Intellectual Property (IP) Solicitors
We can help you to protect and commercially exploit your intellectual property
Intellectual property (IP) is often a business’s most valuable asset, whether it is a brand name, logo or more complex assets, such as innovative designs, database rights and trade secrets.
Protecting and commercialising that IP can significantly increase the growth of your business and its ultimate value, both to business owners and shareholders, as well as to outside investors.
At Longmores, our Commercial Law team helps our clients to understand, protect and commercially exploit their intellectual property. We also take swift action where our clients believe their intellectual property has been infringed.
Our intellectual property solicitors have acted for clients dealing with high value IP matters within the UK and internationally. We have earned a reputation for working intelligently with our clients to maximise the value of their IP, while keeping their assets safe at all times.
We are ranked by leading client guide the Legal 500 for our Corporate and Commercial expertise, as well as for related areas including Commercial Litigation.
Our intellectual property law expertise includes:
- Intellectual property protection
- IP licensing and IP assignments
- Intellectual property disputes
Going beyond straightforward legal advice, our team are passionate about helping our clients to grow and succeed through creative use of their intellectual property. Drawing on our combined expertise in intellectual property law and commercial contracts and agreements, we can help you find ways to expand and to operate more profitably.
Ultimately, our goal is to help you create a strategy and use your intellectual property in the most advantageous way to increase the value of your business.
Case Studies
- An IP Licence Agreement Assisting with the negotiation of a set of Heads of Terms and a subsequent Licence agreement for a fire doors business, in relation to the licence out of a range of its patented products so that the licensee could manufacture and sell a particular range of doors, using our client’s patented technology. This unusually included setting out terms for the licence of a jointly owned unregistered trade mark.
- Merchandise Licensing Agreement The commercial team at Longmores reviewed and advised a licensee on a merchandise licensing agreement with a major international gaming brand in relation to obtaining permission to use the brand on a range of apparel and accessories. Rina Sond advised on the terms.
- Licensing Agreement Renewal The commercial team at Longmores continues to act for an innovative and eco-friendly baby products business whose products have been stocked in major UK retailers. The team recently assisted the client with a renewal of a licensing arrangement with a major international distributor, for the manufacture and sale of such products across overseas territories. This has allowed our client to benefit from royalty income for the licence of their IP, whilst gaining international brand recognition.
- Brand identity protection for leading UK healthcare recruitment agency We aided a leading UK healthcare recruitment agency with protecting their brand identity from a global recruitment business who wanted to register a trademark that overlapped with our client’s brand. We helped our client prepare for a hearing at the Intellectual Property Office and advised on the best way of presenting their arguments. Our client was successful in defending the use of the trademark for their own brand.
- Protecting key product patents for major cake decoration business Our commercial lawyers acted for a leader in the cake decoration market, agreeing robust commercial supply contracts from key components of their supply chain, while at the same time ensuring their products had the required levels of patent protection. As a result of these new supplier arrangements, our client has been able to get their product to market faster and has secured major contracts with leading supermarkets.
- Negotiating patent licences for a research centre We advised a UK-based research centre undertaking joint research exercises with leading European counterparties, including trade associations and universities. The aim of the research initiatives were to jointly develop products that could be manufactured and sold in the European market. Our Commercial Law team negotiated and drafted bespoke arrangements including a Research & Development agreement and patent licence that would protect the commercial and IP interests of all parties involved.
Speak to our intellectual property lawyers
To discuss how we can help to protect, exploit and defend your business’s intellectual property, please get in touch.
Our intellectual property law expertise
Our intellectual property solicitors can assist with matters including:
- Trade marks and brands
- Patents
- Design rights
- Copyright
- Database rights
- Trade secrets and know how
- Confidential information and non-disclosure agreements
- Domain names
- IP audits and clearance searches
- Franchising
- Licensing and distribution arrangements
- Assignment of IP rights
- Competition and trading practices
- Privacy and image rights
- Advertising and regulatory compliance
- Advising on IP matters in the context of a business sale or purchase
Our intellectual property law services
Intellectual property protection
It is essential for businesses to protect their intellectual property. Not only does this minimise the risk of others infringing on a brand’s IP, but it can also be the first step in licensing or otherwise commercially exploiting key intellectual property.
Our intellectual property solicitors will be happy to advise you on what intellectual property your business needs to protect and your options for doing so. We can then leap through all of the legal hoops on your behalf, keeping the process of protecting your intellectual property as simple and stress-free as possible.
IP licensing
Safely and effectively licensing your intellectual property can allow you to quickly earn additional revenue and expand into new markets. However, you must ensure your IP is properly protected and that the IP licensing agreement matches your commercial objectives.
Our IP lawyers can advise on what steps you need to take before licensing your intellectual property, prepare the necessary licensing agreements and assist with any other contracts or agreements needed to create a successful commercial relationship, whether as licensees or licensors.
Intellectual property disputes
If someone is infringing upon your intellectual property, you must take swift action to deal with this matter. Failure to do so could result in serious harm to your brand and may affect the continued viability of your business.
Our Commercial Litigation team take a firm and pragmatic approach to IP disputes, with the sole focus being on securing the best outcome for our clients in the most advantageous way possible.
In many cases, intellectual property disputes can be resolved quickly and cost-effectively through private negotiation and settlement. However, where necessary we can advise on hearings at the Intellectual Property Office and are prepared and very able to take action through the courts to protect our clients’ IP.
Find out more about our intellectual property dispute resolution expertise.
Our intellectual property law solicitors’ fees
Cost is an essential issue to consider for any business and we want our fees and pricing structure to reflect this.
Where appropriate, we are able to handle some matters on a fixed fee or capped fee basis, for example advice on applying to register a trade mark and patent applications. This allows you to budget with precision.
For more complex matters where ongoing support is required, we will work to an agreed hourly rate dependent on the level of expertise needed. We will provide a clear cost estimate at the outset and any additional expenditure will be agreed in advance, so you always stay in control.
To find out more about our intellectual property lawyers’ fees and to request a cost estimate, please get in touch.
Speak to our intellectual property solicitors in Hertford
To discuss how we can help to protect, exploit and defend your business’s intellectual property, please get in touch.
