The national IP practice at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is highly visible in matters concerning patents, designs, trade marks, copyright, and rights in confidential information. Led by Rachel Bradley in Cambridge, Anna Frankum in London, and Chris Shelley in Oxford, the firm has 10 IP partners in total. The Cambridge team ‘stands out for its deep expertise, client-focused approach, and ability to handle complex legal matters with precision and efficiency’. It handles a growing volume of work for spinouts from Cambridge University, as well as research charities and large corporates. The ’highly competent and reliable’ Bradley increasingly acts for publishers of academic journals, among The Company of Biologists Limited, which recently licensed content to institutions in China.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team stands out for its deep expertise, client-focused approach, and ability to handle complex legal matters with precision and efficiency.’
‘Rachel Bradley is a highly competent and reliable lawyer who delivers practical legal advice. Her attention to detail, responsiveness, and clear communication make working with her both efficient and effective. She approaches matters with a client-focused attitude, ensuring smooth collaboration and strong results.’
‘Specific research contracting expertise.’
‘Offers sound advice on international licencing issues which are often complicated.’
‘Always quick to respond and keeps in regular communication. Knowledge of the markets we serve.’
Key clients
- The Company of Biologists Limited
- Oxford Gene Technology/Cytocell
- Motor Neurone Disease Association
- Syntherix Limited
- Matta Labs Ltd
- Cambridge Commodities Limited
- Canadian Anaesthesiologists’ Society
- Vivifi Biotech
- Parkinson’s UK
- Prostate Cancer UK
Work highlights
Advised The Company of Biologists in respect of its acquisition of a scientific resources page and drafted the associated agreement. This included providing detailed advice on copyright law, the assignment and licence of content as well as a licence of trade marks.
Matta Labs is a Cambridge University spin-out creating industrial AI for the industrial sector. Advised on the spin-out of this company. This included the review and drafting of licence of patents and know-how from the university to the client and the assignment of intellectual property rights from the founders to the company.
Advised Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society on the renegotiation and renewal of their journal licence and publishing agreement with global publisher Springer Nature.
Lawyers
Leading partners
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Practice head
Rachel Bradley; Anna Frankum; Chris Shelley