Trade marks inform customers about the origins of products and allow trade mark owners to protect and build up value in their brand. We have many years’ experience of advising on the protection of clients' trade marks in the UK and Europe via national registries and the European Union Trade Mark system, as well as further afield in practically every country in the world via the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and using our network of trusted national foreign attorneys.

We can also advise you on how to reduce the risk of infringing someone else's trade mark, and how to reduce the risk of ‘passing off’ claims made by third parties. We are frequently called on to assist clients who have been approached by companies threatening Court action, and have plenty of experience of negotiating co-existance agreement between parties to allow companies to use their marks without cuasing confusion in the market place and damage to each others business.

We conduct clearance searches for proposed new trade marks and we can monitor for conflicting trade marks worldwide.

We can also oppose and defend trade mark registrations. See our commercial initiatives page and our IP disputes page.