Intellectual Property and Media Business Legal Services I want to ensure that I am covered by trade mark and intellectual property law; can Irwin Mitchell advise the best practice? With previous industry experience working with trade marks and intellectual property, our specialist team of solicitors can guide you through the process of intellectual property rights whatever the size of your company. The Irwin Mitchell Intellectual Property and Media Team advises clients from global corporations through to investors and start-up companies across the UK and internationally. This well established and recognised team advises on a full range of intellectual property rights, both contentious and non-contentious, covering the management, protection, exploitation and enforcement of IP. Two members of our team are also former senior in-house trade mark attorneys who can offer clients a strategic in-house approach with unrivalled expertise. The team acts for clients across a number of sectors including: • Technology, media and telecommunications • Retail, hospitality and leisure • Sports and entertainment •Engineering •Healthcare • Energy, renewables and cleantech •Manufacturing • Financial services. Our services The team’s services include: • Clearance, freedom to use and operate searches • Watching, protection and registration strategies for trade marks, patents and designs • Portfolio management of trade marks and designs • Advising on the validity and registrability of IP rights • Due diligence and advice relating to corporate transactions • Technology transfer, licensing and collaboration • Joint ventures, collaborations and partnering alliances including competition and anti-trust issues • Advising on employment and consultancy terms relating to the ownership of IP rights • Litigation, mediation and arbitration in all areas of IP • Developing and advising on multi-jurisdictional litigation and defence strategies • Advising and acting on ‘freezing’ and ‘search and seizure’ orders and injunctions • Advising on anti-counterfeiting strategies involving working with customs and excise in relation to the seizure and release of goods • Domain name protection and UDRP/nominet proceedings. Advantages of working with us In addition to advising a range of funds and private equity providers, management teams and corporates, we have also acted for, and on, transactions involving regional government backed and public sector focussed equity funds including Finance Yorkshire, the NW Fund and South Yorkshire Investment Fund. We have also advised on many University spinouts, both for investor and investee. Previous work of this nature gives us an understanding of the key drivers and the constraints that the Funds are working to. This, together with our experience of early stage investments and growth companies, gives us a unique ability to facilitate an accelerated, smoother transaction process to deliver best advice and best value to investee clients. This, in turn, ensures that the investment process achieves a balance between the interests of the investor and the investee company, without squandering investment funds on professional advisers. Key facts Over 100 years old Top 20UK Competitive cost structure Law Firm Over 2,200 people Our expertise • Acting for Capita PLC in relation to the protection, maintenance and enforcement of its worldwide trade mark portfolio • Acting for Toni & Guy on the sale of the global retail products business of Toni & Guy in conjunction with corporate colleagues in London • Advising Sir Stelios Hajiloannou and the easyGroup of companies on various IP issues and managing their international trade mark portfolio • Advising FxPro on its international trade mark portfolio and implementing an intra-group licensing arrangement for its worldwide IP assets • Advising a global restaurant chain on a copyright infringement claim relating to artwork in its restaurants • Obtaining urgent injunctive relief summary judgment and winning at trial in various proceedings concerning the misuse of proprietary information including confidential client lists and database rights • Advising the Law Society on various trade mark and copyright infringement matters, website take down and broader issues of reputation management • Acting for an international textile corporation in multi jurisdictional litigation concerning copyright, designs and agency regulations in the UK and Turkey • Successfully defending an interim injunction and subsequent Court of Appeal proceedings in relation to medication dispensing equipment • Advising an alcoholic drinks manufacturer and distributor on its worldwide trade mark portfolio • Advising Team 17 Software LTD, the games developer of the well known Worms game where we advised upon and devised a worldwide branding strategy in light of merchandise arrangements and sales. Focus areas Our team has expertise in all IP and media related rights, including: Patents Advertising and marketing Anticounterfeiting and piracy Privacy Confidential information, know how and trade secrets Franchising, licensing, merchandising and sponsorship Personality and image rights Copyright and databases Domain names Litigation and dispute resolution Trade marks and designs Credited by sources as an “incredibly thorough” practitioner who has “endless patience.” - Chambers & Partners, 2014 Follow our team on Twitter @IMmediaAndIP 0370 1500 100 www.irwinmitchell.com @irwinmitchell For a list of our offices visit our website Irwin Mitchell LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England & Wales, with number OC343897, and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. All Scottish cases will be handled by a separate Scottish legal practice, Irwin Mitchell Scotland LLP, which is regulated by the Law Society of Scotland. BLS-IP-0001-FS