Venner Shipley
Firm overview:
Fortified by its 2024 merger with AA Thornton, full-service European IP firm Venner Shipley offers clients a seamless service across trademark portfolio management, enforcement, disputes, litigation and licensing. The growing practice acts for a roster of leading brands, including Virgin Enterprises, Jimmy Choo, Merck, Olaplex and Yahoo!. Venner Shipley combines chartered trademark attorneys, specialist IP litigators, and an in-house barrister, allowing the firm to provide coordinated advice from the inception of a brand through to cross-border litigation without needing to farm out contentious court work to external solicitors.
Team overview:
The trademark department is led by Clare Turnbull, who plays a key role in the firm’s strategy, particularly with regards to cross-disciplinary IP advisory work. Highly praised by a peer who describes her as “very good”, Turnbull also serves as the co-editor of the CITMA-endorsed Sweet & Maxwell UK Trade Marks Handbook.
She is closely supported by partnership chair Sarah Darby, who manages complex global portfolios and strategic design filings for high-profile brands across the fashion, food, and luxury sectors. Ian Gill adds a broad perspective to the group's leadership as one of a select number of UK practitioners dual-qualified by examination as both a trademark and patent attorney.
Geoff Hussey and Dan Byrne provide specialist litigation and advocacy expertise for complex, high-stakes disputes. The team lost the disputes capability of James Tumbridge and Robert Peake to Keystone Law in 2024.
Key matters:
- Primark: Global trademark portfolio management
Venner Shipley manages Primark’s global trademark portfolio and recently secured a pivotal litigation victory in Indonesia, which significantly reinforced the retailer’s international brand protection strategy.
- Admiral Group: IP portfolio management
The team advises Admiral Group, one of the UK’s largest insurance providers, on its IP portfolio, with a particular focus on trademarks, copyright and online brand protection.
- Yahoo!: UK and EU trademark strategy
Venner Shipley advises on UK and EU trademark strategy for selected Yahoo! brands, prosecuting applications and oppositions, among other matters.
Clients:
Admiral Group, Aspen Pumps Group, Associated British Foods (advising 30 companies including Primark, Twinings, Ovaltine, Kingsmill, Levi Roots, Patak’s, British Sugar, Ryvita and Silver Spoon), Checkout Technology, Fabulosa, Guangzhou Bluesky Chemical Technology, International Animal Rescue (IAR), Jimmy Choo, La Perla, Land Energy, Mary Kay, Newton’s Tree, Olaplex, Paul Smith, Reiss, TalkTalk, The AA, The Sakata Group of Companies, Vice Media, Virgin Enterprises Limited, Yahoo Inc., Zimmer Biomet
