Brands & Trade Marks

We protect some of the world's most valuable brands. We offer a one stop international trade mark and brands service to clients.

• we undertake a full range of clearance and strategic advice, registration, enforcement and portfolio management services for a diverse and high profile list of clients in many different sectors, such as consumer products, financial services, life sciences, sports, fashion and TMT
• partners widely recognised as leading practitioners in their fields by leading directories with a reputation for providing ‘cutting-edge advice’ and ‘superb client service’
• advising some of the most famous and recognisable brands in the world, including Burberry, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hugo Boss, Aquascutum, Cathay Pacific, Bacardi-Martini Group, The Body Shop and The Coca-Cola Company
• considerable experience in dealing with disputes and a good track record for obtaining resolution prior to court
• pan European expertise and ability to manage multi-jurisdictional litigation, strategy and negotiations. 

We recently launched a specialist trade mark practice in China - click here for more information. 

Abercrombie & Fitch

• advised in relation to proceedings in the UK and elsewhere in Europe involving the proposed launch of Abercrombie & Fitch in the UK and the revocation of certain "CROMBIE" trade mark registrations.

Aquascutum Limited

• acting for this leading luxury goods company in the enforcement and protection of its trade mark rights in Hong Kong and China. In particular, filing a number of oppositions for the client at the PRC Trade Marks Office in order to prevent the registration of objectionable marks in a range of classes.

Aspinal of London

• assisting this distinctive leather goods retailer in protecting its designs and confidential information.

Bacardi-Martini Group

•  advising extensively in connection with the protection of its portfolio of world famous brands of alcoholic beverages including BACARDI rum, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin and DEWAR's whisky in many countries of the world.

Becton Dickinson and Company

•  advising this medical equipment and pharmaceutical products company on the licensing of its PRC trade mark portfolio.

Capita Group

•  managing the trade mark portfolio of the UK’s leading outsourcing company and advising on a range of related issues.

Cargill

• advising in relation to trade mark management matters in Europe.

English National Ballet

•  acting for one of the world's leading ballet companies on a pro bono basis.

GlaxoSmithKline

•  seconding lawyers from both our London and Rotterdam brands practices to work with the in-house brands team.

Harley Davidson

•  advising this well known company in protection against counterfeiting, grey market goods and dilution of the exclusivity and distinctiveness of its brand.

HFC (part of the HSBC group)

• managing this banking client's extensive portfolio of trade marks and domain names and advising in connection with various related trade mark and domain name issues.

HMV

•  advising on various trade mark and copyright issues.

Hugo Boss

• assisting in the protection of its famous stable of brands, such as BOSS, HUGO and BALDESSARINI against counterfeiting, importation of grey goods and the dilution of the exclusivity and distinctiveness of its brand.

International Cricket Council

• advising extensively in connection with various licensing agreements in relation to logos in connection with the clients' events and international trade mark registration services.

Kraft Foods

•  advising on a range of contentious trade mark issues.

Lacoste

• advising in relation to a number of anti-counterfeiting matters.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc

• advising in connection with Company Names Adjudication actions and in relation to IP rights generally and in particular in connection with the JAMES BOND suite of marks.

NTT DoCoMo Inc

• advising this major Japanese mobile telecommunications client in relation to a range of trade mark issues on an international basis.

Reebok International Ltd

•  advising this major international sportswear brand on a range of trade mark matters and connected issues, including anti-counterfeiting, parallel imports, clearance and protection of trade marks and advertising and promotional issues.

Renown Incorporated

•  advised this major apparel company on the trade mark and licensing issues surrounding the sale of its world famous Aquascutum brand.

SanDisk Corporation

•  advised on a wide variety of IP and marketing issues, including anti-counterfeiting and border detention packaging reviews and the enforcement of intellectual property rights.

The Coca-Cola Company

• representing the world’s most valuable brand in trade mark and domain name matters including protecting famous brands such as Fanta, Schweppes, Oasis and, of course, Coca-Cola.

Theravance Inc

•  advising in connection with international trade mark clearance and handling registration of new pharmaceutical product brand names and promotional messages internationally.

Watson Wyatt

•  advising on their international requirements in trade mark matters, including in relation to new brand clearance, applications for CTMs and resolving conflicts with third party brands.

Wipro Limited

•  representing this leading provider of integrated business, technology and process solutions in appeal court proceedings and successful settlement negotiations arising out of a trade mark dispute in Germany.

WL Gore & Associates Limited

•  advising on various trade mark prosecutions and anti-counterfeiting in a number of countries.

"The results achieved for us really are as good as it gets. I cannot recommend the firm enough." Chambers Global 2012

We offer the full range of clearance, registration, conflict resolution, enforcement and portfolio management services including:

• brand clearance (locally, regionally and internationally) and advising on filing programmes
• registration of trade marks, filing and defending opposition, invalidity and revocation proceedings
• IP portfolio management
• countering brand infringement on the internet and other web related matters
• enforcement litigation for trade mark infringement, passing off and unfair competition
• company names enforcement, including through the new UK Company Names Adjudicators
• investigations and registration of IP rights with Customs and dealing with resulting border detentions
• running anti-counterfeiting programmes
• providing watch services to alert to third part use or registration
• advising on all forms of transactions affecting trade marks from isolated assignments to complex multinational licensing arrangements involving numerous registrations.