Appleyard Lees
Firm overview:
The team at Appleyard Lees is a blend of solicitors, trademark attorneys, patent attorneys and dual-qualified practitioners offering “exceptional expertise” and “outstanding professionalism” while remaining “flexible and personalised”. An impressive list of brands instructs Appleyard Lees on trademark matters, including multinational food corporation Nestlé, and British pub chain JD Wetherspoon.
The specialist firm handles filing, clearance and manages large scale portfolios containing both trademarks and patents. One client says “what sets them apart is their genuine dedication to understanding our business, products, and services. They fully immerse themselves in our brand, making it feel as though they are an extension of our team.” Part of the firm’s 360 degree service includes IP-related commercial transactions, licensing agreements and domain name disputes.
The combination of solicitors, attorneys and the dual qualified means contentious matters are handled effectively within the firm. Appleyard Lees handles registry disputes, including complex cross-opposition and invalidation matters before the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO). The litigation team handles matters before the High Court, the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court and coordinates matters outside the UK for international clients.
Team overview:
Appleyard Lees has four offices practicing trademarks; Leeds, Cambridge, Manchester and Halifax. Notably, the team is composed of specialist IP solicitors, dual-qualified solicitor-attorneys, trademark attorneys, and dual-qualified patent and trademark attorneys.
Robert Cumming leads the trademark and litigation practice. He is particularly skilled at strategically positioning brands for success, and combines his background as a litigator with his experience working on large corporate deals to gain the best possible outcome for clients.
A client says they have developed “a deep trust” in the abilities and commitment of Chris Hoole, who is dual-qualified as a solicitor and chartered trademark attorney. Says the client of Hoole and the wider team: “Their strategic foresight, combined with their extensive legal expertise, ensures that we are always a step ahead in protecting our intellectual property.”
Other key members of the team include Graham Johnson, known for helping SMEs to build a range of IP rights around their brands and products, and David Moy, who specialises in acting before the UKIPO, European Patent Office (EPO) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) office in Geneva.
Key matters:
Non-Contentious:
- Trademark and IP portfolio management for Gym King
Appleyard Lees began representing Gym King in 2020. Gym King operates a multi-national clothing and lifestyle brand with a portfolio of IP registrations around the world, and collaborates with high-profile celebrities and athletes. Led by Robert Cumming and Vishal Dattani, the team’s role has included advising on ongoing disputes, enforcement and reviewing, protecting and expanding on Gym King’s trademark portfolio.
- Trademark portfolio growth through acquisition for Pelsis
The firm has provided comprehensive support to Pelsis, a prominent name in pest control and cleaning solutions, in expanding its product and brand portfolio. The project involved managing the acquisition of numerous companies and a full consolidation and rebrand.
The team provided end-to-end trademark management services, ensuring the smooth transition of these acquired assets into Pelsis’ existing operations. This included due diligence on the IP rights associated with the acquired products, registration, and renewal of trademarks, and ensuring compliance with both local and international regulations.
- Supporting global expansion for Wrexham Lager
Appleyard Lees acts for Wrexham Lager in trademark positioning, and provides strategic advice on its global expansion, supporting the growth of this historic and growing brand.
Established in 1882, Wrexham Lager is the UK’s oldest lager brewery and a long-standing supporter of Wrexham AFC. In October 2024, Hollywood stars and Wrexham AFC owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, expanded their commitment to the community by becoming co-owners of Wrexham Lager.
Graham Johnson is the key contact at the firm.
Contentious:
- Cross-opposition and invalidation matter for Nestlé
In 2024 the firm was appointed to represent Swiss multinational food and drink conglomerate Nestlé in an ongoing complex cross-opposition and invalidation matter before the UKIPO. Nestlé had opposed trademark applications for ‘Crunch’ and ‘Warrior Crunch’ filed by nutritional life sciences company KBF Enterprises. In response, KBF launched challenges against the validity and use of several Nestlé marks. The dispute is ongoing.
Cumming and Beverley Robinson act for Nestlé in the matter.
- Yorkshire Dama Cheese v Yadex International
Appleyard Lees represented Yorkshire Dama Cheese in an opposition before the UKIPO in February 2023. The client is a well-known cheese manufacturer, owned by Syrian refugees, and has appeared on TV shows alongside famous foodies the Hairy Bikers and Pru Leith.
The opposition was brought by Yadex International, owned by Yasar Group, a large Turkish conglomerate operating in food, beverages, agriculture, paints and more, and concerned the client’s application to register ‘Labneh’ as a trademark.
Yadex’s opposition relied on its existing trademark ‘Labne’, arguing there was a likelihood of confusion due to the similarity between the trademarks. The hearing officer concluded that there was not significant use of the ‘Labne’ trademark by Yadex in the UK and Yorkshire Dama Cheese was successful in its registration.
- Madd Gear and another v CDS Superstores International (The Range)
The firm represents pro scooter brand Madd Gear, which filed a multitrack IP claim in October 2024 along with sports distributor J&R Sports against British home and garden retailer The Range. The matter is ongoing.
Chris Hoole and Chris Thomas are key members of the team involved.
Clients:
Holland and Barrett, JD Wetherspoon, Madd Gear, Marlow Foods (Quorn), Nestle, Pelsis, Prevayl, Puma, Rick Shiels, Silentnight, Skipton Building Society, Water Babies, Wrexham Lager
