Asima Rana

Asima Rana leads the Intellectual Property practice at Harrison Drury, where she specialises in trademarks, brand protection, advertising disputes and IP strategy, advising clients on the protection, enforcement and commercialisation of valuable IP rights.

Rana is best known for leading the legal team representing Dairy UK in its successful Supreme Court challenge against Oatly, a landmark dispute concerning the use of protected dairy designations in trademarks. 

The case culminated in a unanimous Supreme Court ruling and has been recognised as one of the most significant UK trademark decisions of recent years, with implications for brand owners across the food and beverage sector.

The decision upheld a Court of Appeal’s ruling, overturning an earlier High Court decision that had favoured Oatly, finding that the trademark ‘Post Milk Generation’ is invalid for use on oat-based food and drink products because ‘milk’ is a protected designation under EU law.

Throughout her career, Rana has advised businesses on a broad range of contentious and non-contentious IP matters, including trademark disputes, advertising claims, brand enforcement strategies and regulatory issues. Her practice combines legal expertise with a strong commercial understanding of how businesses build, protect and leverage their brands.

Rana’s profile within the UK IP community has risen significantly through her involvement in high-profile litigation and her reputation as a trusted adviser on brand protection issues. Her recent move to Harrison Drury as partner and head of IP after more than eight years at DWF further reflects her standing in the market and her growing influence within the profession.