Mewburn Ellis

Firm overview:

Mewburn Ellis is praised by clients for its “modern way of working, very good, balanced advice and competent staff”. Combining the expertise of trademark attorneys, patent attorneys and solicitors, the IP firm collaborates as one entity for clients with cross-practice needs. Mewburn Ellis combats non-traditional and out-of-the-box trademark registrations and has a high success rate in contentious matters at Intellectual Property Offices, the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court and the High Court.

Mewburn Ellis has a first-rate client list of diverse industry leaders such as Audi, MF Brands, and world-famous bands Foo Fighters and Nirvana. The firm has gained the trust of foreign counsel for UK trademark searches, prosecution and registry disputes, with a referral network of top-ranked US trademark firms. Keen to speak to the quality of advice provided by the firm and the depths of the relationships formed, clients feel they have “built up a trust and understanding with the firm”, and the team has “good knowledge of our company and industry”. Growing brands say Mewburn & Ellis is a “valuable tool for our expansion strategy”.

Team overview:

The firm has five offices in Europe and over 350 practitioners, including more than 100 qualified trademark and patent attorneys, lawyers and trainees. “Amazing” solicitor and attorney Kate O’Rourke comes highly recommended by peers and clients and leads the trademark practice. O’Rourke, an MBE recipient and former president of the Chartered Institute of Trade Marks focuses on international trademark prosecution and enforcement, specialising in the leisure and retail industries. She has a comprehensive understanding of the ongoing impacts of Brexit for brand owners in the UK.

Andy King is “the best of the best”, says a client. King handles an array of trademark matters, from searching and portfolio management up to collaborating on litigation with the firm’s lawyers. King’s client base includes MF Brands, owner of well-known apparel brands Lacoste and Gant. Rebecca Anderson-Smith and Claire Evans “are truly outstanding attorneys”. Partner Anderson-Smith specialises in consumer healthcare and medtech, advising long-standing multinational client Alliance Pharmaceuticals on worldwide trademark enforcement. Evans is a senior associate bringing in-house experience and works closely with US firms for UK referrals.

Key matters:

• Mewburn Ellis is representing a licensee in a pre-action trademark infringement litigation. The matter concerns the misuse of the client’s brand by a confectionery retailer. Mewburn Ellis is working alongside an international firm in the ongoing matter.
• The team represents a US credit card company in an ongoing pre-litigation action. The matter concerns cancellation actions relating to a party misusing the client’s brand in the UK.

Clients:

Alliance Pharmaceuticals, Audi, Axon (Taser), Dogs Trust, Foo Fighters and Nirvana (via Rimon), Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu, Hallmark Cards/Crayola, In-N-Out Burgers, Intersnack / KP Snacks, Karsten (Ping), MF Brands (Lacoste, Gant, The Kooples), Modiano (Moncler, Juventus), Morrison & Foerster, Pattishall, McAuliffe, Newbury, Hilliard & Geraldson, Polsinelli, Sandvik, SB Alliance, Stryker, TauRx, The Estate of Whitney Houston (via Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi), Thompson Coburn, Young’s Brewery