Morgan Lewis
Firm overview:
Morgan Lewis combines its UK trademarks offering with its international reach, advising clients on everything from trademark clearance and new brand risk management to litigation and enforcement. The firm manages trademark prosecution in more than 129 jurisdictions. Clients that turn to Morgan Lewis for advice on brand-related legal issues include a Formula 1 racing team, as well as biotechnology, apparel and technology companies.
Indicating its strengths in non-contentious matters, Morgan Lewis has a dedicated team that handles docketing and other administrative duties crucial to the management of a global trademark portfolio. The firm is more active in registry office disputes than big-ticket litigation.
Team overview:
Morgan Lewis has 20 lawyers across its European offices handling IP matters across the full spectrum of industry sectors with a particular focus on technology, life sciences, retail, luxury, apparel, and automotive.
Nick Bolter leads the firm’s European trademark and copyright practice, and also serves as the London office managing partner. Peers hold him in high regard, describing him as a “first class trademark lawyer” and a top-tier contender.
Other key team members include Martin Henshall, who focuses on counselling, portfolio management and litigation, and Hiroshi Sheraton, who advises on complex trademark matters with an emphasis on cross-border disputes, enforcement and brand protection strategy.
Key matters:
- Netflix: Trademark portfolio management
Morgan Lewis’s London IP team has represented Netflix since 2017, providing a range of trademark services with a focus on title clearance (helping Netflix assess the risks associated with new movie and TV show titles), prosecution in the UK and EU and enforcement. The team has obtained a number of successful outcomes for Netflix over the past couple of years, including in matters before the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
- OpenAI: Trademark portfolio management
Since 2024, Morgan Lewis has assumed responsibility for the management of OpenAI’s UK and EU trademark portfolio, including prosecution and enforcement.
- Ferrari: UK trademark and copyright enforcement
Morgan Lewis undertakes UK trademark and copyright enforcement work for Ferrari. This contentious work largely involves taking action to combat the sale of counterfeit and replica/recreation “kit car” vehicles in the UK, as well as acting for Ferrari in disputes concerning the misuse of Ferrari’s trademarks and copyright protected works by third parties in the automotive industry and beyond.
Clients:
Abercrombie & Fitch, Ferrari, Netflix, LoopMe, OpenAI, VF Corporation, and its affiliates, including Timberland, Vans, and The North Face, VM Agritech
