How I can help your business

• Guide you through the protection, enforcement and defence of your brands and intellectual property rights
• Represent you in contentious matters, including trade mark, copyright and design disputes
• Provide practical, strategic advice on managing IP risk and resolving disputes across the UK and internationally

Overview & Expertise

Natalie Welch is a Senior Associate and Solicitor in the Brand Protection and Litigation practice, based in Birmingham. She has over 10 years’ experience advising on intellectual property disputes across a range of sectors including food and drink, fashion and retail, entertainment, and automotive.

Natalie advises on a broad spectrum of contentious matters, including trade mark and passing off disputes, copyright and design infringement, and domain name complaints. She supports clients on both UK and cross-border matters, providing guidance from early-stage risk management and enforcement strategy through to litigation and dispute resolution.

Her experience includes litigating cases before the High Court and the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, as well as managing trade mark oppositions and appeals before the UK and EU Intellectual Property Offices, the Boards of Appeal, the General Court, and the Court of Justice of the European Union. She also handles UK and WIPO domain name disputes and proceedings before the Company Names Tribunal.

Prior to joining Marks & Clerk, Natalie was a Senior Associate at Mills & Reeve LLP and has gained in-house experience with leading automotive and fashion brands, giving her insight into the commercial considerations underpinning IP strategy.

She qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales in 2015 and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice from the University of Oxford.

Client Work & Case Experience

• Brand owners - managing trade mark oppositions and appeals before UK and EU IPOs, Boards of Appeal and EU courts