Abion
Firm overview:
Young firm Abion is a tech-focused European IP specialist that has been evolving over the past few years. Having rebranded from Brandit after merging with Swedish brand protection company Ports Group in 2023, the firm acquired UK-based IP specialist Lane IP in June 2024. Abion said the move strengthened its UK operations as well as extending its reach into the Australasian and Asian markets through Lane IP’s foothold there. Lane IP also added an office in Dublin to Abion’s portfolio.
Abion’s strengths lie in trademark, domain names and online brand protection to spot and combat infringers. The firm’s services include marketplace watching, domain monitoring, social media watch and enforcement against phishing attempts, enabled by a cost-effective monitoring tool.
Offering a “single point of contact” to clients, the firm has secured trademarks at the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) for China’s Tencent, the leading global filer of trademarks. Abion also has the capabilities to handle enforcement, opposition, litigation and dispute resolution.
Team overview:
A notable addition to the team in 2024 was Daniel Zohny as global head of brand protection and country manager for the Swiss office. Zohny was former head of IP at FIFA and brings over 15 years of experience in IP law to the firm.
Partner and director of brand innovation Azhar Sadique moved from Keltie to Abion in 2023 and is “very big on AI and trying to disrupt the legal space with some innovative solutions”, according to a peer. Sadique is a member of the Brands and Innovation Committee & AI Task Force at the International Trademark Association (INTA).
Formerly head of trademark services at Keltie, Kane Ridley also moved to the firm in 2023 where he is now partner and business development manager. “One to watch”, as noted by a peer, Ridley is an active member of INTA and the Chartered Institute of Trademark Attorneys (CITMA) and his work includes representing the paralegal community.
Steven Lane is global head of brands & legal at the firm, having been managing partner at Lane IP before the 2024 acquisition. Lane said the move was a “natural progression” that would allow his team to offer “a broader suite of tech-enabled products and services”.
In January 2025, the firm strengthened its team with former head of dispute management at Stobbs, Chris Sleep. He will head up the Litigation & Dispute Management team at the firm. Upon joining, Sleep noted how litigation was just one of a number of tools available to brands and that “complex disputes require complex solutions”.
Key matters:
Non-Contentious:
- Global domain management for Spotify
Abion assisted Spotify with managing and monitoring its domain name portfolio. Spotify is a trademark that is “especially exposed to various infringements”, the firm says. The team helped the music streaming platform assess what was reasonable to register, providing strategic advice on the domain portfolio management. Abion also monitors the ‘Spotify’ trademark, alerting the company to any infringement of it.
- Trademark and domain portfolio delivery for Vasaloppet
Vasaloppet is one of Sweden’s most famous brands and the world’s oldest, biggest and longest ski race. It encompasses many sub-brands and 16 different races in Sweden, the US and China. Abion identified large gaps in the company’s trademark protection and implemented an action plan, which prioritised getting sole rights to the most important brands in key markets. The firm also initiated a consolidation of the client’s domain names.
- Trademark registration for Coolstuff
E-commerce business Coolstuff offers gifts and gadgets, and operates in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Germany. Abion assisted the company with brand strategy, registering trademarks in markets where Coolstuff’s brand names lacked protection, and engaged in domain name monitoring for the client.
Clients:
C&A, Calida, Coolstuff, JoJo Bebe Maman, Nilfisk, Oatly, Lindt, Lyko, RVRC, Spotify, Tencent (Cayman Islands), Travel + Leisure, Vasaloppet
