Experience

I head up Bates Wells’ in-house team of specialist trade mark lawyers.

Brand is key for non-profits and responsible businesses alike.  My team and I aim to help you look after these precious assets in the best way that you can.

Highlights
  • We helped a famous animal welfare charity with its high-profile launch in China. This involved complex trade mark clearance work looking at different prospective brands in multiple languages. Working with our local contacts, we also helped with trade mark registration and copyright before the Chinese IP office. We advised on legal and commercial risk and also helped draft the organisation’s key agreement with its local partner.
  • We helped a major ‘responsible business’ in the construction sector secure rights in its name and logo. We also provide it with brand monitoring (trade mark watching) services, so that it can nip potential conflicts in the bud, before they become serious legal and reputational issues.
  • We helped a well-known trade association overcome a challenge to adoption of its new branding. This meant looking at the legal details of the other party’s claim, but also considering the options for settling things amicably, including whether there was any common ground between the parties. We negotiated on behalf of our client and were able to secure a compromise solution that allayed both sides’ concerns, and allowed our client to continue using its brand.
  • I advise on all aspects of trade mark registration including advice on protection strategies, and handling trade mark applications in the UK, Europe and around the world
  • I advise on the clearance of new names and brands for use, on a UK and worldwide level.
  • I deal with contentious cases such as trade mark oppositions and infringements including conducting settlement negotiations
  • I offer advice in respect of intellectual property and trade mark licensing, and drafting of licences.
  • I give advice and provide registration services in relation to registered designs and domain names.