Intellectual property—registration and protection

Whatever the nature of your business or organisation, we can help protect and enforce your intellectual property rights.

You may want to apply for a trade mark or licence to your copyright. You could be looking to register an innovative design or safeguard your know-how and trade secrets.

We advise on a wide range of intellectual property issues and provide specialist expertise in trademarks, copyright, design rights and other intellectual property matters.

We advise on:

• trade mark applications, registration, enforcement and licensing, including UK and EU trade marks
• trade mark portfolios
• design rights
• managing your brand
• sponsorship rights
• establishing, exploiting and enforcing copyright
• domain name registrations, sales and licensing
• protecting confidential information, know-how and trade secrets
• buying, selling and transferring intellectual property assets
• the acquisition and sale of intellectual property assets

Whatever your concerns we can offer clear and concise advice that addresses the issues and recognises the commercial context within which you are operating.

Client expertise

We act for major media content providers, creative professionals, start-ups, charities and businesses of all sizes to ensure they properly protect their intellectual property and can enforce their rights.

Examples of our work include:

• consumers: we act for numerous consumer businesses, including the UK’s largest independent organic food brand owner whose trade mark portfolio we manage and defend
• software and IT: software suppliers are often exposed to unique risks around trade secrets and copyright, especially suppliers in certain sectors such as financial services. We act for a number of businesses in this sector
• international: we advise international businesses seeking to protect, register or enforce their rights in Europe including applying for trade marks for a large incoming Asian soft drinks manufacturer
• regulators: we advise regulatory bodies, trade-organisations and other non-commercial entities on the protection of their regulatory interests and the intellectual property rights of their members
• charities: we advise charities on the registration, protection and licensing of their intellectual property rights. We have a specialist charities team that understands the specific needs and ethos of charitable organisations

Charges are usually based on our hourly rates plus administrative charges and disbursements. We will provide you with an initial estimate of your likely legal costs and will update this as your requirements or the circumstances of the work change.

We may also be able to offer fixed priced options for clients depending on their budget and the size, type and complexity of the work involved.

We would be pleased to discuss your requirements free of charge and tailor a costs proposal accordingly.