Trade Mark group
Our Trade Mark group is highly experienced and is consistently ranked in the top five UK firms for UK and European trade mark filings. We provide a wide range of specialist advice and support to brand owners operating in a variety of industry sectors in the UK and internationally.
Our experience
Our team is privileged to represent many large corporates and multi-national companies as well as small and medium-sized businesses and start-ups, helping them to optimise and protect the commercial value of their brand.
Among our clients, in the UK we work with a national supermarket chain, a high street jewellery retailer, a manufacturer of leather goods and accessories, a hedge fund and a manufacturer of strategic military equipment.
Internationally, we work with a well known French fashion house, a multinational insurance company and a computer software manufacturer based in the US.
In addition to our direct client experience, we have strong relationships with intermediaries such as solicitors and accountants around the world, who are happy to put their trust in us by referring client work to us.
Our expertise
Our practice is headed by Fiona McBride, partner and qualified attorney for 15 years. Each of the team's partners have previously worked as in house trade mark counsel in industry and are well placed to advise on and understand corporate strategies, needs and constraints. One of our partners is also a UK qualified barrister and can therefore represent clients in contentious matters before the Court.
The way we work
Our aim is to work closely with our clients to develop a strategic approach to the protection and enforcement of trade marks. We believe in listening carefully to the client before formulating such strategy as objectives and emphasis will vary between organisations and sectors.
Our advice covers initial filing strategies including clearance searching through to enforcement and licensing of registered rights. We place great emphasis on trade mark audits, in particular the review and rationalisation of our clients' portfolios as a core element of our strategic offering. This is important both in terms of early identification of potential gaps in cover and reducing unnecessary cost where duplications exist or marks are no longer required, etc. We aim to educate our clients' through a series of seminars and review meetings and also watch closely developments in our clients own industry sectors.
Some examples of the type of work we do are:
Searching: we have a comprehensive in-house search facility which, together with external support, enables us to undertake trade mark clearance searches quickly and cost effectively.
Renewals: we work closely with our clients to ensure that a strategic approach is taken when considering renewals to avoid unnecessary cost on redundant trade marks.
Watching: an important part of any trade mark strategy is watching, not only trade marks but also company names. We provide national UK and overseas watching services as well as worldwide coverage. Our watching strategies also cover competitors and industry sectors.
Worldwide filing and prosecution service: our expertise is not just limited to the UK. All our qualified attorneys are European Trade Mark Attorneys, which means that we can deal directly with the Community Trade Marks office and World Intellectual Property Office. We also work closely with a network of overseas attorneys ensuring that our clients interests are protected worldwide.
Inter partes proceedings: we represent clients in opposition proceedings before the UK patent office and all other types of third party involvement such as invalidity proceedings, cancellation proceedings and rectification.
Post-registration transactional work: our services include all post-registration formalities, such as changes of name, assignments, licensing and due diligence for investment purposes.
Wider perspectives
All our team are members of professional bodies and institutions such as INTA (the International Trademark Association), FICPI (Federation International des Conseils en Propriete Industrielle) and ITMA (Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys). The role of these bodies is to educate members about changes in intellectual property legislation and practice worldwide and to lobby for change where necessary. Our team takes an active part in these organisations as committee members, ensuring that our clients' best interests are looked after when changes are being considered.
What our clients say
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"We're very happy with the way Withers & Rogers dealt with our trade mark portfolio. Not only has it saved us money in renewal costs, but our business is better protected too. Now that the annual review system is set up, we can deal with all the renewals in one go, so nothing gets overlooked or renewed when it shouldn't - a big improvement!"
David Snell, Technical Manager, McCain Foods
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“We have always found Withers & Rogers to be client focused, responsive and practical in their advice. Over the years, we have had to call upon their expertise and experience to guide us through various IP matters and their support has been invaluable.”
Andy Valentine, Marketing Director Ginsters
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“Withers & Rogers has worked with us over a number of years and we value their commercial advice. We work closely together to ensure that the trade mark needs and requirements of our business are met. Of particular importance to us is an efficient and friendly service, which we always receive from Withers & Rogers.”
Godfrey Davis, Chairman and Chief Executive, Mulberry Design Limited
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“As a business focused on new technologies and products, it is vitally important that we protect any intellectual property generated by such innovation. Withers & Rogers understands our commercial needs and provides us with pragmatic, realistic and timely advice which gives us confidence in the security of our IP rights.”
Caroline Davies, Senior Trade Marks Adviser, Akzo Nobel
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“Withers & Rogers always give us a friendly, prompt and high quality service.”
Man Group Plc Sue Welch, Group Secretariat, Man Group Plc
Group members
All members of our Trade Mark Group deal with a range of trade marks subject matter. If you need advice, please contact one of the following attorneys:
Luxury goods & fashion |
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Fiona McBride |
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Military and Defence |
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Fiona McBride |
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Retail |
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Fiona McBride |
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Financial services |
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Tania Clark |
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Computing & Electronics |
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Mark Armitage
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Food & Drink |
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Fiona McBride |
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Minerals and Mining |
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Michelle Tew |
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"As a closure and container manufacturer serving a widely spread and competitive collection of markets, pharmaceutical, toiletries, beauty, household products and food, the development of our intellectual property portfolio is vital to our success. It is equally vital that we retain a first class firm of patent and trade mark attorneys; and over the last twenty years Withers & Rogers has filled that role admirably."
Rod Parker, Managing Director, Dragon Plastics Ltd
Group Members
Specialist Practice Groups
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