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Marks & Clerk Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys today announced that Edward Evans Barker in London and Roystons in Liverpool will trade exclusively under the Marks & Clerk brand from 1 April 2004. In addition, Sommerville & Rushton in St. Albans will trade exclusively under the Marks & Clerk brand from 26 April 2004.

This development marks the second phase of a process that began with the three firms moving into the Marks & Clerk partnership in August 2003.

The re-branding was originally scheduled for August 2004, but has been accelerated to provide clarity for clients and to tie in with the re-branding of Blair & Co, the associated law firm of Marks & Clerk Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, to Marks & Clerk Solicitors on 8th March 2004.

Through these moves, Marks & Clerk Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys has cemented its position as market leader in both Europe and the UK, with over 80 partners and a total of over 400 employees at 14 locations across the UK.

Chris Gibson, Chairman of the Board at Marks & Clerk Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys commented: "This move is another step to ensure that Marks & Clerk not only operates in a way that is most beneficial to our clients but puts us in the best position to exploit the growing knowledge economy.

"We are in the strongest position of any firm of intellectual property attorneys to provide companies with the IP advice they need. Being part of one of the world's largest IP firms adds strength and support to our Clifford Inn, Liverpool and St. Albans-based teams, which will be of great benefit to clients."