Keystone Law
Firm overview:
UK IP boutique firm Keystone has developed a niche in servicing international firms with London offices that lack the sufficient IP expertise to provide that specialised function for advisory work as well as disputes. Lawyers at the firm use the firm’s Keyed-in IT platform and Net Documents file management system to work from any location and cut down the time they spend on administrative tasks.
The firm has a sweet spot in complex IP disputes, often with an international dimension involving all IP rights (trademarks, patents, design, confidential information, copyright, database rights), frequently with broken down commercial arrangements and regulatory issues combined in commercial IP arrangements from assignments to framework agreements to licensing and cross-licensing, assignments.
Team overview:
Keystone has built its teams on encouraging its lawyers to develop a practice focus on industry, rights or geographical area, creating a team of specialists with a broad range of expertise or a combined focus meaning the right expert or combination of experts can provide optimal advice for clients.
Keystone’s IP lawyers’ reputations precede them – they are not learning on the job, rather are go-to individuals who work effectively together and are well known in the IP world and operate more like a very collaborative barristers’ chambers, because they have spent many years being part of and running IP teams themselves. Keystone’s IP lawyers are notable for their love of their work – rather than sitting back and simply delegating everything, they seek to be at the heart of advising on IP issues and collaborating closely with their clients as part of their clients’ own teams.
IP litigation lawyer James Tumbridge specialises in data protection and is also a qualified arbitrator and mediator, equipped to handle a wide array of IP disputes. A co-author of the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA) Handbook, Tumbridge has been involved in many notable trademark cases and is a senior leader in the International Trademark Association (INTA).
Key matters:
Non-Contentious:
- Assisting UK launch for L’Occitane
L’Occitane en Provence, commonly known as L’Occitane, is a French luxury retailer of body, face, hair, fragrances, and home products based in Manosque, France. It has other brands within the company like Erborian, providing Korean skin and make-up products. To assist its launch in the UK in 2024 and the advertising of certain products, James Tumbridge and Robert Peake were asked to provide advice on compliance and advertising claims for the client’s marketing in the UK, thanks to their specialist knowledge in medical claims, marketing & advertising and IP rights.
Contentious:
- Handling trademark dispute for National Rail Bishop Auckland
This case concerns the ownership of the name National Rail and the old British Rail logo of tracks. The dispute arises from DfT after 25 years of peaceful co-existence seeking to assert trademarks and passing off rights, and raises issues of acquiesce and acquired rights. Tumbridge handles the matter.
- Enforcement matter for Canal Toys
Keystone Law’s Karen Fong is acting for Canal Toys, a French toy company through its French counsel, Sideman & Bancroft in relation to the alleged copying of the client’s So Slime Mixer by UK based competitor, RMS International. This is not the first time that the parties have clashed over RMS’s producing a cheaper look alike toy. The toy in question is a toy retro style slime stand mixer which Canal created and was selling. RMS produced a similar but poorer quality product which is being sold at a lower price. The causes of action included infringement of design right, infringement of supplementary unregistered design right, passing off and copyright infringement. A cease and desist letter was sent to RMS just before Christmas 2024. The case is ongoing.
- Advising Norfolk Dinosaur Park in trademark disputes
The firm advises Norfolk Dinosaur Park Roarr!, which includes over 25 dinosaur-themed attractions across 85 acres. Keystone Law has successfully advised the client in trademark disputes with, inter alia, the Natural History Museum, Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Longleat Safari Park, Gullivers Theme parks, John Lewis Partnership, Early Learning Centers and diverse others. The team advises on all the business’s plans and rights, and assists it with compliant digital marketing and data processing.
Clients:
L'Occitane en Provence, Meon Valley Business Travel, National Rail Bishop Auckland, Porcelain Tiles, Roarr!, Sideman & Bancroft, Travel Sentry
