SH logo

Intellectual property

32

Our intellectual property team advises on all issues arising from the protection, exploitation and enforcement of the full range of intellectual property rights (IP).  We advise on patents, copyright, databases, designs, trade marks, domain names, trade secrets and confidentiality.

The team is ranked in Legal 500 2009 and mentioned in Chambers UK 2010.

Whether you are looking to formulate an IP strategy for your business, audit your existing IP, exploit its value through licensing or joint venture arrangements, check your 'freedom to operate' in a particular field or consider IP issues arising from corporate and commercial transactions, we have the expertise to assist you.  IP is a business asset and as such its purpose is to further your business' commercial goals and objectives. We believe that decisions relating to IP cannot be taken in isolation but rather as part of the overall strategy for moving your business forward.

Our dispute resolution team can also help you with all aspects of IP disputes.  We take a very commercial and creative approach to resolving disputes, working with clients in the most cost effective ways to find practical solutions to the matters in dispute. We have significant experience of conducting proceedings in the Patents County Court, the High Court, the Court of Appeal, the House of Lords, the European Court of Justice, the UK Intellectual Property Office, OHIM and the European Patent Office and in front of the ICANN and Nominet dispute resolution panels.  We also advise on the various forms of alternative dispute resolution.

We advise a wide range of clients from entrepreneurs and SMEs to PLCs on domestic issues as well as complex international IP strategy and dispute resolution.

We can help you with:

IP strategy

  • Global IP protection & enforcement strategies
  • IP audits of a company’s existing IP
  • International freedom to operate, brand and design clearance
  • Advising on registration of rights

IP exploitation

  • IP licensing, assignments, R&D, technology transfers, joint ventures & security
  • IP transactional support

IP dispute resolution

  • Pre-action advice on use of certain technology or brands and third party rights
  • IP litigation before the Patents County Court, the High Court, Court of Appeal, House of Lords, European Court of Justice including co-ordination of litigation across jurisdictions
  • Opposition/Revocation proceedings
  • ADR, Domain Name mediation and Company Names Tribunal

The support of the IP team has been invaluable to us. We've felt in very safe hands with Lucy and 
Eifion

Dr Nadia Danhash,
Co-Director InnovationRCA
Royal College of Art

"The kind of top client service that is hard to find"

Chambers UK 2009

"The sheer commitment of Stephenson Harwood is key to its success"

Chambers UK 2010

"Total dedication"

Asia Pacific Legal 500 2009/2010

20

Related information