Boult Wade Tennant

Firm overview:

Boult has a reputation for providing exceptional trademark services, particularly on the non-contentious side. Formerly known as Boult Wade Tennant, the firm rebranded in 2024 to the snappier brand name—a move it said matched its transition “from the UK to become a European firm with a global practice”, with the new brand built around its people.

The firm creates and manages large portfolios, conducts clearance searching, advises on unconventional marks and prosecutes thousands of trademark applications before the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO). It is particularly commended among peers for the strength of its filing and prosecution practice and generally considered a “good attorney firm”.

Understanding the likely endgame in trademark matters, Boult endeavours to put its clients in strong enough positions to avoid long disputes. The team also prepares and files oppositions, invalidity actions, and revocation actions, to enforce its clients’ marks against third parties and defends them from the same proceedings if they arise.

Team overview:

The firm has six European offices, with the UK team of attorneys based across London, Cambridge and Reading to form the trademark and domain names group.

London partner Tony Pluckrose has a varied IP practice serving clients across industries including financial services, telecoms and computer games. With experience across patents, trademarks and designs, Pluckrose particularly enjoys working with UK SMEs to help them protect and exploit their valuable intangible assets.

Also in London, trademark attorney and past president of the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys Catherine Wolfe finds trademark law “the most interesting legal subject”. Peers particularly highlight the “skills and range” of Wolfe, whose experience includes filing trademark applications in registers worldwide and acting in ex parte and inter partes hearings at the UK Trademarks Registry.

Head of the trademark team Rachel Conroy is skilled in all aspects of brand selection, protection, enforcement and portfolio management, with particular expertise in clearance searching.

“Superbly bright” Felicity Hide focuses her practice primarily on dispute resolution, and she handles conflicts before the UKIPO as well as settlement agreements.

Clients:

Friendz Social Media, Harman, Lambretta, The Royal Shakespeare Company, TDK