David Clark > Appleyard Lees > Manchester, England > Lawyer Profile

Specialist IP firm Appleyard Lees has a ‘deep scientific understanding’ in the patent arena with offices in Cambridge, Halifax, Manchester, and Leeds. It supports clients from a plethora of industries, including life sciences and pharmaceuticals, electronics and software, chemistry, engineering, and physics. Its client roster includes emerging innovators and start-ups, as well as well-established, international companies, and the practice handles an increasing number of patent filings. Managing partner of the firm’s Manchester-based office David Clark leads the team, and is supported by chartered biologist Simon Bradbury, who has an academic background in genetics and oncology. The ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Barbara Fleck (Cambridge) is another notable name with substantial expertise across a wide range of technologies in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical spaces, with a strong focus on antibody therapeutics and agri-sciences. In March 2023, Bill Lister retired from the partnership and now supports the firm from a consultancy role. Impressively, the team has grown by two thirds in the past five years.

Specialist IP firm Appleyard Lees regularly represents emerging and high-potential innovators and start-up companies, in addition to well-established international enterprises, in their trade mark-related matters. Its team of dual-qualified trade mark and patent attorneys is located across offices in Leeds, Halifax, Cambridge, and Manchester, and it assists clients from a wide range of sectors, including fashion, sports, consumer goods, technology, food and beverage, and manufacturing. Managing Partner David Clark sits at the helm of the team in Manchester, and Leeds-based Robert Cumming is another name of note. Dual-qualified solicitor and attorney Chris Hoole ‘is dynamic and enthusiastic’, and acts for clients in High Court litigation, and advises on UK and European trade mark registries.