Barker Brettell LLP is praised for providing its clients with ‘commercially sound and proactive advice’, and it is highly experienced in representing clients before the UKIPO, EUIPO, and WIPO. It handles a substantial volume of UK and EU trade marks filings, and coupled with its growing strengths in Sweden, it is well-placed to offer a seamless service to domestic and oversea clients. The group boasts a wide-ranging client base, covering the aerospace, automotive, computing and software, cosmetics, energy, food and drink, medical, and education sectors. Birmingham-based Catherine Wiseman leads the team and her offering encompasses assistance with global portfolio management, freedom to use and register trademarks, and filing and prosecuting trademark applications globally. Lucy Walker is another name of note with expertise in the policing and enforcement of rights domestically and internationally, due diligence matters, and IP issues in liquidation proceedings. Tracy Arch also manages the trade mark portfolios of global clients. Lisa King, ‘go-to IP advisor’ Rosalyn Newsome, and ‘excellent trademark attorney’ Rosanne Farmer in Birmingham, and the ‘very strong lawyer, strategist, and logician’ Ian Pearce and Louis Pittortou in Southampton are also key members of note.

Boult Wade Tennant LLP has offices across the UK, Germany, and Spain, with a new office in Munich, and this ensures the firm is well-positioned to provide a seamless European trade mark offering to its clients. The practice handles the filing of trade mark applications, protection of large portfolios, and brand protection matters, as well as representing clients before the UKIPO and EPO in prosecution and defending opposition and prosecuting appeals. Rachel Conroy sits at the helm of the department. Emma Pitcher assists clients in India, while Catherine Wolfe has expertise in advising clients in China. In team news, Emily Scott and Connor Thorogood were both promoted to the partnership in November 2022, while Michael Mair joined a German IP firm Nordemann in April 2023.

D Young & Co LLP’s UK-based team, which includes both attorneys and solicitors, has ‘great technical ability’ and works cohesively alongside the firm’s Munich office to provide clients with a comprehensive, pan-European trade mark offering. It handles a large volume of filings and enforcement work, including oppositions, and its team members frequently appear before the UKIPO and EPO. Previous co-practice head Jeremy Pennant retired in March 2023, so trade mark litigation and enforcement expert Tamsin Holman now solely leads the practice from London, and she is supported by solicitor Anna Reid; they are praised by one client ‘as exceptional IP lawyers of the highest calibre’. Richard Burton is another key name of note, and he is skilled in handling portfolio-related matters, especially disputes. Sarah Brooks joined from Mishcon de Reya LLP in March 2023.

Haseltine Lake Kempner LLP is praised for its ‘good commercial sense’ and assists clients across the entire lifespan of trade marks, from the development of strategy and identification of IP rights, to protection, opposition and appeal work, exploitation, and enforcement mandates. It is also active in the defence of allegations of infringement. Expert litigator Jason Dainty solely leads the practice from London and Leeds since the retirement of previous co-head Martin Krause in August 2022. The team has undergone recent expansion, with the addition of senior associates Rachel Hearson in June 2022 and Angharad Rolfe Johnson in April 2023, and associate Flora Hachemi in March 2022 from Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP, Boult Wade Tennant LLP, and Lawrie IP respectively.

HGF Limited has a significant geographical footprint, with offices in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, France, and Ireland; its teams collaborate to provide well-known, multinational companies with a seamless trade mark offering, which encompasses IP inception, filings, and commercialisation, as well as enforcement and defence proceedings and portfolio management. It is notably strong in the pharmaceutical, automotive, food and drink, media and entertainment, retail, and aerospace sectors. In February 2023, the firm opened a new office in Belfast, and it is therefore well-positioned to service entrepreneurial clients across Northern Ireland. Leeds-based David Potter sits at the helm of the practice with expertise in strategic protection and management of trade mark portfolios. Also in Leeds, CEO Martyn Fish and chairman of the firm Jason Lumber are key members of the team, as well as Richard Wylie, who advises food and beverage brands on trade mark-related mandates. In London, Jonathan Thurgood has significant experience in European brand protection, and Geoff Smith is skilled in assisting clients from the fashion, veterinary, software, and engineering industries. In Manchester, Lauren Somers is a ‘stand-out individual’.

J A Kemp has offices located across the UK, including in London, Oxford, Cambridge, as well as in Paris and Munich. The team advises clients on a wide range of trade mark strategy matters, including filing, defending, and opposing applications in the UK, Europe, and globally. Its impressive client roster includes domestic corporations, start-ups, spin-outs, and growing businesses, as well as international corporations and prestigious academic institutions; it is also regularly instructed by US, Japanese, and Scandinavian clients. ‘Outstanding’ trade mark lead James Fish also heads up the firm’s Paris-based trade mark practice, and Tom Albertini chairs the designs offering. Other key names of note include Ben Mooneapillay in Oxford, and he supports clients in the luxury goods, entertainment, sports, food, fashion, and gaming sectors, and Charlotte Stirling in London, who handles the entire lifecycle of trade mark-related mandates.

Kilburn & Strode LLP boasts a ‘stand-out team’ that is well-equipped to handle cross-border work with offices in London and the Netherlands. Practice head Carrollanne Lindley is praised by one client as ‘unmatchable’ and is highly adept at strategies surrounding managing international trade mark portfolios, including prosecution and enforcement mandates. Iain Stewart divides his time between London and Hilversum as co-head of the Dutch practice, and he has an international client base. ‘Exceptional trade mark attorney’ Rowena Tolley is another core member of the team with a growing UK client portfolio, including companies from the medical, food and drink, finance, sports equipment, transport, and music industries. Ryan Pixton manages some of the firm’s largest clients, assisting them with multinational filings, oppositions, litigation support, and enforcement matters.

With offices across London, Bristol, Manchester, Cambridge, and Munich, the trade mark practice at Mewburn Ellis LLP is well-placed to offer a comprehensive European service and strategic brand management advice. The group works alongside the firm’s solicitors on the entire lifespan of trade mark work, from creation, registration, and enforcement, to disputes, portfolio management, and commercial matters. It is highly adept at handling a wide range of disputes, including oppositions, cancellations, revocations, domain disputes, and infringements before the UKIPO and EPO. Its client roster covers international brands, dynamic start-ups, universities, and research institutions. With demonstrable experience in acting for charities, Kate O’Rourke sits at the helm of the practice in the firm’s London office, which is also home to Andy King and Jacqueline Pang. Bristol-based Rebecca Anderson-Smith is a notable name in the pharmaceutical, consumer healthcare, and MedTech sectors.

With offices in London, Nottingham, and Sweden, Potter Clarkson LLP provides clients with a strategic and cross-disciplinary approach to their trade mark matters, including advising on due diligence, filing, and opposition mandates. Its client base include innovative start-ups and fast-developing SMEs, as well as international corporates from the life sciences, chemistry and biotech, food and agri-tech, engineering, electronics and computing, energy and cleantech, and the creative sectors. Sanjay Kapur heads the practice from Nottingham and London-based Sarah Talland supports clients with clearance searches, global filing matters, and handling objections and contentious mandates. Emmy Hunt, also in London, is another key name for handling brand protection matters and global trade mark portfolios.

The team at Stobbs IP has ‘an unrivalled knowledge of the law’, and ‘is excellent at providing a range of routine trade mark protection and enforcement support’. With offices in London, Cambridge, Munich, Dublin, and Eindhoven, the team is well-placed to service a wide range of clients, from single-handed start-ups to significant, multi-national organisations from the fashion, beauty and sports sectors, as well technology, publishing, telecoms, social media, food and beverage, and the finance industries. It continues to have a busy UK and EU trade mark filing practice, and it also assists its clients with disputes and litigation, investigations, commercial contracts, brand extension, and anti-counterfeiting mandates. The reputable Cambridge-based founder Julius Stobbs sits at the helm of the practice with expertise in both contentious and non-contentious trade mark work, while the ‘very commercial’ Chris Sleep leads the solicitor group and Geoff Steward chairs the litigation offering.

AA Thornton’s ‘first-class team’ provides UK-based companies and international clients with advice on global trade mark portfolio management, which encompasses filing and prosecuting applications, contentious mandates such as cancellations, oppositions, and enforcement proceedings, and appeals. Co-practice head Ian Gill is praised for combining his ‘in-depth knowledge of trade mark law with outstanding business acumen’, and he leads the team alongside the recently promoted and ‘very efficient’ Sarah Darby. Senior associate Sarah Neil handles large IP portfolios, and Louise Foster supports clients in the manufacturing, publishing, and retail industries. September 2022 saw the arrival of Lucy Pope from HGF Limited, while Rachel Havard departed to join Two IP.

Specialist IP firm Appleyard Lees regularly represents emerging and high-potential innovators and start-up companies, in addition to well-established international enterprises, in their trade mark-related matters. Its team of dual-qualified trade mark and patent attorneys is located across offices in Leeds, Halifax, Cambridge, and Manchester, and it assists clients from a wide range of sectors, including fashion, sports, consumer goods, technology, food and beverage, and manufacturing. Managing Partner David Clark sits at the helm of the team in Manchester, and Leeds-based Robert Cumming is another name of note. Dual-qualified solicitor and attorney Chris Hoole ‘is dynamic and enthusiastic’, and acts for clients in High Court litigation, and advises on UK and European trade mark registries.

Beck Greener LLP ‘has an excellent reputation and is one of the strongest IP law firms in the UK’. The team has expertise in supporting multinational corporations across a broad range of sectors, including media and entertainment, financial services, life sciences, fashion, and beauty, and it is highly adept at managing global trade mark portfolios. It expertly handles both EU and UK matters, including IP strategy, clearance, prosecution, and litigation. Additionally, anti-counterfeiting mandates and design enforcement matters are also with in the group’s capabilities. Ian Bartlett heads up the team and is praised by one client for having ‘a strong theoretical and practical knowledge in all areas of IP’; Bartlett frequently appears before the UKIPO and Appointed Persons in contentious proceedings. He is supported by Catherine Jewell, who has expertise in defending brands in opposition proceedings, Rowland Buehrlen, who heads up the firm’s Alicante office, associate trade mark attorneys IP litigator Duncan Morgan, and associates Kashif Syed and Jessica Vallis.

In addition to the strong media, entertainment, and sports sector focus of the trade marks team at Bird & Bird LLP, the firm has seen an increase in instructions from clients in the retail and consumer, and tourism and travel sectors. The group boasts a mixture of trade mark attorneys and solicitors, and they work cohesively to provide clients with advice on prosecution matters and portfolio management. It is also highly experienced in handling a large volume of trade mark registrations. Mark Holah co-heads the team alongside Allan Poulter.

Bristows LLP’s team consists of UK and EU trade mark attorneys, litigation solicitors, and other overseas-qualified lawyers who all assist with the management of global IP portfolios and advise on the entire spectrum of trade mark mandates, including brand creation, clearance searches, licensing, and disputes before trade mark registries and the courts. The team has witnessed growth in instructions from clients in the hospitality, technology, and telecoms sectors, and continues to frequently represent clients before the UKIPO and EPO. Ian Gruselle sits at the helm of the trade marks department and is supported by Nellie Jackson, who has expertise in brand protection, exploitation matters, portfolio management, and IP-related disputes. In July 2022, Abigail Wise joined Lewis Silkin.

Carpmaels & Ransford LLP’s practice encompasses the entire life cycle trade marks, from clearance searches, registrations, and enforcement, to disputes, litigation, licensing, and contractual and transactional matters, and it often represents clients in opposition and appeal proceedings before the UKIPO, EPO, WIPO, and the UK’s Appointed Person. Roger Lush chairs the group and his clients are from a wide range of sectors, including healthcare and pharmaceuticals, media and entertainment, tourism, and fintech and finance, amongst others. Dual qualified as a trade mark attorney and solicitor, Jonathan Day, is strong on brand protection, enforcement mandates, and management matters. Senior associate and trade mark attorney Lara Elder is skilled in both contentious and non-contentious matters.

Cleveland Scott York boasts trade mark attorneys who are also dual qualified as solicitors, and the team adeptly manages large trade mark portfolios and assists its international clients with developing filing strategies and providing representation in complex opposition work before the UKIPO and EPO, as well as drafting IP-related licensing agreements. Sectors of strength for the group include financial services, pharmaceutical, consumer goods, transport, and fashion. Lorna Hobbs jointly leads the team alongside Jonathan Clegg, and they are supported by Claire Birro, who has a growing practice across the entire spectrum of trade mark work.

CMS’s ‘outstanding team’ utilises the firm’s global network of offices across the UK, Poland, Spain, Germany, France, Singapore, and Hong Kong to provide clients with a seamless cross-border offering, which includes all forms of soft IP work. For example, the team regularly assists clients with due diligence and transactions, clearances, prosecution work, and day-to-day portfolio management and auditing. It is also active in representing clients before the UKIPO, EPO, and English and Scottish courts. Technology, media, and telecoms remain key sectors for the practice, as well as fashion and retail, sport, and leisure and hospitality. Co-head of the firm’s international IP group Tom Scourfield is ‘a brilliant tactician’, and he jointly leads the practice alongside Sarah Wright; they split their team between London and Warsaw. In Sheffield, trade mark attorney and litigator Eleanor Merrett is skilled in brand protection and enforcement mandates.

From Gill Jennings & Every LLP’s London and Munich offices, the trade mark attorney team provides well-known multinational corporations, large corporates, SMEs, start-ups, and universities in the UK, Europe, and other jurisdictions with a strong cross-border offering. The practice has demonstrable experience in handling multi-jurisdictional clearance projects, registrations, opposition and cancellation issues, domain name complaints, and anti-counterfeiting matters, as well as representing clients in prosecution proceedings and portfolio management. Chairman Alasdair MacQuarrie leads the team with particular expertise in the pharmaceutical, entertainment, toys and games, high security printing, and fashion industries, while Edward Carstairs heads up the firm’s food, drink, and hospitality sector group. In May 2022, trade marks director Rachael Ward joined the team from Ward Trade Marks.

Keltie’s trade mark offering is broad ranging, and encompasses advice on prosecution, strategy, transactions, and enforcement matters. It also has a well-established Irish trade mark offering, and assists clients with online brand protection mandates, including domain name registration and renewal matters. The automotive, fashion, luxury goods, food and beverage, and consumer goods are all strong sectors for the department, which has seen an increase in instructions from clients in the sports and sustainability sectors; Manuela Macchi leads the firm’s sports trade mark practice. Co-head of the team Rosemary Cardas has expertise in the strategic management of global trade mark portfolios, and Alistair Gay also jointly leads the practice with significant experience in enforcement issues. Senior associate Jason Aghatise joined the team from Wynne-Jones, Laine & James in September 2022, while Azhar Sadique departed in March 2023 to join a technology start-up company.

Marks & Clerk boasts a ‘well-established and well-resourced team’ that has a core focus on the creative and entertainment industries, fashion and retail, financial services, and food and drink sectors, as well as the technology sector. The team is well-versed in managing large international portfolios, which often includes filings and opposition and enforcement proceedings before the UKIPO and EPO, as well as brand protection matters and dispute resolution mandates. Trade mark practice head Esther Gottschalk also manages the Birmingham office; she has extensive expertise in working for US corporates and attorney firms. Fluent in French and Spanish, John Ferdinand in Birmingham is another key name to note, with expertise in non-traditional trade marks, such as shape marks. London-based trade mark attorney Michael Barrett is dual qualified as a solicitor with a focus on the sport, entertainment, and media industries. Tom Farrand transitioned to a consultancy role in September 2022.

Mathys & Squire LLP acts for large organisations, as well as start-ups, entrepreneurs, and universities on the development, management, and protection of their trademark portfolios, including on contentious oppositions and appeals before the UKIPO and EPO. In London, head of the litigation practice Margaret Arnott also jointly leads the trade mark team practice alongside Manchester-based Gary Johnston. Arnott is particularly well-versed in the automotive, oil and gas, food and beverage, clothing, e-commerce, charity, and technology sectors, and Johnston is experienced in anti-counterfeiting matters. Managing associate Harry Rowe (London) is skilled in trade mark opposition matters, and of counsel Rebecca Tew (Birmingham) has expertise in clearances, brand protection, and enforcement-related matters.

Anglo-German firm Maucher Jenkins often works collaboratively with its German offices to handle national and European trade mark filings, and it also boasts an established presence in Switzerland and China. The team provides ‘sound and practical advice’ on the registration of new brands, clearances, and prosecuting trade mark applications, as well as representing clients in litigation and dispute resolution matters. Industries of strength for the group include pharmaceuticals and medical devices, cosmetics, food and beverages, financial services, and media and entertainment; Katie Cameron often engages with clients in the latter of these industries. Co-head Angela Fox is praised for her ‘great trademark portfolio management skills’ as a dual-qualified solicitor and trade mark attorney litigator, and Tanya Buckley also jointly leads the team with ‘a wealth of experience in handling different types of trade mark work’; her background in biotech enables her to advise pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotech clients.

Murgitroyd has been rapidly expanding and now has offices located across Europe, North America, and Asia, providing clients with a ‘one-stop-shop’ offering in the automotive, engineering and energy, consumer services, chemistry and life sciences, and media industries, amongst others. The group provides clients with an all-encompassing trade mark offering, from pre-filing and searching to prosecution, renewals, and portfolio management. In December 2022, the firm underwent further expansion with the acquisition of TLIP, allowing the group to seamlessly assist Cambridge-based innovative clients with their trade mark mandates. Managing director Joanne Lecky sits at the helm of the team in Belfast with expertise in representing clients before the UKIPO and EPO in oppositions, revocations, and invalidity actions. In Leeds, Alan Fiddes is another notable name, with substantial experience in managing and exploiting trade mark portfolios.

Reddie & Grose LLP‘s offering encompasses the entire spectrum of building trademark portfolios for clients in the consumer products, entertainment and media, technology, charity, and financial sectors, including filing, prosecution, opposition and enforcement work. With expertise in the automotive industry, Helen Wakerley jointly leads the team alongside Patrick Lloyd. Chairman Alice Findlay and executive partner Jan Vleck are further key members of the team. Tom Sharman - a UK and European trademark, patent, and design attorney with a strong emphasis on assisting UK-based businesses with their global expansion strategies - is also recommended.

Venner Shipley LLP is praised as a ‘go-to firm for any UK trade mark matters’ and has demonstrable experience in managing global portfolios and prosecution mandates for a wide range of clients, including FTSE100 companies, global corporations, in addition to SMEs, and start-ups. Practice head Clare Turnbull is based in Tunbridge Wells and regularly represents clients before the UKIPO, EPO, and WIPO due to her significant experience in oppositions and invalidity proceedings, and Jane Martin also sits in Tunbridge Wells. In the firm’s London office, chartered UK trade mark attorney David Birchall is fluent in French and is also qualified as a solicitor. Birchall is active in working alongside foreign trade mark attorneys in prosecution and registration matters.

Wilson Gunn ‘has a multi-national projection and comfortably and ably represents very big clients, while at the same time succeeds in maintaining a demonstrably Mancunian soul which appeals to more local SMEs’. The practice counts major technology companies, academic institutions, and global brand owners amongst its high-profile trade mark client base. Industries of strength for the group include sport, healthcare, fashion, and retail, and it continues to handle a large volume of trade mark filings. In Manchester, Michael Douglas heads up the team, and the ‘fantastic’ Tim Rose in Birmingham has substantial experience in contentious matters, including oppositions, invalidations, and revocations. James Robey and David Slattery in Manchester are also notable team members.

Baker McKenzie’s team supports its clients across the entire scope of trade mark-related mandates, including litigation, clearance, filing, and prosecution work, in addition to registrations, enforcement, and domain and company name disputes. It is also notable for its global portfolio management expertise, which is boosted by the firm’s global footprint. Sectors of strength for the group include consumer products, retail, and pharmaceutical goods. Key names of note include Jessica Le Gros, who leads the brand management practice, Rachel Wilkinson-Duffy with expertise in contentious mandates before UK and EU courts, and of counsel Julia Dickenson. Senior trade mark associate Nadine Archer is another key name. Vlotina Liakatou left to ITV in January 2023.

Bates Wells is sought after for by a range of clients from the impact economy, including charities, non-profit organisations, and commercial clients. The team’s mandates often involve international elements, and it has significant expertise in branding-related matters, clearance, registration, portfolio management, disputes, and transactional mandates. Practice head Mathew Healey is skilled in licensing matters and assisting new and emerging enterprises on a pro-bono basis. Wendy Grey advises clients from the technology, fashion, pharmaceuticals, and media industries, and Catharina Waller is another notable team member.

Dehns has a sizeable team that handles UK, EU, and overseas trade mark-related mandates, including registration and renewals, management and maintenance, policing, and enforcement. It also supports clients with domain name disputes and internet infringements, and is well-versed in providing representation in opposition and cancellation proceedings before the UKIPO and EPO. Its client roster is broad-ranging and encompasses SMEs and multi-national companies from the computing, publishing, pharmaceuticals, leisure and entertainment, food and beverage, and fashion sectors, to name a few. Elaine Deyes leads the trade mark group and Paul Harris is head of the litigation department. Senior partner Elizabeth Jones and managing partner Adrian Samuels are also key names of note. In March 2022, the firm opened a new office in Birmingham.

Elkington + Fife LLP boasts a team of ‘excellent subject-matter specialists’ that are highly adept at handling UK trade mark filings, oppositions and related disputes, clearances, and recordals. Well-known brands continue to instruct the group with their UK and EU trade mark portfolios, and it has seen an increase in instructions by large commercial firms and foreign associates. Chris McLeod ‘leads a talented and dedicated team’ from the firm’s London office and is praised as a ‘complete genius’. In Sevenoaks, Mark Scott is skilled in registered design mandates, while London-based Allister McManus focuses strongly on contentious matters.

Fieldfisher’s trade marks team is ‘extremely skilled at managing a very large portfolio of enforcement matters’ and acts for clients across a wide range of sectors, predominantly in the technology, life sciences, media, and retail spaces, with an increasing focus on the sports sector. Multi-jurisdictional clients seeking to expand their portfolios often instruct the team. Leighton Cassidy co-heads the group alongside litigation lead John Linneker and dual-qualified solicitor and trade mark attorney Hastings Guise, who is highly adept at handling pre-launch clearance projects and disputes.

Lewis Silkin’s IP practice assists its clients with the entire lifecycle of IP-related work. It manages IP portfolios for household names and multi-national clients, as well as trademark filings, anti-counterfeiting matters, and oppositions and disputes. Tom Gaunt leads the team, which was bolstered by the addition of legal director Abigail Wise from Bristows LLP in July 2022 and senior chartered trade mark attorney Erika Coccia from Marks & Clerk in May 2022. Nick Bowie has significant expertise in trade mark prosecution, online enforcement, and investigations.

Following their tie-up in January 2022, Adamson Jones, part of Gateley is now home to an expanding trade mark attorney group which can draw on support from a network of offices across the UK, including London, the East Midlands, Yorkshire and Wales. The practice offers advice on all aspects of trade marks, including registrability, applications in the UK and overseas, international trade mark portfolio management and oppositions against conflicting trade mark applications, as well as the negotiation of coexistence agreements. Pharmaceutical and medical devices specialist David Gwilliam provides ‘invaluable‘ advice to clients, jointly heading the team with John Buckby, who covers all contentious and non-contentious aspects of intellectual property work.

Brabners LLP assists domestic and international clients on the protection, enforcement, and exploitation of trade marks.it also handles portfolio management and prosecution proceedings, as well as contentious matters covering oppositions and cancellations. Colin Bell leads the team, which consists of dual-qualified director and trade mark attorney Hannah Fawcett in Liverpool, and she has expertise in prosecution and infringement matters, and senior associate, trade mark attorney, and IP litigator Hayley Morgan in Manchester.

Dentons has a strong reputation in international, strategic portfolio management, which encompasses litigation, advisory work, transactional matters, and undertaking prosecutions. The team strongly benefits from the firm’s global network of offices, enabling it to seamlessly handle cross-border and multi-jurisdictional matters. Anna Copeman chairs the trade mark practice and jointly leads the IP team, and she is regularly active in contentious proceedings and brand enforcement mandates. Anna Brown is another core team member and her client roster includes global companies, governmental departments, and tech companies, as well as start-ups.

Mishcon de Reya LLP boasts ‘highly-skilled and professional legal experts’, and following its merger with Taylor Vinters in January 2023, it continues to expand its offering in the technology, media, and life science industries. The practice has expertise in handling searching, filing, prosecution, maintenance, and enforcement mandates for global portfolios, and it is well-positioned to utilise the firm’s worldwide footprint and frequently provides trade mark-related advice to Australian, US, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, and EU-based firms. Sally Britton spearheads the team and is also co-head of the firm’s retail group. Sarah Brooks moved to D Young & Co in March 2023.

International IP consultancy firm Novagraaf is part of the Questel group and assists clients with the protection and management of global IP rights, which includes handlings registrations, filings, and disputes. The team is noted by clients for its strong ‘reach in terms of jurisdictions’, with offices situated across the UK and Europe, as well as in China, Japan, and the US. Managing director Vanessa Harrow sits at the helm of the group in Manchester, and she is supported by London-based Laura Morrish, who regularly appears before the UKIPO in opposition proceedings, and Luke Portnow. Mona Asgari joined the London team in November 2022 from Graham Watt & Co LLP.

The IP team at Swindell & Pearson Ltd is notable in high-value contentious matters and strategic mandates, in addition to filings and opposition proceedings before the UKIPO. The group also assists local, national, and international clients with their trade mark portfolio management, and it has expertise across a broad range of sectors, with a particular emphasis on the clothing and nutraceutical industries. Derby-based senior director Nick Womsley heads up the practice, and the team is also home to Kieron Taylor, who is increasingly instructed to handle enforcement and infringement matters.

Roland Mallinson leads the brand management practice at Taylor Wessing LLP, which is adept at assisting clients with clearing, protecting, exploiting, and enforcing brands across the globe. Its client roster encompasses companies in the technology, media, consumer and retail, and life sciences sectors. Qualified French trade mark attorney France Delord is a notable member of the team, which also saw the addition of Alison Cole in April 2022 from Murgitroyd, and she has extensive expertise in contentious and non-contentious trade mark-related matters, as well as commercial mandates, such as licensing.

Withers & Rogers is a dedicated IP firm with offices located across the UK, Paris, and Munich, and its client roster includes companies from Europe, North America, and Asia. The team is highly adept at handling both contentious and non-contentious mandates for clients in the fashion, retail, electronics, jewellery, luxury leather goods, finance, and defence sectors, and trade mark filing is a continued and core strength of the practice. Fiona McBride sits at the helm of the group in Bristol and has significant expertise in contentious mandates before the UKIPO. She is supported by London-based multinational trademark expert Tania Clark and Mark Caddle, who is skilled in trade mark filings and clearance searches. Marisa Broughton left the team in December 2022.