Patent Leaders Directory 2022.

COMPANY/FIRM: Legal 500 2021

TESTIMONIAL:

“The team are innovative and creative in their responses on challenging issues in software and telecoms prosecution. They listen to feedback, work to understand the business goals, and then work to create a path to issuance with those elements at the front of their mind. Their success rate and the quality of the claims they obtain is consistently high – an excellent combination.”

“Great attention to details. They advise businesses and draft patents with the commercial aspects in mind.”

Also in relation to our Trade Mark Attorneys:

“The AAT team is extremely talented and their technical IP expertise is impressive. They are great at adapting to the client’s business needs and they appoint the most appropriate team member to each matter.”

“A great team of specialist trade mark attorneys and practitioners. Down-to-earth, business-friendly advice from people who not only know the technicalities of trade mark law and practice here and elsewhere, but understand how trade marks work for businesses.”

And in relation to our Litigation Solicitors:

“Exceptional knowledge and experience in complex IP litigation, including in the area of complex emerging technologies.

Geoff Hussey simplifies everything and makes managing litigation easy for in-house counsel. A strategic, pragmatic and commercially minded lawyer, he knows how to read adversaries and when to apply leverage. Straightforward and easy to work with.”

CLIENT:

COMPANY/FIRM: Chambers & Partners 2020

TESTIMONIAL: “My overall impression is one of a very professional and approachable organisation that takes you carefully and clearly through the complexity of the legal issues”

“very knowledgeable both in the subject matter and in the legal aspects of prosecution,” adding: “They are very efficient and extremely thorough in their analysis.”

“extensive range of skills and experience.”

CLIENT: Catriona Stevenson, General Counsel

COMPANY/FIRM: The Publishers Association

TESTIMONIAL: “Your work in assisting us to respond to the consultation on the UK’s future exhaustion of intellectual property rights regime was invaluable. Thank you”

CLIENT: Jeff Allan

COMPANY/FIRM: Jeff Vehicles Ltd

TESTIMONIAL: “Once again I am most grateful for all the work AA Thornton has done for me. Not only has the work been outstanding, you and your colleagues have been so enthusiastic and easy to work with.”

CLIENT: Dan Caunt, Head of Legal

COMPANY/FIRM: Admiral Group

TESTIMONIAL: “It is always reassuring to know that we have AA Thornton standing by to advise us all on IP and trade mark matters. Geoff Hussey and his team of lawyers and attorneys always provide us with first class advice and guidance. We would like to thank Sarah Neil for her great work on the recent sale of our European price comparison businesses to ZPG.”

CLIENT: Roland Earl, Director General

COMPANY/FIRM: British Toy and Hobby Association

TESTIMONIAL: “It has been our good fortune to have been a client of AA Thornton for many years in the area of protecting our intellectual property. Ian Gill and his team have assisted us in a plethora of ways in both the protection and arrangement of our trademarks and in their defence in the UK , EU and worldwide as needed. The advice and guidance has been excellent and their always proactive advice has proved invaluable. I have no hesitation in recommending their excellent service “

CLIENT: Emily O’Neill, IP & Litigation Counsel

COMPANY/FIRM: Spectris plc (now moved to Deminor Recovery Services)

TESTIMOIAL: “AA Thornton have provided me with thoughtful, considered and practical support as a Chief IP Counsel across prosecution, infringement analysis and support in the IP aspects of M&A transactions. Mike Jennings and Geoff Hussey provide commercial solutions, approach problems with real business acumen and are collegiate in supporting me to achieve my objectives. Client care at its best!”

CLIENT: Bill Stirling, Director & Co-owner

COMPANY/FIRM: ABP Technology Ltd

TESTIMONIAL: “You [Partner Alex Bone] and your team have been very helpful and efficient during the patent process. Thank you on behalf of Paul, myself and the ABP team.”

CLIENT: Matt Gowar, CEO

COMPANY/FIRM: Equip Outdoor Technologies

TESTIMONIAL: “Dan [Partner Dan Byrne] was superb and helped us through our case, clearly explaining the next steps and giving superb advice, that resulted in a great outcome for us.”

CLIENT: Ahmed Refaat, CTO

COMPANY/FIRM: Odqa

TESTIMONIAL: “We believe in the possibility of a better future, and we are glad that we chose you in our journey as you are equally passionate about our efforts to change the world. Thanks AA Thornton, we wouldn`t have done it without your input!”

CLIENT: Ahmed Refaat, CTO

COMPANY/FIRM: Odqa

TESTIMONIAL: “Since we are small team, we didn’t have resources to hire a separate intellectual property strategy team outside of AA Thornton, and we are very glad that we didn’t as AA Thornton helped us understand the boundaries of the protection of intellectual property in such a way that we formed our own intellectual property strategy and decided how we wanted to proceed with our intellectual property decisions without any additional costs. Your team has been very helpful and accommodating in every way imaginable. You know we are a small start-up trying to make an impact with limited resources and all of our interactions reflect the professionalism we were looking for.”

CLIENT: Andy Kemp, Founder

COMPANY/FIRM: EPIQ

TESTIMONIAL: “One of the more surprising aspects of our relation with AA Thornton is how easily you guys appeared to understand and handle this, and to adapt to the continuously moving target. I would definitely recommend looking for people you can work with easily, and who “get it” and speak your language!”

CLIENT: Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2021

TESTIMONIAL: “This is most certainly a unique practice. Their key strengths and capabilities are the uniformly very high standard of patent and trade mark work across the entire firm; very good communication skills; ability to obtain excellent results; and the exceptionally high level of honesty and trust. Their cost structure is very fair and they are nice people to do business with. Overall, this is an outstanding firm, and I cannot recommend it too highly.”

CLIENT: Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2021

TESTIMONIAL: “The team are innovative and creative in their responses on challenging issues in software and telecoms prosecution. They listen to feedback, work to understand the business goals, and then work to create a path to issuance with those elements at the front of their mind. Their success rate and the quality of the claims they obtain is consistently high – an excellent combination.”

CLIENT: Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2021

TESTIMONIAL: “We have used the services of AA Thornton for many years, and have no hesitation in recommending them to other commercial entities who have sought advice on IP or trade mark matters.”

CLIENT: Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2021

TESTIMONIAL: “A great team of specialist trade mark attorneys and practitioners. Down-to-earth, business-friendly advice from people who not only know the technicalities of trade mark law and practice here and elsewhere, but understand how trade marks work for businesses.”

CLIENT: US attorney Howard Speight

COMPANY/FIRM: Howard L. Speight, PLLC

TESTIMONIAL: “You have always been responsive, creative, technically astute, and clear in your communications. I appreciate the accuracy and organization of your emails, which make them easy to pass along to the client for review.”

CLIENT: Chambers, 2020

TESTIMONIAL: “They are really good at oppositions – they are well prepared and bring us up to speed in a clear and helpful way.”

CLIENT: Chambers, 2020

TESTIMONIAL: “(AA Thornton are) among the very best patent attorneys that I have worked with anywhere in the world.”

CLIENT: Chambers, 2020

TESTIMONIAL: “I am very impressed with their service – they are very practical, strategic and commercial.”

CLIENT: Jerry Harris, Partner

COMPANY/FIRM: Wick Phillips Gould & Martin LLP

TESTIMONIAL: “AA Thornton’s unique combination of skilled technical know-how and unquestioned legal expertise have made them my go-to European firm for over a decade.”

CLIENT: DeLaval attorney

TESTIMONIAL: “Thanks again (Adrian Bennett) for your brilliant performance today.”

CLIENT: D Calab Gabriel, Managing Partner

COMPANY/FIRM: Lex IP Care

TESTIMONIAL: “AA Thornton is my favourite and most reliable Firm in the UK. It is one of the finest IP Firms in UK”

CLIENT: General Counsel Trademarks

COMPANY/FIRM: Merck Group TESTIMONIAL: “For over a decade Ian Gill is our very reliable and trusted trademark attorney in the UK. His passion about trademark law, paired with his analytical skills, his professional excellence and his ability to step into his client’s shoes, set a new benchmark within Merck’s global network of trademark agents.”

CLIENT: Matthew Lobley, Managing Director

COMPANY/FIRM: Road Ahead (UK) Ltd TESTIMONIAL: “You (Stuart Greenwood) and your colleagues pulled a rabbit out of the hat for our Road Ahead Pot Hole Repair patent, for which I’m extremely grateful.”

CLIENT: Senior Shareholder, US Intellectual Property law firm

TESTIMONIAL: “Well done Martin [Patent Attorney Martin Hedges]!! Thanks so much for your good work on this case, and for your efforts in attending the oral proceedings and obtaining a very good outcome!”

CLIENT: Clive Menezes, Senior VP and Chief Patent Counsel

COMPANY/FIRM: Halliburton

TESTIMONIAL: “Halliburton has worked with AA Thornton & Co. for nearly 40 years, and we are delighted with the service they have provided during our many years of working together. Their expertise in the oil and gas sector has been invaluable to help us achieve our commercial objectives. Their large patents team has helped us across the broad range of different technologies we handle, and they are very approachable and commercially-minded.”

CLIENT: John Abrahams – Co founder

COMPANY/FIRM: Hiplok

TESTIMONIAL: “Establishing our intellectual property rights has been key in adding value and protecting our business since our launch in 2011. AAT has provided all the necessary professional services and support we would expect and more from such a company. As a small but fast growing business they have guided us through the often complex and subjective world of IPR. We can move forward with our business and develop new products with confidence with AAT as part of our wider team.”

CLIENT: Dr. Avraham Rutman

COMPANY/FIRM: A.J. Rutman – Patent Attorneys

TESTIMONIAL: “At the risk of repeating myself, I would like to say how impressed I was with the way you [Patent Attorney Craig Turner] handled the Opposition case – both the meticulous preparation and your outstanding advocacy skills. I hope that we will have the chance to work together on similar cases in the future (but preferably for the Opposing party). Needless to say, our client was extremely pleased with the outcome.”

CLIENT: Assistant General Counsel

COMPANY/FIRM: Multinational oil field services corporation

TESTIMONIAL: “I appreciate the extreme high caliber of work that pours forth from your offices. Despite our turning up the flow this year…., your firm keeps purring along, seemingly unchallenged by whatever we throw your way. The fine work is actually noticed, and greatly appreciated.”

CLIENT: International Intellectual Property Paralegal

COMPANY/FIRM: Mechanical beds and technologies manufacturer

TESTIMONIAL: “As I promised you at our meeting this weekend – here is a GREAT European Associate I highly recommend. I have worked with this firm many years and their services are wonderful and the prices very fair. I highly recommend the partner Adrian Bennett as he took over some of the cases we were working on with (now retired associate) Philip Curtis.”

CLIENT: Director

COMPANY/FIRM: World’s largest travel company for students and young people

TESTIMONIAL: “Vanessa Lawrence – our main point of contact is knowledgeable, approachable, friendly & extremely professional. A pleasure to work with!”

“Absolutely fantastic service with very prompt response time. All correspondence to [our company] is clear & concise.”

CLIENT: Technical Manager of UK-based engineering company

TESTIMONIAL: “Thank you too for all your hard work on our behalf. It has been a good team effort. We are delighted with the outcome.”

CLIENT: Director, Oil and Gas division, Design, engineering and project management consultancy

TESTIMONIAL: “Excellent – many thanks again for your work in getting this through. I appreciate how difficult it can be to translate ideas and convey their originality in an objective way as you do.”

CLIENT: US Attorney, Intellectual Property law firm

TESTIMONIAL: “As I’ve mentioned before, we are indeed thrilled with your firm – your service and work quality is absolutely superior to others in Europe.”

CLIENT: Leading manufacturer of high-performance power and Hall-effect sensor integrated circuits

TESTIMONIAL: “Great work” and “Thank you very much. It is a pleasure working with you [Nick South] Sir.”

CLIENT: Global pharmaceutical manufacturing company

TESTIMONIAL: “I missed the opportunity to meet you in person this time, but as I heard from my colleagues that your visit was very helpful and they had a very good interactive time with you. We really appreciate your effort to come here and meet the IP Team in person and give your valuable inputs and advice to them.”

CLIENT: Chemical producer

TESTIMONIAL: “Thank you for your analysis. This is exactly the insight that we need to enable us to formulate a response in this case.”

CLIENT: Pharmaceuticals organisation

TESTIMONIAL: “Firstly, Craig can I thank you for the support over many years!!..the service has been excellent.”

CLIENT: Certified Paralegal, Professional services firm

TESTIMONIAL: “Perfect! Thank you, Adrian – I don’t know what I would do without you, but I sure don’t want to find out!”

“Thank you, Adrian – I always know I can count on you”

CLIENT: Attorney, Multinational engineering and electronics company

TESTIMONIAL: “Thank you very much for your great efforts in this matter.”

“Many thanks for your excellent support.”

CLIENT: Patent Attorney, Intellectual Property law firm

TESTIMONIAL: “You consistently present logical and well thought out proposed responses!”

CLIENT: Patent Attorney, Intellectual Property Law firm

TESTIMONIAL: “AA Thornton is at the top of the list when it comes to entrusting cases to European associates. I look forward to being able to send another healthy work load your way this coming year.”

CLIENT: Managing Director, Manufacturer of remote controlled spotlights

TESTIMONIAL: “Many thanks for your advice which is – as always – very much appreciated” (advice on US patent)

“Thanks also for your excellent draft arguments document” (on Chinese appeal case)

CLIENT: Senior Legal Counsel, Diversified international food, ingredients and retail company

TESTIMONIAL: “Thanks Ian – a good case of value-for-money advice”.

CLIENT: Financial Controller, Leading educational publishers

TESTIMONIAL: Re: Work experience within the Trademark department with Vanessa Lawrence, Partner and Louise Foster, Trade Mark Attorney

“Just to say thank you for having Jessica for the last 3 days, it is really appreciated. She really enjoyed her time with you and found the work very interesting”.

CLIENT: Trade Mark Manager, Aerospace and defence company

TESTIMONIAL: “[Gerry] thank you for your report. We are very glad for the positive outcome of this case. Thank you for your good work”