Intellectual property

Our European team can advise you on developing a strategy to expand your business through exploitation of your IPRs. Our international and sector approach provides us with an understanding of the environments in which you operate, and the commercial issues that you are faced with. Sectors where we have a particular focus include: technology and communications; media and entertainment; life sciences; retail; hotels and leisure; and sport.
 
Whatever your IP needs, whether you’re looking to consolidate your portfolio, leverage its value for growth and expansion or protect your rights with litigation, we have the specialists across our European offices with the experience to help you make the right commercial decisions. Our combination of commercial knowledge and legal experience means we can provide you with a well-rounded service that takes into account the strategic aims of your business as well as the relevant legal position.

Our services 

We have specific IP experience in:

• Anti-counterfeiting / online piracy (creation and management of global anti-counterfeiting programmes for our  clients' brands)
  
• Copyright – both technical (e.g. computer software) and artistic (e.g. music and films)
  
• Designs – both registered and unregistered, UK and Community
  
• Domain names – registration, monitoring and enforcement
  
• Patents – infringement, litigation, validity counselling and strategic advice
• Trade marks – clearance, prosecution, brand portfolio management, renewals, enforcement and litigation 
• Promotions, marketing and sponsorship 
  
  

Notable deals

• We act for over 2,500 brand owners and represent a wide range of household name clients on branding issues across virtually all industry sectors
  
  
• We act for Vestergaard Frandsen, a multi-national disease control company, based in Switzerland in long running technical trade secrets litigation in the UK.
  
  
• We have advised the leading international luxury shirt brand, Thomas Pink, on a franchising deal which will lead to the opening of stores across India. 
  
  
• We succeeded in utility model infringement case for Pelikan at the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf  
  
  
• Acting for Bellure in trade mark infringement and passing off proceedings in the High Court and the European Court of Justice (ECJ) brought against it by L’Oreal in respect of smell-a-like perfumes.