Addleshaw Goddard LLP > Legal Specialisms > Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property

Safeguarding your intellectual property: protecting the intangible value of your business

All businesses have IP – be that a brand, ideas, software, inventions, designs or even simply confidential information. These assets hold significant value and require protection and sometimes enforcement to ensure that they retain that value.

At AG, we have a large partner-led cross-disciplinary and cross-jurisdictional IP team which works across multiple sectors, helping early stage high growth companies and SMEs through to some of the leading FTSE 100-250 companies, both domestically and internationally. We advise on all IP issues, from IP strategy and clearance, prosecution and portfolio management through to enforcement and disputes, as well as IP transactions and marketing and advertising clearance.

We can help you to protect, maintain and where necessary enforce your brand, designs, copyright, data, patents/inventions, trade secrets, information and technology throughout their lifecycles. Our client base is worldwide. Our in-house trade mark and design filing practice specialises in in managing trade mark and design portfolios across more than 160 jurisdictions, ensuring comprehensive protection for our clients' brands on a global scale.

Across all disciplines, our IP specialists are focussed on industry trends, sector knowledge and events. We proactively align ourselves with our clients' industries to gain a deep understanding and provide effective support.

Intellectual Property Disputes: We provide a full legal service on all IP cases including IP infringement, ownership claims, oppositions and invalidations, licensing disputes, company name tribunal actions, domain name complaints and online intermediary disputes. We're experts not just in IP, but dispute management and strategy, aiming to get you the best result, whether through hard fought litigation and associated tactics or settlement.

Our team has substantial experience in managing cross jurisdictional IP disputes. As IP is territorial, we draw on international specialists from our preferred network of foreign firms where required.

We have extensive experience not just in the relevant courts, but also in arbitrations and trade mark and design registry proceedings.
Brand and Design Filing Practice: We have a dedicated in-house trade mark and design filing practice which provides a truly global service for the protection and management of our clients' brands. Our brand and design offering is therefore not only comprehensive, but provided to you seamlessly.

We manage the UK and worldwide trade mark portfolios of household names, including MoneySuperMarket, Travelodge Hotels, Harrods, Kickers International and Simplyhealth Group.
IP Acquisition, Licensing and Commercialisation: We advise our clients on complex IP transactions, relating to the creation and commercialisation of IP assets. We help our clients to structure their transactions to manage risk and extract value effectively, whether that be international licensing arrangements, franchise agreements, collaborations, re-organisations or a complex R&D project. We draw upon the combined experience of our competition, tax and intellectual property specialists to draft and negotiate robust commercial agreements.
IP Strategic Review and Audit: A business' focus on IP should not always be reactive. Given the importance of IP assets, businesses should periodically assess their IP portfolios, latent threats and contractual and internal IP management to ensure they are maximising value, reducing risk and staying well-prepared for any unforeseen circumstances. Our strategic IP review is a contained legal service, working with you to scope out priorities, assess status, identify vulnerabilities, plug gaps and enhance your successful practices.
Advertising and Marketing: We work with our clients to ensure that their marketing and advertising strategies are legally compliant whilst remaining commercial and innovative. As scrutiny grows and regulatory powers increase, especially when it comes to eco and related ESG claims, we ensure you can get your message to market whilst always staying the right side of 'the line'.

We build our team around you and collaborate closely with your team to understand your unique needs and draw on our expertise to fit them. This tailored approach ensures you receive a reliable and agile service for all your IP requirements.

Our team works in tandem with colleagues across Addleshaw Goddard, granting you seamless access to a wealth of service and sector knowledge whenever you require it.

Our approach is friendly, straightforward and entirely bespoke – no recycled advice or documents. That's why clients choose us and stay with us.

Recent examples of work

Nichebox

We acted for Nichebox, owner of the luxury Clive Christian perfume and furniture brands, in court proceedings and trade mark revocation and opposition proceedings against Clive Christian Furniture, a former group company.

Diageo

We advised Diageo on the purchase of the premium rum brand DON PAPA. IP, particularly in the brand, was a key part of this transaction and the value of the deal.

Volkswagen AG and Ford Motor Company

We helped shape a strategic alliance that will see both brands working hand-in-hand with future development, including new electric cars, from design through to build and distribution.

Volkswagen AG and Thales

We obtained an interim injunction against academics and universities to restrain the use of confidential information relating to vehicle immobiliser technology.