Trade marks

Our experienced and international trade mark team advises clients, from SMEs to large multinationals, across all industries, on strategically protecting their brands and enforcing their rights. Working across a broad spectrum of sectors, our trade mark attorneys are able to offer tailored advice to the specific needs of each client, no matter what their situation.

We obtain trade mark protection for clients around the world, either directly or with support from our trusted network of associate firms.

Trade mark strategy

We can:

review your existing portfolio of rights and offer advice on its strengths and weaknesses

help to design internal systems for the most efficient and effective management of the IP arising from your branding processes

provide internal training programmes

ensure that you are getting the maximum IP return from your brand portfolio

review competitor and sector activity worldwide and help you plan your branding strategy accordingly

advise on the best protection strategy for a mark and then manage its implementation worldwide

assist in developing suitable new brands and corporate images.

Securing trade mark protection

We can:

conduct availability searches for your mark in different jurisdictions

advise on whether a trade mark can be registered

consider possible alternatives including unregistered rights

file and prosecute trade mark applications through to registration

Trade marks at work

We can:

advise on issues such as validity and the infringement of clients' and third party trade marks

implement a trade mark watching service to alert you to similar trade marks filed for application or registration by third parties

review the possibility of amending marks to avoid third party rights

bring and defend actions for the revocation of trade mark registrations

oppose the grant of registrations before relevant trade mark offices

assist with the transfer of your rights or the acquisition of third party rights

draft licences and assignments and assist in negotiations with third parties

use the new statutory provisions in the UK for dealing with companies registered at Companies House whose names are considered to be an infringement of our clients registered and unregistered trade mark rights

Alison Melling
Partner