Intellectual Property

Addleshaw Goddard's Intellectual Property team is one of the most experienced in the market.

Our team delivers a blend of commercial, cost-effective and pro-active advice, to ensure that our clients reap the full benefits of their creativity and their investment.

We act in a broad spectrum of industry sectors which includes retail and consumer, financial services, transport, utilities, pharmaceuticals and engineering, regularly advising FTSE 100-250 companies, and SMEs on the full range of IP rights through the IP lifecycle, including risk assessments, brand management and the implementation of national and international IP strategies for protection and commercialisation of IP.

And when our clients need us to, we can provide a full legal service on all cases of IP infringement, bringing extensive experience not just in the relevant courts, but also in arbitrations and trade mark registry proceedings.

Core areas of focus:

Our team has substantial experience in advising industry in all areas of intellectual property including patents, design rights, trade marks, confidential information, database rights, domain names and copyright. Over the years, we have successfully acted for a wide range of organisations, including multinational companies, joint ventures, universities, research establishments, private equity houses and individuals in the acquisition and exploitation of their IP. Many of these transactions have been groundbreaking in their respective fields.

We also have a specialist in-house Brands and Design team who advise clients in relation to the maintenance of their trade mark and design portfolios, including the searching and clearance of new trade marks, the filing and prosecution of trade mark applications both in the UK and overseas, dealing with any third party trade mark disputes (e.g. trade mark oppositions/cancellation actions) and the renewal of trade mark registrations and other maintenance issues. This enables us to offer a complete "one-stop shop" for trade mark and design issues.

Our specialist advice also includes working alongside clients in relation to their advertising strategies and compliance with UK and EU regulations.

Testimonials

The Legal 500 and Chambers legal directories single our team out as leaders in our field.

"Addleshaw Goddard is known for its pragmatic and client-focused advice."
Chambers (2015)

"Fêted IP practice. Represents a broad range of high-profile clients from the fast-moving consumer goods, transport and pharmaceutical industries in global brand protection matters."
Chambers (2014)

"Addleshaw Goddard LLP's excellent commercial IP team is led by Paul Bentham."
The Legal 500, North West (2015)

"Addleshaw Goddard LLP puts the client at the centre of its work, and delivers user-friendly advice in areas such as IP portfolio management and disputes, for bigticket clients."
The Legal 500 (2014)