Intellectual Property Protection & Disputes

Our intellectual property team works closely with clients to identify, protect, exploit and enforce their IP rights. We advise on all aspects of IP law, including in relation to trade marks, passing off, copyright, designs, database rights, patents and confidential information.

Our clients range from individuals to FTSE 100 and international companies across a wide range of sectors and we are well known for our work with public and third sector organisations, and central government.

IP exploitation

We seek to align ourselves with your objectives and work with you to deliver the best possible outcomes.

We negotiate and draft terms in IP licences and assignments, and also collaborative IP projects, including R and D and joint venture agreements, as well as the IP terms of general commercial contracts.

If you are thinking about acquiring an IP asset, we can carry out an IP due diligence review to facilitate the investment.

We can also help with the protection and exploitation of your trade secrets and confidential information.

We provide advice on a brand’s full lifecycle, from conception, clearance searches and development, through to registration in multiple jurisdictions and portfolio management. We can also assist in relation to the use of your trade marks, in particular to ensure that you comply with all applicable advertising law and regulations.

IP disputes

We protect our clients’ interests in all kinds of IP disputes, from lower-value claims through to complex, technical, high-value litigation, with multiple parties and multi-jurisdictional aspects.

We understand the pressures and costs associated with IP disputes, so we aim to resolve them quickly and effectively, using negotiation, mediation and expert determination whenever possible. Most disputes settle out of court, but if litigation is unavoidable or is in your interests, we have a proven track record of obtaining results in the courts, UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO), the European Patent Office (EPO) and (before Brexit) the European Intellectual Property Office. We work with trusted international attorneys to protect our clients’ interests outside the UK.

Our Intellectual Property team is responsive, easy to work with and cost-conscious.

Our areas of expertise include:

• Registered trade mark, passing off and domain name disputes
• Copyright, database right and design disputes
• Patent disputes
• Breach of confidence (including misuse of trade secrets)
• Online infringements
• “Counterfeit goods”, “pirated goods”, and Customs powers and procedures
• Registered trade mark, design and copyright offences
• Rights in performances
• Moral rights
• IPAudit

Related expertise include: IP Audits, Commercial Contracts, Commercial Disputes