Beck Greener LLP > London, England > Firm Profile
Beck Greener LLP Offices
FULWOOD HOUSE
12 FULWOOD PLACE
LONDON
WC1V 6HR
England
Beck Greener LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > PATMA: Trade mark attorneys Tier 2
Beck Greener LLP has a strong track record in contentious trade mark matters, often involving an international element, and has demonstrable experience in opposition and cancellation proceedings before the UKIPO. The team acts for multinational companies across the media, entertainment, cosmetics and fashions sectors, as well as start-ups and SMEs, and counts anti-counterfeiting matters and design enforcement issues in its workload. ‘Rock star’ Ian Bartlett leads the team and has experience before the UKIPO and Appointed Persons, while the team’s UK and EU filing and prosecution practice remains active with an office in Alicante, headed up by Rowland Buehrlen. Other key members of the team include Catherine Jewell, and associate trade mark attorneys Duncan Morgan, who is praised by one client as ‘simply tremendous’, and Kashif Syed.Practice head(s):
Ian Bartlett
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The Beck Greener LLP team has been a critical resource for our foreign trade mark activities. They are extremely responsive, able to quickly recommend solutions that fit our unique situation and efficiently deliver excellent results.’
‘Ian Bartlett and Kashif Syed are both excellent. I feel like they really care about the matters, and they are prompt, responsive, and flexible in the wake of challenges.’
‘They simply know all there is to know when it comes to trade marks.’
‘Ian Bartlett has been a rock star for us. He has been immediately responsive with frank and extremely competent counsel and outstanding results. I cannot recommend his services enough.’
‘The team has been a trusted partner for many years in relation to our trade mark portfolio. They are able to provide us with tailored advice that appreciates the unique challenges our organisation faces. We trust them to provide us with quick and robust reports.’
‘Duncan Morgan is simply tremendous. He knows his subject inside and out, and has the ability (and willingness) to explain matters in simple terms to our non-legal colleagues. Nothing is ever too much trouble. We are happy to leave all our trade mark requirements in his very capable hands.’
‘Ian Bartlett and Kashif Syed are creative, knowledgeable, flexible, and easy to get along with. They are always on the ball and their results are excellent.’
‘Duncan Morgan is always available and has extensive knowledge of trade mark law and practice. He regularly takes calls from us on short notice, and is able to utilise his extensive knowledge and understanding of our business to provide us with expert advice within the short deadlines we give him.’
Key clients
Pharrell Williams
The Condé Nast Publications
The Estée Lauder Companies
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
The British Phonographic Industry (BPI)
Chevron Products Company
CrossFit
Tiffany and Company
Tapestry (Coach and Kate Spade)
Lewis Hamilton
Ed Sheeran
Eminem (Marshall Bruce Mathers 111)
Tillotts Pharma
Knight Frank
Four Seasons Hotels
Kyndryl
Peloton
TED Talks
Masco
Cards Against Humanity
Incos/Debonair – SO…?
LifeAID Beverages LLC
Work highlights
- Acting for The Official UK Charts Company (OCC) against Global Radio and its attempt to prevent OCC obtaining registered protection for OCC’s key OFFICIAL CHARTS trade mark.
- Advised Ed Sheeran and his company, Sidewind Limited, on filing and prosecuting trade mark applications worldwide, both for the musician and his record label, Gingerbread Man Records.
- Acted for MPL Communications on clearing, filing, prosecution and enforcement of UK and global trade marks, and recently filed and prosecuted new trade mark applications for various terms associated with Sir Paul McCartney’s children’s books, as well as for his band, Wings.
TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > PATMA: Patent attorneys Tier 3
Praised as a ‘highly skilled, friendly and reliable team’, Beck Greener LLP has a strong track record in contentious matters, notably patent oppositions and appeals before the EPO, and counts multinational corporates across the chemicals, engineering, technology, life sciences, pharmaceutical, artificial intelligence and automotive sectors among its key roster of clients. Avi Freeman, who has experience in handling patent prosecutions relating to computer hardware and software, leads the electronics, physics and mechanical engineering team, while James Stones heads up the chemical, pharmaceutical and chemical engineering group, and focuses on gas separation and green energy matters. Ben Muir spearheads the medical and life sciences practice, and handles original filing and prosecution matters in the UK, the US and at the EPO.Practice head(s):
Avi Freeman; James Stones; Ben Muir
Other key lawyers:
Anna Hatt; John Hull; Jonathan Markham; Catherine Jewell
Testimonials
‘Sector knowledge, great people, clear billing, transparent and clear communication – a highly skilled, friendly and reliable team.’
‘I would recommend Avi Freeman, who succeeded in obtaining a complex and unusual patent for our company. He is responsive, explains issues/challenges clearly and provides a clear roadmap of how the process will likely unfold over forthcoming months.’
‘A practice focused on client service and communication, where a dedicated attorney works on each matter. The level of knowledge in both the legal and technical areas is exceptional.’
‘John Hull – I greatly appreciated his legal and technical analysis and trusted his advice on patent related matters. John is a deep and quick thinker on his feet. I also appreciated his responsiveness.’
‘The individuals are very accessible and easy to communicate with. They take the time to clearly explain the issues and provide realistic options for how to proceed.’
‘For almost the last 20 years I have worked with Avi Freeman and have achieved an excellent mutual understanding with him of the unique characteristics of my technology.’
‘I have mainly been working with James Stones. I have not met a patent attorney who combines calmness, professionalism, friendliness and open-mindedness in the way James has done. He knows his business and I have attended opposition hearings where he has prepared every aspect of the process and conducted the hearing perfectly. The outcome was better than we could hope for.’
Key clients
Tillotts Pharma
Intract Pharma
FabRx
Flashy Limited
Bruker Daltonik
Sthaler (FinGo)
K-Kaps International
White Motorcycle Concepts
Work highlights
- Assisted Tillotts Pharma in negotiations to settle a commercial dispute and handled the preparation of an opposition to a European patent.
- Advising a US-headquartered developer security platform on its existing portfolio of patents and assisting the company to develop an IP strategy.
- Representing White Motorcycle Concepts in obtaining a granted UK patent for its innovative core technology and filed a new PCT application.
Beck Greener LLP > Firm Profile
Beck Greener at a Glance: Beck Greener is a leading UK and European intellectual property (IP) firm and one of the oldest IP firms in the world, protecting inventions, trade marks, designs and other intellectual property for over 150 years. The firm has offices in London and Spain, and continues to provide our full range of services relating to both UK and European Union Trade Marks and Designs post-Brexit. We handle contentious and non-contentious IP matters including patents, trade marks, copyright, registered and unregistered designs.
Clients of Beck Greener: Beck Greener has an enviable, longstanding client base including companies listed on the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and Fortune 500. Clients include global corporates, SMEs, start-ups, individual inventors and business owners across a wide range of sectors. The team is particularly strong on cross-border work, with clients in the US, Europe and Asia.
Principal areas of work
Patents: The firm’s patent practice is divided into three groups:
- Medical & life sciences
- Chemistry, pharmaceutical & chemical engineering
- Mechanical, engineering, physics & digital
Beck Greener’s patent attorneys draft, file and prosecute patent applications in the UK, throughout Europe and internationally. The firm has a strong track record in patent opposition and appeals before the European Patent Office.
Trade marks: Providing the full range of services relating to registered and unregistered trade marks, the team files and prosecutes applications to register trade marks in the UK, Europe and globally for some of the world’s biggest brands. Beck Greener is one of the largest filers of new trade mark applications in the UK, and one of the UK’s largest filers of EU trade mark applications, which the firm continues to handle as part of its Alicante Office’s services. We work with many internationally renowned brands and have experience of advising in a wide variety of business sectors. The department has a notable reputation in the entertainment industry. Several of the firm’s attorneys have expertise in copyright. The team is also skilled at dealing with the commercial aspects of trade marks, including licensing, assignments, and drafting and negotiating settlement agreements.
IP disputes: Beck Greener has an impressive record of success in litigation and contentious proceedings relating to trade mark, design and copyright matters in the UK courts and beyond. Beck Greener’s trade mark partners appear in the Top Ten list of trade mark attorneys and solicitors by appearance at hearings before the UK IPO.
Designs: Acting for some large companies in design-sensitive areas, the firm has an experienced team focusing particularly on the filing of Community and UK registered design applications. We have had several successes on behalf of clients relating to enforcement of their registered and unregistered design rights, avoiding the need for costly litigation whilst ensuring their rights are respected.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade marks | Ian Bartlett | ||
| Chemistry, pharmaceutical & chemical engineering | James Stones | ||
| Mechanical, engineering, physics & digital | Avi Freeman | ||
| Software | Nick Bebbington | ||
| Medical & life sciences | Ben Muir | ||
| Designs | Avi Freeman | afreeman@beckgreener.com |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Mr Ian Bartlett | Ian is a recognised expert in trade mark, designs, copyright and merchandising… | View Profile |
 | Mr Nick Bebbington | A former software engineer, Nick is recognised as an expert in patent… | View Profile |
 | Mr Rowland Buehrlen | The experienced trade mark attorney is known for his keen insight into… | View Profile |
 | Mr Avi Freeman | Experienced in working with market leading companies from fields as diverse as… | View Profile |
 | Ms Anna Hatt | Anna is a patent specialist with a background in chemistry which has… | View Profile |
 | Mr John Hull | Patent specialist John Hull has worked with many leading multinationals, particularly those… | View Profile |
 | Dr Catherine Jewell | Whether in the patent or trade mark sphere, Catherine impresses with her… | View Profile |
 | Dr Jonathan Markham | An experienced patent attorney, Jonathan loves technology and innovation, and enjoys working… | View Profile |
 | Mr Duncan Morgan | Known for his broad ranging expertise and practical advice, Duncan handles all… | View Profile |
 | Mr Ben Muir | An expert in pharmaceuticals and biotech work, as well as chemicals and… | View Profile |
 | Dr Deborah Selden | Deborah’s broad patent practice is founded on a background in chemistry, which… | View Profile |
 | Dr James Stones | A patent attorney who “always goes beyond the call of duty” for… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of UK partners : 11 Number of other UK fee-earners : 9Memberships
Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA)Diversity/Community
Beck Greener is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to promoting diversity within the firm. We support IP Inclusive, an organisation dedicated to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) within the IP community. Beck Greener signed up to the IP Inclusive charter in May 2016 and our partner, Catherine Jewell, is our EDI Officer.
We encourage our people to work together with mutual respect as we believe this provides a culture within which we can develop both personally and professionally.
Pro bono work at Beck Greener
At Beck Greener, we believe that high quality IP advice should be available to all. We offer a service focused primarily on individuals and small businesses which provides a free initial consultation in which we will advise which forms of IP may be appropriate for a new idea and how to go about securing protection.
As part of our “STEM: Branching Out” project, we provide pro bono support to schools, mentoring students through the process of preparing and filing UK patent applications for their inventions, and analysing the initial search report.
CSR at Beck Greener
Beck Greener acknowledges its responsibilities to its people, the local community, the environment and the IP profession, and we take these responsibilities seriously, aiming to make a significant and positive contribution in these areas wherever possible.
The firm believes strongly in the importance of a sensible work/life balance and offers part-time partnership and flexible working hours. We also encourage and facilitate the personal development of our staff, for example, providing a very successful mentoring program for trainees, and supporting non-fee-earning staff in achieving further academic or professional qualifications.
In late 2013, as signatories of the local council’s Climate Change Commitment (CCC), we pledged to reduce our carbon emissions by at least 2%. To help us achieve this goal, we introduced the “greener Beck Greener” project designed to reduce our carbon footprint. We now review our environmental performance regularly, and introduce initiatives to make improvements wherever practicable.
Since joining the CCC, the firm has reduced its carbon footprint by over 10% and was awarded both the “Team Green” and “Cutting Carbon” marks of achievement in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 – a unique achievement amongst CCC signatories.
With help from Heart of the City, we have also introduced and developed a successful community project, “STEM: Branching Out”, which promotes among young people careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in general and in the IP profession in particular.
There are several parts to the project. In the first of these, most of our eligible fee earners have become STEM Ambassadors through STEM Learning UK, and go into schools to promote STEM and/or assist with Insight Days held at our offices for groups of Year 10-12 students. We also provide enhanced work experience placements for Year 9 students, as well as the pro bono support to schools mentioned above. In the second part, we work with LDN Apprenticeships to provide opportunities for Apprentices in our support and IT functions. We have also previously provided work placements for IT students for their year in industry. Finally, we support all of our people in volunteering across a broad range of sectors, and in part to facilitate this project, we have introduced a day’s paid leave for voluntary work.
The success of the “STEM: Branching Out” project was recognised in 2018, when we were awarded The Lord Mayor’s Dragon Award for best new community project, and the STEM Employer (SME) Award in the STEM Inspiration Awards by STEM Learning UK.