Overview

Commercial intellectual property (IP), including brand, has been an important business asset for many years. As the UK grows and develops its knowledge economy, commercial IP will continue to be core to most businesses.

Understanding how to protect, manage and exploit your commercial IP is vital. Our team of IP lawyers has extensive experience advising on intellectual property rights and commercial IP protection. We provide clear and pragmatic advice on the creation, development, protection and exploitation of commercial IP, tailored to your business needs.

Our team includes UK and European Trade Mark Attorneys and a dedicated trade mark support function.

Areas of focus

Our expertise in commercial intellectual property includes the following, both in the UK and internationally:
  • Structuring IP ownership, particularly intra-group IP structures and holding IP in joint ventures.
  • Advising on the scope of IP, including IP audits and advising on how IP should best be held and managed.
  • Advising on the management of IP, including setting up IP registers and training teams who create IP.
  • Brand clearance, registering IP and managing portfolios.  We currently deal with registered IP portfolios covering more than 80 countries.
  • Dealing with development of IP, particularly structuring joint development arrangements.
  • Assigning IP rights and ensuring that IP is correctly transferred to the right party.
  • Using and exploiting IP rights, particularly advising on exploitation of jointly developed IP where more than one party is sharing in the use and exploitation of the IP.
  • Licensing IP to third parties, including royalty arrangements, revenue sharing and other structures.
  • Advising on technology transfer arrangements, including competition law requirements.
  • Documenting IP arrangements.
Experience

Working with Yeo Valley on intra-group IP structuring arrangements in respect of their well-known organic yogurt and dairy brand.

Advising RAC on a series of IP joint development arrangements for Telematics technology, and international licences for that technology.

Advising Waitrose on brand licensing arrangements.

Managing UK brand clearance and trade mark registrations for Starbucks.

Advising BAA subsidiary on the international licensing of technology.

Acting for Victoria’s Secret across a range of IP matters, including opposition and cancellation actions globally. We also provide advice on brand protection strategies globally.

Working with Tata Steel on establishing the innovative Proving Factory to test new technology for use in motor vehicles.

Advising John Lewis Partnership on IP commissioning agreements.

Working with the Racecourse Association in establishing the industry-wide licensing arrangements for British horseracing data used in racecards across the UK.

Acting for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on the licensing of core nuclear technology through the nuclear industry on the winding-up of BNFL.

Advising Virgin on global sponsorship arrangements.

Acting for the University of Bristol on a series of ventures, including establishment of the National Composites Centre and driverless cars project, Bristol is Open.

Working with The Carbon Trust on a number of technology accelerator projects, including Photo-Voltaic, Pyrolysis bio-fuels and Algae bio-fuels.

Meet the team
Helen Scott-Lawler

Helen Scott-Lawler Partner

  • Head of Food and Drink
  • Commercial
  • Intellectual Property and Media
Jeremy Dickerson

Jeremy Dickerson Partner

  • Head of International 
  • Head of Intellectual Property, Media and Sport
  • Defamation and Reputation Management

What others say...

The team is simply outstanding. They respond rapidly to questions and requests for assistance, are deeply knowledgeable about UK and EU IP law, and are very reasonably priced.

Legal 500 2024

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