Contributors
After winning in 2018, Womble Bond Dickinson's (WBD) team has succeeded in being shortlisted again for the Intellectual Property (IP) award at the 2021 Yorkshire Legal Awards.
Recent highlights for the team include:
- Advising Leeds-based manufacturer GEOfabrics on the successful enforcement of its patent against Fiberweb Geosynthetics in the High Court and the recent success before the Court of Appeal with multi-million pound damages awarded to the client
- Acting on the IP aspects of the sale of a majority stake in North East luxury fashion retailer END
- Assisting Grafton LSR Ltd, the company owning the Bloodhound land speed record project, on trade mark protection matters
- Retaining the right post-Brexit to prosecute trade marks and designs before the European Union Intellectual Property Office.
WBD's UK IP practice, based in Leeds, is praised for its strong expertise, excellent client care and commercial approach. The team also works on cross-border matters, including with WBD's US team which boasts 100+ IP practitioners and is ranked among the top five patent prosecution practices in North America.
Patrick Cantrill, IP Senior Counsel at WBD, comments:
"We're thrilled to be shortlisted once again for the IP award at Yorkshire Legal Awards. Our team has been going from strength to strength, thanks to the growing number of prestigious clients we continue to attract and the quality of our work on high-profile transactions and disputes.
"Leeds is the exclusive hub for our IP operations in the UK, and our team of solicitors and Chartered trade mark attorneys is committed to the promotion and development of the specialism in the region, drawing upon our experience gained from international collaboration to deliver the best results for our clients."
Representing Yorkshire on an international stage, WBD acts for clients across Europe, North America, Australia, China and beyond, and also advises many Yorkshire-based businesses and organisations including NHS Digital, DHSC, University of Leeds, GEOfabrics, Getech, Juratek, Duckhams Oils, Yorkshire Agricultural Society and Ilkley Brewery Company.
The IP team is highly ranked in legal directories Legal 500 and Chambers, with one client praising the "excellent team" for being "pragmatic, clear and consistent in their advice". James Love, partner and head of IP in the UK, and Patrick Cantrill are also both ranked as Tier 1 lawyers by Chambers.
