TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
Richard Dickinson, who has expertise in the development, exploitation and protection of intangible assets, portfolio management head Nellie Jackson, and trade mark, advertising, and marketing specialist Paul Jordan jointly lead Bristows LLP‘s brands offering. From managing the global rights portfolios for global names and advising on IP-rich transactions, to litigating copyright, trade mark, and design disputes and devising influencer marketing strategies, the team works with clients in the sport, tech, life sciences, and consumer goods sector, as well as with public sector entities. Key figures in the practice include trade mark attorney Ian Gruselle and Jeremy Blum, who comes highly recommended for a range of contentious instructions. Digital and database rights-related cases are a key workstream for Simon Clark, while trade mark litigation falls within Sean Ibbetson’s purview, and Laura Harwood takes on transactions and licensing for major brands. Toby Headdon, Tim Heaps, and Rob Powell are further names to note.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Work Department
Brands, Design and Copyrights, IP Litigation
Position
Simon specialises in copyright and design rights, database rights, trade marks, passing off, domain names and breach of confidence.
As a litigator he has acted for clients in the High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, Court of Justice of the EU, as well as in the Copyright Tribunal and the IP Enterprise Court, including appearing as a Solicitor Advocate. He also manages international brand portfolios for clients.
He is particularly active for clients in the design industry, including some of the country’s leading furniture, textile, fashion and product design companies. For example, he acted for the successful defendant in the important design rights case Neptune (Europe) Ltd v DeVol Kitchens Ltd [2017] EWHC 2172 (Pat).
Simon also specialises in online intellectual property issues, such as representing the NLA and six of the national newspapers in the proceedings brought against Meltwater and the PRCA on copyright in newspaper headlines, summaries and internet browsing, which went to the European Court of Justice, the Supreme Court and the Copyright Tribunal.
Simon is an Appointed Person, a judicial role hearing trade mark appeals from the UKIPO, is the Honorary Secretary of BLACA (the British Literary and Artistic Copyright Association), a member of INTA’s EU Design Reform Task Force and the INTA Rights of Publicity Committee, a tutor on the Oxford IP Diploma course, the co-author of “Intellectual Property”, a text book published by Palgrave MacMillan, currently in its sixth edition, is an Editorial Advisory Board member of the European Copyright and Design Reports and sits on the Advisory Panel of Intellectual Property Magazine.
Career
Partner 2000
Solicitor Advocate
Appointed Person for trade marks
Memberships
Honorary Secretary of BLACA (the British Literary and Artistic Copyright Association)
Tutor on the Oxford IP Diploma course
Member of the Designs Committee of INTA
Education
Cardiff University 1989 LLB Hons
Content supplied by Bristows LLP
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘We have worked with Jeremy Blum and his team for a number of years on a variety of IP disputes, and they are a pleasure to work with. They take the time to understand our businesses and what we are trying to achieve, and combine sophisticated IP knowledge with a great deal of commerciality and common sense. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to others.'
‘Jeremy Blum and team were impressive. They seamlessly juggled voluminous disclosure and many witnesses to develop precise and well-developed legal arguments which were ultimately successful.’
‘Jeremy Blum and Sean Ibbetson were hardworking, organised, and brought to bear their impressive experience and expertise in a client-friendly way.’
‘Has an excellent reputation as one of the leading IP firms in the UK. Excellent across the board knowledge and experience. Can marshal a large team quickly.'
‘Simon Clark is hugely experienced and effective soft IP lawyer. Toby Headdon is also hugely experienced and has great technical knowledge.’
‘Jeremy Blum has a wealth of experience in litigating non-traditional trade marks in UK and Europe and can also assist in other jurisdictions.’
‘We work with Bristows on IP matters. We find them to be efficient, clear in their advice and effective at liaising with their network of international counterparts.’
Key clients
- Meta Platforms, Inc
- BAFTA
- Edgewell
- H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB
- 30 Airways
- Kantar
- LADbible
- McDonald’s
- New Zealand Rugby Union Incorporated
- Nio Nextev
- On Cloud
- The Financial Times
- The Guardian
- Heineken
- The Wine Society
- WPP Group
- Malmaison Hotels
- Dentsply Sirona
- Diageo
- HDN Corporation (Krispy Kreme)
- Kraft Heinz
- Mondelez
- Richemont
- Dropbox
- Ellers Farm Distillery
- Newmark
- Rocco Forte Hotels
Work highlights
Acting for Newmark in a passing off claim against a UK company.
Handling numerous incoming oppositions against Meta’s EU trade mark applications, related outgoing offensive cancellation actions in the EU against the opponents’ earlier rights, as well as oppositions against third parties’ EU/UK trade marks similar to the META, FACEBOOK, HORIZON and QUEST brands.
Supporting global tech giant Dropbox, Inc. with its sponsorship of The McLaren Formula 1 Team.