Alex Brown > Venner Shipley LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Venner Shipley LLP offers clients a ‘a broad range of services’, including assistance with drafting, filing, and prosecutions, representation in oppositions and appeals, advice on portfolio management and global strategy, and assistance with infringements and disputes. The firm is also praised for its ability to ‘provide a global network in key jurisdictions, enabling it to handle international matters effectively’. Another notable and growing area for the team includes AI-related patent work. In London, Jan Walaski leads the electronics software and communications group, of which Paul Derry is a key member, and Alex Brown chairs the mechanical and designs team. Cambridge-based Tim Russell heads up the chemical and life sciences practice, following Siân Gill‘s step down from the role, although she continues to be an active member of the group. Following its merger with legacy firm AA Thornton, the group has been further bolstered by the arrival of a number of new lawyers. Key names to note include aerospace expert Adrian Bennett, whose experience is concentrated in the engineering, physics, and mechanical devices spaces. Craig Turner is noted for his chemistry, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals expertise, while Mike Jennings specialises in electrical engineering, electronics telecoms, and IT patents.

Clare Turnbull and Alex Brown co-lead the ‘extremely professional, organised and knowledgeable’ team at Venner Shipley LLP, which operates for notable names in the realm of trade marks and boasts considerable experience in the registered design and copyright space. Brown excels in the mechanical and design area, while Turnbull’s strengths include a diverse spectrum of trade mark mandates. Following the merger with legacy firm AA Thornton, the team has been bolstered by a number of new additions. Key names to note include Geoff Hussey, who is well-versed in representing a range of clients in the High Court and Court of Appeal on issues such as IP ownership and design rights among others, and Sarah Darby, who is entrusted by household names across the technology, luxury goods and pharmaceutical sectors. Daniel Byrne, who sits as a deputy district judge in the IPEC and demonstrates particular proficiencies in handling brand disputes. James Tumbridge and Robert Peake  departed to Keystone Law in May 2024.