Practical LawConferences

Jeremy is a Partner and Head of the IP team and has over 20 years’ experience of both contentious and non-contentious IP matters in the UK and worldwide. Clients include household names in many industry sectors including retail, fashion, media, sport, technology, publishing and insurance.

Jeremy is an award-winning lawyer who is heavily involved in the industry. Jeremy has been named ILO International Client Choice winner for his trade mark practice for two consecutive years (2013, 2014).

Jeremy is a member of the Intellectual Property Lawyers’ Association (IPLA), International Trademark Association (INTA) and has been a member of The Law Society’s IP Committee for many years. Jeremy writes and speaks regularly on IP issues, including at the IP Law Summer School in Cambridge.

Ben is a Legal Director in the IP team and advises on all aspects of intellectual property protection and enforcement, with a focus on trade marks, copyright, designs and confidential information.

Ben plays a lead role in the trade mark practice, having acted for clients across a range of industries including retail, online/e-commerce, financial services and insurance.

Ben is a regular speaker and publisher on trade mark issues.  Notably, Ben is a member of International Trademark Association (INTA) and sits on the Internet Committee of European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA).

Born in Scotland and educated at Edinburgh University (Joint Hons – Mathematics & Statistics) Ewan was commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1980. Following a variety of work, including operational tours of duty, he transferred into the Intelligence Corps in order to pursue a career in Security and Intelligence; he served in a variety of roles and foreign countries. After 4 years as a Brigadier and Director Intelligence Corps, he joined British American Tobacco (BAT) in 2009. His appointment was Head of the Anti Illicit Trade Intelligence Unit. There, he managed a team of experts who conducted investigations into the counterfeiting and smuggling of illicit tobacco goods. During his 6 years with BAT, Ewan developed expertise in IP Infringement in Tobacco products. Based in London, this unit with global responsibility is a key element within BAT’s fight against those involved in this serious crime. It works closely with Law Enforcement Agencies around the world as well as other FMCGs who are similarly affected by the counterfeiting and/or smuggling of their goods. Ewan has also participated in many conferences and seminars around the world; both as a speaker and moderator. He recently contributed to RUSI’s study “On Tap: Organised Crime and the Illicit Trade in Tobacco, Alcohol and Pharmaceuticals in the UK”. Ewan is presently a Director of the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG).

Sir Colin Birss read Natural Sciences (Metallurgy and Materials Science) at Downing College, Cambridge, graduating in 1986. After a period programming computers, he was called to the Bar in 1990 and built up a successful practice as a barrister in intellectual property law representing clients both before the English courts and the EPO. As well as being instructed by firms of solicitors, he was instructed directly by a number of firms of patent attorneys and by the in-house patent departments of a number of major life science organisations. Colin was appointed Standing Counsel for the Comptroller General of Patents, Trade Marks and Designs in 2003 and took silk in 2008. In 2010 he left the Bar to become the new judge of the Patents County Court and Chairman of the Copyright Tribunal. His appointment to the PCC coincided with the introduction of new procedural rules in the Patents County Court in order to streamline the procedure. In 2013 he was appointed as a Judge of the High Court Chancery Division.

Aline Doussin is a senior associate in the firm’s Regulated Industries department specialising in International Trade (incl. export control and sanctions), EU Regulatory and Intellectual Property. Aline’s experience is derived from her similar previous position in a major international law firm, and from her former roles at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva and as an in-house IP lawyer in Japan Tobacco International (JTI). She also trained in major international law firms in Paris, the Ministry of Justice in Paris and in the European Commission (Industrial Property Unit).

Aline’s work involves acting for a wide range of businesses, governments, and trade associations, and includes international compliance, investment and regulatory issues, and provides support to clients on wider government affairs and public policy strategies.

Florian Traub is a partner in Squire Patton Boggs’ Intellectual Property & Technology Practice Group based in  London. He has a double-qualification as English solicitor and German Rechtsanwalt (Attorney-at-Law). His particular expertise covers advice in relation to all aspects of trade marks from pre-filing searches and clearance through filing and prosecution to post-registration matters and third-party conflicts. He also specialises in contentious work including trade mark and trade mark infringement actions. Furthermore, he advises in relation to designs and copyright as well as in matters of unfair competition law.

Florian worked in a German office of Squire Patton Boggs for two years prior to his relocation to London . Before joining Squire Patton Boggs, Florian was an associate at an Intellectual Property boutique firm in Munich.

Florian is member of the International Trademark Association (INTA) and an allied member of the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA).

Carl Rohsler is a partner in the London office of Squire Patton Boggs, and leads the firm’s European IP litigation group. He deals with all types of intellectual property rights, but is best known for his work in the field of trade mark and copyright litigation, having acted in a number of leading cases such as Cantor Fitzgerald v Tradition, Rockwater v Coflexip, and Enterprise v Europcar. Carl is a Solicitor Advocate (2001) and is also known for his work in the gambling sector. He is a visiting lecturer at the University of Montpellier, France.

Sarah is a partner and Head of Trade Marks at Olswang LLP. She  has over 10 years experience in advising clients on all issues regarding their brand including devising trade mark and design filing strategies, conducting clearances searches, managing international portfolios, and taking enforcement action against plagiarists. As an experienced litigator, Sarah draws on her analytical skills to provide strategic advice which delivers the client’s objectives.

Sarah also has experience of non-contentious matters including drafting and negotiating all types of licensing and franchise arrangements, co-existence agreements and assignments. Having trained and practised at a magic circle firm for 3 years, she is equally adept advising on the IP aspects of corporate acquisitions and disposals.

Jeni joined HSBC in 2014, having previously worked both in private practice, and in-house at Sky International AG in Switzerland.

As Legal Counsel in the IP Advisory team at HSBC, Jeni regularly advises on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious intellectual property.  The team has responsibility for the Group’s global trade mark portfolio, enforcement and licensing structures.  Jeni has a particular interest in online brand infringement work and works with the team to develop and implement strategies within the bank to advise the business and protect the HSBC brand online.  Jeni also sits on HSBC’s working group for the new gTLD regime.

Simon Whitehouse is Senior Director EMEA at Thomson Reuters, working specifically with the MarkMonitor suite of solutions having joined MarkMonitor in 2007 to assist the company’s expansion in EMEA. With experience of working with some of the largest companies in the world, Simon is applying his enterprise knowledge and skillset to the area of protecting companies’ Intellectual property online; in which MarkMonitor are the industry experts. Simon was previously European Director of CDC, EMEA Sales Manager at Network Associates and UK head of Magic Solutions prior to joining MarkMonitor.

He holds a BSc honours degree in Psychology & Computer Science from Hertfordshire University.

Georgy has specialised in intellectual property (IP) with a focus on trade marks for 20 years and runs a legal services consultancy business, Fir Hill Consulting. She is based in the UK with clients all over the world and provides trade mark services to corporates, and business development support to law firms.  Georgy qualified at Linklaters and worked in its intellectual property department for five years before joining GlaxoSmithKline (then SmithKline Beecham) where she became Vice-President in its trade marks group, and interim head of trade marks. She joined Shell as Head of Trade Marks in 2006 and Fir Hill Consulting as CEO in January 2014.

Georgy’s expertise is in managing international trade mark portfolios using teams of lawyers, paralegals and administrators, while working with and managing international networks of external lawyers and attorneys. She has considerable experience in reviewing working practices and change management, together with brand enforcement and securing IP rights, strategy setting and budget management.

Amanda is a barrister in private practice at Hogarth Chambers in Lincoln’s Inn. She is especially well known as a trade mark specialist.

Amanda has many years of experience in soft intellectual property and media and entertainment law. Her practice encompasses litigation and advisory work in respect of trade marks, passing off, copyright and design rights, domain names, databases, confidential information, media and entertainment and contractual disputes. She regularly deals with court proceedings and proceedings and appeals before/from the UKIPO and OHIM. She acts for clients in many areas of commerce and industry including fashion, the music/record industry, films, advertising, television and publishing.

Amanda is an Appointed Person hearing appeals from the UKIPO and sits as a Deputy Enterprise Judge of the IPEC and as a civil Recorder.

She is the author with Andrew Norris of ‘A Practical Guide to Trade Mark Law’ – 5^th ed, 2014.

Giovanni is a qualified solicitor and trade mark attorney, also qualified as an Italian lawyer, with over 14 year experience in managing, protecting , exploiting and enforcing global brands in a variety of business sectors and jurisdictions.

As Counsel Trade Marks & Copyright at BP, Giovanni is responsible in particular for the protection of BP’s Colour Green trade mark, which he has been able to successfully enforce in numerous jurisdictions world-wide.

Mary has over 20 years’ experience in brand protection and enforcement, handling complex prosecutions, trade mark, copyright and design infringement proceedings, and disputes in the UKIPO, OHIM, and CJEU for large international brand owners and SMEs across diverse industries.

She has particular expertise in protecting and enforcing non-traditional trade marks, having acted in a number of colour, shape and get up cases including the successful enforcement of the colour green for BP, in its landmark decision, the protection and enforcement of Lindt’s Gold Bunny product in the UK, and representing Cadbury in its long running dispute with Nestle over the protection of Cadbury Purple.

She is a member of ITMA and sits on the Non-Traditional Marks committee of INTA. Mary is listed as an expert in Trademarks by Who’s Who Legal 2014, and described as a doyenne of non-traditional trade marks and a safe pair of hands for crucial litigation in WTR 1000 2015.

Mark is a partner in our Intellectual Property Practice, based in London.

Mark is dual-qualified as a solicitor and registered trade mark attorney and has been advising clients on intellectual property issues since 1994. His practice focuses principally on brand protection issues, both contentious and non-contentious.

During his career, Mark has acted for clients in virtually every industry sector and he has been fortunate enough to work with many of the world’s most famous and iconic brands.

The legal directories have consistently ranked Mark as an expert. In addition he has been listed as a leading individual in the “Guide to the World’s Leading Trade Mark Law Practitioners” and the International Who’s Who of Trade Mark Lawyers.

Mark is a member of ITMA (the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys) and INTA (the International Trademark Association) and currently sits on the INTA Bulletin (Law & Practice) committee. He has spoken on branding issues at a wide range of conferences and events, including conferences organised by INTA and IPIC (the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada), and has lectured at the University of Cambridge as part of its Masters of Bioscience Enterprise. He was the first winner of the Adrian Spencer Award, given to the student with the highest mark in the ITMA finals law paper.

Diane worked at the BBC as its trade mark lawyer for over 10 years, and has recently moved to the BBC’s commercial subsidiary, BBC Worldwide Limited, where she heads the Brand Protection team. She deals with all aspects of copyright and trade mark protection and enforcement for BBCW, from registering brands as trade marks, to taking action against the counterfeiting of branded products and piracy of content.

Brian focuses on IP law issues in the technology sectors, particularly licensing, enforcing and litigating patents. He is also very active in the retail and design sectors, and has acted for a number of leading retail and fashion clients on cases involving trade marks, copyright and design rights.

Prior to becoming a solicitor, he obtained a first degree in Chemistry and a PhD in Biochemistry. He worked as a research chemist in the Netherlands, in the field of structural biology, and as a scientific publisher in the biotechnology sector.

Before joining K&P, he gained experience with Pinsents and Addleshaw Goddard. Brian is also active in speaking and writing on IP issues, and has published more than 25 articles on diverse topics within IP law and practice. Key cases include: Electrocoin v Coinworld, Select Healthcare (UK) Ltd v Cromptons Healthcare and AP Racing v Alcon Components.

Helen is Senior Legal Counsel at Orange Group, the global telecommunications group. She has been a senior lawyer in the Group Brand Legal Affairs team since 2006 advising the international business on IP licensing and brand protection issues. For the past 3 years she has led the brand portfolio and enforcement team, responsible for managing the Orange brand global trade mark portfolio and for global brand enforcement strategy. She also manages brand licensing matters for the global B2B division of the Orange Group which operates in 160 territories worldwide.

Prior to joining Orange, Helen was a lawyer in the BBC litigation department, advising the BBC on intellectual property and media issues. She qualified into the Media and IP Litigation team at Richards Butler LLP (now Reed Smith LLP) and later joined the Commercial Litigation team at Nabarro LLP before embarking on an in-house career.

Benet has a diverse practice that ranges from core areas of IP such as trade mark infringement and patent infringement disputes to claims for breach of fiduciary duty, restitution and breach of confidence claims in contract disputes as well as contract disputes with a technical or entertainment law aspect.

Benet has particular expertise and experience in trade mark law.  He most recently appeared in Cartier & ors v BskyB & ors, which established the availability of Internet blocking injunctions in trade mark matters.  He has frequently appeared before both the General Court and Court of Justice of the EU in appeals from OHIM.  He regularly represents clients at the Intellectual Property Office and on appeal from the IPO both before the Appointed Person and to the High Court.

From 2005- 2010 Benet was on the Treasury Solicitors C panel, advising on disputes ranging from claims for breach of contract to claims for infringement of data protection principles by prisoners.