Mishcon de Reya
Firm overview:
“They just have a reputation for being outstanding at pretty much everything they do,” says a peer of top-tier firm Mishcon de Reya. A disputes powerhouse, the firm takes an integrated approach to its trademarks practice, offering value-led IP strategies to clients. Mishcon’s client list, which includes Nintendo, Bytedance (TikTok), Louboutin and Sanofi, speaks to its calibre in brand-related legal matters. The team uses an innovation-focused service model which combines its cross-region expertise with a technology-enabled, artificial intelligence (AI)-first approach.
A go-to for high profile and bet-the-company matters, the firm has acted in some of the most significant UK and EU trademark cases over the past year, notably Sky v Skykick and Thom Browne v Adidas. “They have been a great partner in helping us with a trademark dispute,” says a client. “We have also recommended them to other partners due to their performance. The team is timely, thorough and diligent.”
Team overview:
Mishcon de Reya has one of the largest IP practices in the UK with more than 50 lawyers and patent and trademark attorneys.
Industry counterparts describe head of IP and chair of the Patent Group David Rose as “an excellent, tenacious adversary” and “an outstanding IP litigator”. Rose is one of only a small number of IP lawyers in the UK who have taken both patent and trademark cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union. High-profile cases he has acted in include Starbucks v Sky and Sky v Skykick.
Also praised by peers as a “very solid practitioner”, Sally Britton heads the firm’s Brands group, and advises on brand protection strategies including clearance, monitoring and enforcement as well as trademark and design filing.
Jeremy Hertzog is chair of innovation, with his work in the last 12 months including matters such as Thom Browne v Adidas. Hertzog has extensive experience in both obtaining and defending injunctions and regularly advises on complex contractual and licence disputes; an industry peer acknowledges that he “offers proficient and robust expertise in IP litigation matters”.
Stuart Lester leads the firm’s Advertising & Marketing group, focusing on all aspects of IP and brand protection. A peer confirms the high quality of his work on trademark matters.
Key matters:
- Thom Browne v Adidas: Court of Appeal proceedings
Mishcon de Reya successfully represented Thom Browne in its high-profile trademark dispute with Adidas, securing victories at both the High Court (2024) and Court of Appeal (2025). The latter judgment provided new guidance with respect to the registrability and infringement of “position marks”.
The team also manages the UK trademark portfolio for Thom Browne.
- Global Media Group Services: Brand protection and enforcement work
Mishcon provides comprehensive, end-to-end trademark support for Global, a major UK commercial broadcaster, which operates the second-largest outdoor advertising company in the country. The work involves global portfolio management and related strategy, clearance, trademark prosecution, disputes and enforcement advice.
- Health & Happiness: EU General Court proceedings
Mishcon is defending global vitamin supplements and skincare product company Health & Happiness in EU invalidity and revocation actions regarding its ‘Swisse’ trademark. The team secured two wins at the EU General Court on behalf of the client.
Clients:
Apax, Bally’s, Benefit Cosmetics, bet365, Bytedance (TikTok), CBS, Deloitte, Entain/Ladbrokes, Fendi, Global, Grind, Health & Happiness, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), HgCapital, Iceland, Insomnia Cookies, Levi’s, Lion Capital, Louboutin, Mark Anthony International, Mark Capital, MGA Entertainment, News UK & Ireland, Nintendo , Orebella (Bella Hadid), Pragmatic Play, Revolut, Sanofi, Schneider, Sky, Skyscanner, Vetsure
