Litigation
United Kingdom
19 August 2025
With a client roster including giant MNCs, Slaughter and May‘s IP team focuses on handling large-scale IP-rich transactions, M&A due diligence, and other transactional instructions, such as licensing and development agreements in innovation and brand-led sectors, as well as portfolio management, strategy advice, and matters at the intersection of IP and competition law. David Ives serves as team lead; he is a practitioner experienced in disputes and commercial arrangements, and is supported by Duncan Blaikie, who focuses on tech sector deals and the exploitation of digital assets. Rob Sumroy’s workload encompasses IP issues in the digital, tech and innovation-led spaces, and Laura Houston‘s remit spans transactions and licensing agreements. Litigator Richard McDonnell and emerging technologies-focused Ian Ranson are additional key figures in the group.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'We work with this team on a range of matters - all highly impressive individuals who adopt a collaborative approach, enabling them to act with a high degree of specialist capability and achieve a quick turnaround.'
- 'Laura Houston is a particularly effective communicator and is a pleasure to work with. David Ives is a hands-on leader of the team with great depth and range. Richard McDonnell is very thorough and has great expertise in disputes particularly.'
Key clients
- ASOS Group PLC
- Diageo
- Euroclear
- GlaxoSmithKline
- INEOS
- John Lewis Partnership
- Marks & Spencer
- NewDay
- Reckitt Benckiser
- RWS Holdings
- Richemont
- Vodafone
Work highlights
Advised Diageo on its long-term licence and royalty agreements for the production and distribution of Guinness and other Diageo brands in Ghana and Nigeria.
Advised RWS on IP ownership and licensing issues in connection with the sale of its joint venture interest in PatBase.
Advised Euroclear on an agreement to develop a proprietary software platform with Marketnode Holdings Pte. Ltd.
Practice head
David Ives
Other key lawyers
Duncan Blaikie; Rob Sumroy; Laura Houston; Richard McDonnell; Ian Ranson