Fully immersed in the entertainment, media, retail and tech sectors, DMH Stallard LLP continues to impress before the High Court and IPEC as well as on the transactional side, handling a complex plethora of patent, trade mark, copyright and design matters. The practice is jointly led by Brighton’s veteran practitioner Tim Ashdown and Gatwick’s John Yates; the former is highly experienced in the management of commercial, IP and tech disputes, and the latter is particularly geared to handle a significant array of IP-heavy projects and contractual matters. Other key names to note in Brighton include Debbie Venn, who handles the full gamut of commercial law matters; and Rebecca Leeves, who excels on the data protection side. Beatrice Bass is also recommended for IP disputes.

A powerhouse in the IP sphere, Palmer Biggs IP, Solicitors fields a dynamic and wide-ranging practice that spans a litany of litigation, brand protection, domain name management and strategic IP advice for an array of global brands. Gatwick-based Steve Palmer heads up the firm’s offering, enjoying an established reputation across the automotive, e-commerce and sport sectors, particularly in relation to contractual issues, trade mark portfolios and brand clearance. Another name to note in the practice is Charles Lawless, who is well-equipped to assist with a diverse caseload of litigation.

Operating across the full spectrum of IP issues, Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP possesses a strong grounding in transactional agreements, licensing issues, and a host of disputes and brand management work. The team demonstrates particular capabilities within the retail, biotech and fashion and luxury sectors, as well as vast expertise in tech related issues. Oxford’s life sciences expert Chris Shelley and London’s Anna Frankum lead the national team, while transactional expert Joanne Vengadesan and Daniel Berry, who is highly active on the trade mark and design side, co-lead from Reading, and Gavin Stenton leads from Oxford with his wealth of experience across the fashion, retail, publishing and IT sectors. Also in Oxford is Holly Strube, who is notably adept in the fashion and luxury goods sectors.

A tour-de-force across the life sciences, tech, sports and fashion industries, Stevens & Bolton LLP maintains an impressive client roster that includes household name brands, entrepreneurs and international scale businesses. On the contentious side, the firm manages the full gamut of IP rights and issues, while on the non-contentious side, the firm’s skillset is comprised of reputation management, patent licensing and franchising advice, to name a few. Tom Lingard, who spearheads the team, is a key port of call for contentious IP and media issues, while Charlotte Tillett’s arsenal of skills extends across IP licensing, research and transactional mandates. Other recommended lawyers include Elaine O’Hare and Tom Collins.

Leveraging contentious expertise, Reading-based firm Boyes Turner handles a diverse multitude of infringements across a host of jurisdictions, and on the non-contentious side, the group demonstrates prowess across trade mark portfolio management, brand protection and IP issues arising from joint ventures. Sarah Williamson leads the firm’s offering with her vast expertise in the tech and media industries. Other names to note include Helen Dobson, who is well-positioned to advise a varied roster of clients in relation to the commercialisation, licensing and development of IP, and Andrea Date, who is particularly adept at handling content licensing deals and commercial contracts within the tech, media and entertainment sectors.

Situated within Tunbridge Wells, Cripps deploys its arsenal of skills to advise on the commercialisation and exploitation of IP rights on a broad scale, from both a contentious and non-contentious angle. The team is a solid choice for clients active in the tech area. Steering the practice is Irfan Baluch, who is highly capable in the disruptive tech space and provides his clients with considerable experience in AI, blockchain and cryptocurrency work. Phil Bilney is equipped to manage multi-faceted IP licensing and contractual matters.

Capable of handling the full gamut of IP issues, Howes Percival LLP maintains a dynamic practice that spans the media, publishing, film and manufacturing sectors. Practice head James Howarth leverages his wide-ranging capabilities across media, patents and database rights issues, to routinely operate for corporations, SMEs and private individuals. Academic publishing expert Cathleen Blackburn and capable disputes practitioner Steven Maier are also active in the practice.

Counting a plethora of life sciences, tech and retail companies among its key roster of clients, Oxford’s White & Black Limited continues to thrive on both the contentious and non-contentious side of IP work, handling a range of infringement, contractual and licensing matters. Three key players lead the department: Phil Thompson, who specialises in tech and commercial law; highly experienced litigator Victoria Wright, who is a capable practitioner in the infringements arena; and Andrew Bees, who is adept at aiding clients with IP-rich outsourcings and commercial projects.

Birkett Long LLP is well-versed in patent applications, multi-faceted litigation and contractual mandates, capitalising on its considerable technical expertise. The Colchester-based team is led by Jonathan Perlmutter, who is geared to handle an extensive variety of multijurisdictional IP filings and strategic issues. In the firm’s Chelmsford office, Christopher Burnett bolsters the practice with his substantial knowledge of patent portfolios.

Acting for clients ranging from start-ups through to multinational organisations, Mishcon de Reya LLP covers a plethora of IP issues arising from the life sciences, energy, sports and gaming sectors. Oxford-based Hugh Tebay, who helms the team, is noted for his particular knowledge relating to the commercialisation of IP rights, commercial contracts and licensing matters. Caroline Dry principally focuses on the life sciences sector, and also demonstrates capabilities in the software and space sectors.

Tim Astley spearheads the IP offering at Moorcrofts LLP, which continues to thrive in the software realm, handling an array of licensing issues, cloud rights and product launches within this space. The team also frequently manages a variety of strategic and compliance related matters. Marlow-based Astley is well-versed in the tech sector and is regularly engaged by a litany of start-ups, telecoms providers and global corporations.

Moore Barlow fields a wide-ranging IP practice, demonstrating capabilities across portfolio management, licensing and R&D collaboration agreements. John Warchus, who actively operates across the firm’s Guildford and Southampton offices, steers the firm’s offering with his knowledge in the strategy, filing and dispute areas. Emma Butcher possesses a strong grounding in trade mark filings and due diligence matters.

Well-versed in the creative and digital industries, Moore Law continues to thrive in media-based trade mark matters, opposition proceedings and sponsorship work. In Brighton, Scott Appleton steers the team with his skillset that covers software licensings, trade mark registrations and commercial contracts. Tris Moore is also recommended.

Advising on both a domestic and cross-border scale, Paris Smith LLP continues to build upon its creative sector expertise, handling a variety of portfolio issues, copyright advice and licensing mandates. Practice head Celia Lloyd Davidson, who operates from the firm’s Southampton and Winchester offices, is fully immersed in the fashion, beauty, hospitality and not-for-profit sectors. Southampton-based Ryan Mitchell is another name to note in the practice.

Noted for its particular capabilities in the tech industry, Reading-based Field Seymour Parkes LLP is also well-positioned to advise on IP issues arising from the aerospace, biopharma, fintech and telecoms sectors. Its transactional capabilities encompass software development issues, supply agreements and venture capital matters. Cathrine Ripley steers the group with her wealth of experience on the transactional side. Christopher Pollard and Francesca Lombardi are also recommended.

Helmed by Douglas Skilton and Sebastian Jones, Thomson Snell & Passmore routinely acts for a host of private companies, multinationals and entrepreneurs in relation to IP agreements, sponsorships, reputation management work and contractual disputes. Thames Gateway-based Skilton is well-versed on the contentious side, whereas Tunbridge Wells-based Jones is adept at managing commercial transactions and corporate governance matters.

Trethowans LLP continues to develop its IP offering across the contentious and non-contentious remits, with a workload that spans trade mark disputes, portfolio management and contractual matters. Laura Trapnell leads from the firm’s Bournemouth office, while Julian Hamblin, Jon Stickland and Nick Gent support from the firm’s Southampton office, contributing their respective IT, commercial contracts and corporate expertise.