Specialist IP firm Ionic Legal was founded in June 2024 by Roy Crozier and Paul Cox, who previously co-led Foot Anstey ’s IP team. Known for its ‘stellar service’ and ‘first-rate’ knowledge, the team has quickly built a strong reputation. Crozier and Andrew Stone both have extensive experience across contentious and non-contentious IP, with particular expertise in anti-counterfeiting and passing off. Cox leads on trade mark and design filings and portfolio management. Annalisa Checchi, a non-contentious IP and tech specialist, joined in January 2025.

Pannone Corporate LLP’s intellectual property team is led by Sarah Bazaraa and Amy Chandler with a strong retail and hospitality focus, acting for clients such as Boohoo, Iceland and Debenhams. Bazaraa leads the contentious practice and advises on disputes involving design rights, trade marks and copyright, particularly within fashion and retail. Chandler heads up the non-contentious team and advises on complex licensing, collaboration and development agreements, with expertise across the retail, tech and leisure sectors. Other key figures include Paul Jonson and Andrew West, known for advising technology service providers on licensing and IP joint ventures; Patricia Jones, who specialises in technology exploitation agreements and contentious patent matters; and Danielle Amor, who focuses on strategic brand protection and IP in the media, retail and fashion sectors. Melanie McGuirk departed the practice in January 2025 to Foot Anstey.

Addleshaw Goddard advises on the full spectrum of intellectual property matters, including disputes, trade mark and design portfolio management, and transactional IP work. Paul Bentham handles brand and design protection and IP issues in M&A and joint ventures, while Nadine Waters is experienced in licensing and technology transfers, particularly in corporate and finance contexts. Nick Ashcroft specialises in business protection litigation including urgent injunctive relief. Phil McGough advises on the IP aspects of major IT and outsourcing projects with a particular specialism in AI, and Tim Carter handles non-contentious trade mark and registered design work across multiple jurisdictions.

Led by Colin Bell, Brabners LLP’s IP team has strong experience in portfolio management issues, online brand enforcement work, and litigation, including IPO oppositions and cancellations. Bell is known for strategic IP advice, licensings, franchising issues, brand management work, and contentious matters. Nik White provides IP and commercial contract support, particularly around franchising and e-commerce mandates, while Hannah Fawcett advises on both contentious and non-contentious IP, with a focus on the fashion and retail industries. Hayley Morgan handles IP across the tech, media and entertainment sectors, including copyright issues, trade marks, and design rights.

Brandsmiths’ IP practice advises on all aspects of IP protection and commercialisation, including licensing and structuring IP-led deals. Stephen Lowry, who joined in 2024, heads up the trade mark, design and copyright team, covering prosecution, enforcement and strategy issues. Practice head Michael Forrester has strong litigation experience across trade mark, design right and copyright disputes. Claire Meyers and Priya Gandham are also key figures within the group. John Battersby and Jacob O’Brien left the firm in July 2025.

HGF Law’s IP team is led by Michelle Davies and advises across contentious, transactional and commercial IP issues, alongside data protection mandates. The firm is known for its strong focus on the life sciences, education, retail, and healthcare sectors. Davies has specific expertise in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries and advises on licensing transactions and acquisitions, as well as supporting educational institutions and spin-outs. Janet Knowles is also a key figure in the team.

TLT’s IP team handles both contentious and non-contentious matters with a strong focus on design, trade mark, and copyright disputes. Graeme Orchison leads the team with key experience in cross-border IP infringement cases, acting in EU trade mark, design right, and breach of confidence disputes. David Gardner advises on IP ownership, branding, and licensing, and Sarah Quaynor handles complex disputes involving trade marks, passing off, design infringement, and breach of confidence claims. The team is also noted for its work on strategic IP licensing and exploitation issues, particularly in relation to complex tech projects, product launches, and multi-party collaborations.

Asima Rana leads DWF’s IP practice, advising on the development, protection, and enforcement of intellectual property. Rana specialises in defending IP infringement claims and supports clients across sectors, particularly retail, consumer, and fashion/textiles. She also represents national and international clients in trade mark, copyright, passing off, and patent disputes before courts.

Forbes Solicitors‘ IP practice focuses on soft IP matters, including the identification, protection, exploitation and enforcement of intellectual property rights. The team regularly advises on contentious and non-contentious issues, including licensing issues, commercialisation work and disputes. Daniel Fletcher leads on enforcement and contentious work, acting for a growing portfolio of IP-centric clients, while co-head John Pickervance focuses on supporting clients with the commercial exploitation and licensing of IP within broader contractual frameworks. Adam Estell is also a key name within the team.

Gateley Legal offers full-service IP support with both trade mark and patent attorneys. The team advises high-profile clients such as City Football Group and JD Sports on trade mark infringements, passing off work, copyright issues and design rights; the practice is also experienced in matters involving reverse passing off and spin-out work. Robert Lye leads the group and focuses on contentious IP and IT disputes, including litigation, arbitration and domain name issues, while also advising on non-contentious matters such as licensing, strategy and corporate IP transactions.

Kuit Steinart Levy LLP’s IP team works exclusively in the intellectual property field, covering both contentious and non-contentious matters. The team’s expertise spans patents, trade marks, copyright, database rights, designs, competition law and the commercialisation of IP, and has strong technical expertise in the life sciences, IT and physical sciences industries. The group also has further experience in the education, sport, media and retail spaces. Bruce Jones leads the group as a qualified patent attorney, and Yasmin Kalantari advises on disputes involving all core IP rights and related areas such as defamation and privacy.

DAC Beachcroft LLP handles the full spectrum of soft IP matters, including copyright, trade marks, design rights, passing off and breach of confidential information mandates. The team advises clients across a range of sectors including the technology, healthcare and manufacturing industries, often on multi-jurisdictional disputes. Harald Loeffler leads, specialising in complex litigation and heading up the firm’s German desk. Other key figures include Chris Air, who focuses on IT and IP transactions in health and tech, and Tiffany Chan, who is known for her expertise in cross-border IP disputes.

Gorvins Solicitors’ IP practice handles a range of contentious and commercial IP matters. Paul Lupton and Guy Lightowler lead the team, with Lightowler focusing on disputes involving copyright, trade marks, passing off issues, and design rights. Rowan Uren supports on non-contentious matters, advising on IP licences, assignments, and commercial agreements involving core IP considerations.

Myerson Solicitors‘ IP team is led by Carla Murray, handling both soft and hard IP matters, particularly in the technology, life sciences and manufacturing sectors. The team advises on licensing, protection, enforcement, and complex ownership issues. Robert Brothers handles contentious IP disputes involving confidential information, trade marks, copyright, and design rights. Richard Meehan adds strength on IP issues arising in complex distribution and supply chain arrangements across the tech, telecoms, and financial services sectors.