Sarah Darby > Venner Shipley LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Venner Shipley LLP boasts a broad client base that encompasses FTSE100 companies, global corporations, SMEs, and start-ups, and the team is well equipped to advise them on filing, protection, and enforcement strategies. Additionally, the practice is active in trade mark opposition, cancellation, appeal proceedings, and litigation before the UKIPO and EPO. Tunbridge Wells-based Clare Turnbull sits at the helm of the practice and is experienced in contentious matters surrounding complex issues of ownership. Fluent in French, David Birchall in London has notable expertise in working with foreign attorneys regarding registrations and prosecutions in other countries. Another key name is Yoann Rousseau, who is skilled in the management and organisation of IP portfolios. Following the merger with legacy firm AA Thornton, the firm has acquired a number of new lawyers. Key names to note include Sarah Darby, who manages global trade mark portfolios of high-profile brands, as does dual-qualified trade mark and patent attorney Ian Gill. Sarah Neil is also recommended.

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.