Appleyard Lees > Leeds, England > Firm Profile
Appleyard Lees Offices
1 EAST PARADE
LEEDS
LS1 2AD
England
Appleyard Lees > The Legal 500 Rankings
TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > PATMA: Patent attorneys Tier 2
The ‘highly motivated and client-oriented team’ at Appleyard Lees has demonstrable experience in the drafting and prosecution of patent applications, and with offices in Cambridge, Halifax, Manchester and Leeds, the firm is close to numerous areas of innovation across the UK. Praised for its ‘technical expertise and deep experience of patent portfolio development’, the practice is well-versed in the chemistry, electronics and software, engineering and pharmaceutical sectors. Led by Cambridge-based Barbara Fleck and with the support of Manchester-based Simon Bradbury, the team continues to consolidate its focus in the life sciences space and counts pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and biotechnology entities among its key roster of clients. In the firm’s Manchester office, David Clark leads the practice and focuses on patent drafting and prosecution work arising out of the electronics sector.Practice head(s):
David Clark
Other key lawyers:
Simon Bradbury; Bobby Smithson; Bill Lister; Julia Gwilt; Ean Davies; Jennifer Delaney; Adam Tindall; Richard Bray; Barbara Fleck; Howard Read
Testimonials
‘A highly motivated and client-oriented team, with exceptional experience and depth of knowledge.’
‘I would recommend Richard Bray and David Clark. They always provide suitable advice and complete work efficiently.’
‘High levels of technical expertise and deep experience of patent portfolio development. They exhibit an excellent balance of technical capability, legal compliance combined with a thorough understanding of commercial realities.’
‘This firm has great expertise and experience in dealing with complex patent issues. They listen and then explore options, meaning clients are always well informed.’
‘Bobby Smithson has the rare combination of both a keen mind and marvellous client management skills. He is attuned to the needs of the client and prepared to go out of his way to ensure client satisfaction. He is able to apply his wide industry and technical knowledge to the issues at hand to obtain the best outcomes for his clients.’
‘We mainly work with them for European patent applications. The team has excellent administration procedures on the cases. Their attorneys always provide a fast response with perfect explanations to our questions. The team owns many attorneys with different backgrounds to handle all kinds of patent matters.’
‘The team is very experienced, and always willing to adjust their practice according to the client’s needs. They have good control of the quality of work.’
‘I have worked with Appleyard Lees and several of its partners for many years and the continuity exhibited as staff or expertise requirements change is excellent. Good individual talent but clearly part of the team.’
Key clients
Owlstone Medical
BenevolentAI
Clasado Biosciences
WEIR Minerals
PPG Industries
SNC Nanofibers
British Steel
Samsung Electronics
CCm Technologies
FeTu Roticulate
Smith & Nephew Medical
Mondelez International
Cancer Research UK
Mitsubishi Chemicals UK
Work highlights
- Assisted CCm Technologies with filing patent applications and advising on strategy, including with respect to the patenting of CCm’s clean technology.
- Prepared and filed an opposition against the patent at the EPO on behalf of Stellenbosch Nanofiber Company, after which the patent was successfully revoked.
- Assisting Owlstone in drafting, filing and prosecuting applications.
TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > PATMA: Trade mark attorneys Tier 2
Specialist IP firm Appleyard Lees assists multinational companies and household names, such as Moncler and Puma, as well as academic institutions, with strategic trade mark portfolio management, anti-counterfeiting matters, branding issues and litigation, often involving a cross-border element. With offices in Leeds, Halifax, Cambridge and Manchester, the team houses both attorneys and solicitors, in addition to dual-qualified practitioners, and has demonstrable experience in opposition proceedings at the UKIPO and the EUIPO. In Manchester, managing partner David Clark jointly leads the practice alongside Leeds-based Robert Cumming, while dual-qualified solicitor and attorney Chris Hoole, who operates from the firm’s office in Cambridge and is praised as ‘reliable and responsive’, was promoted to partner in April 2021. The team’s expertise spans the fashion, consumer goods, education and entertainment sectors.Practice head(s):
David Clark; Robert Cumming
Other key lawyers:
Chris Hoole; David Moy; Bill Lister
Testimonials
‘Chris Hoole is very reliable and responsive.’
Key clients
Moncler
Puma
Fit Kitchen Ltd.
British Steel
Jemella (GHD)/Coty
Walmart Inc./Asda
ThinCats
Work highlights
- Representing Moncler in anti-counterfeiting matters.
- Representing Smile Direct Club in disputes regarding domain names.
Appleyard Lees > Firm Profile
Appleyard Lees is a leading intellectual property law firm, with approximately 60 patent and trademark attorneys and litigators.
Who we are, and what we do – but also, how we do it – makes us distinctive.
Our commercially intelligent approach to client service incorporates flexibility and adaptability. We strive to be agile, to respond to specific client requirements in a way that suits them.
We help a broad range of IP owners and creators, including in-house teams, R&D specialists, owner-managers and branding professionals, protect and monetise their intellectual property. We also support clients manage post-grant challenges, should they arise.
Our clients include some of the world’s most exciting innovators, largest companies and household names, with a number of clients obtaining Fortune 500, Fortune Global 2000, FTSE 100, FTSE 250 and Forbes Global 2000 status. Our clients operate across a diverse collection of industries, including chemicals, retail, consumer goods, electronics, software, bio and life sciences, pharmaceuticals, metals and heavy industry, higher education and hospitality, leisure and tourism.
In addition to our catalogue of multinational and multimillion-pound clients, Appleyard Lees is equally proud of the role we have played in the growth of start-up businesses.
The firm recruits the very best professionals who have a passion for their individual areas of specialism, and supports staff throughout their career development. Providing expert training, we ensure our staff can deliver outstanding service.
With offices in UK innovation hotspots, we are positioned to give clients expert strategic IP advice in the UK and worldwide.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managing Partner | David Clark | david.clark@appleyardlees.com | +44 (0)161 835 9655 |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Chris Hoole | Partner / Solicitor | View Profile |
 | Bobby Smithson | Partner / Patent Attorney | View Profile |
 | Dick Waddington | Partner / Patent Attorney | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Partners : 19Client Testimonials
COMPANY/FIRM: Samsung Electronics
TESTIMONIAL: Recognised globally as an industry leader in technology and now ranked as a top 10 global brand.
COMPANY/FIRM: Cranswick PLC
TESTIMONIAL: Cranswick plc is a leading UK food producer and supplier of premium, fresh and added-value food products.
COMPANY/FIRM: Mondelez International Inc.
TESTIMONIAL: American multinational confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate, comprising former Kraft Foods, Cadbury’s confectionery business, Oreo and Nabisco.
COMPANY/FIRM: Walmart Inc. (ASDA)
TESTIMONIAL: The global leader in retail and world’s largest company.
COMPANY/FIRM: British Steel
TESTIMONIAL: Manufacturer of high-quality steel products serving markets around the world, with a network of metal centres and service centres across the UK and Ireland.
COMPANY/FIRM: Smith & Nephew Medical Limited
TESTIMONIAL: Portfolio medical company, with a range of surgical devices and wound care.