Trowers & Hamlins

Firm overview:

Full-service firm Trowers & Hamlins is home to an IP team working closely with its corporate and commercial practices. Offering both contentious and non-contentious trademark services, the firm handles domestic and international matters, and as part of the Interlaw global network, is trusted by international firms referring work for impressive and recognisable clients. Trowers & Hamlins handles vast trademark portfolios, managing global filing and protection programmes and international registration disputes. For one of the firm’s key clients, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), the team’s worldwide strategy includes filing in the Middle East, China and US and contentious matters in Taiwan and Japan. The firm has historical presence and knowledge in matters relating to the Middle East, working with its international offices based in the Gulf region to advise clients such as ADNOC and Dubai-based global real estate company Ayana.

Team overview:

In the UK, Trowers & Hamlins’ key IP partners operate out of the London office, and the firm has further locations in Manchester, Birmingham and Exeter and overseas branches in Asia and the Middle East. London partner Caroline Hayward operates in both the contentious and non-contentious IP space. Hayward’s contentious advice covers trademark infringement, validity and enforcement matters. Alice Gould, also in London, is a senior associate at the firm, bringing experience from fellow-ranked firms Marks & Clerk and HGF. Gould focuses on non-contentious matters, including managing large international portfolios such as ADNOC’s.

Key matters:

• A team of Alice Gould, Alice Stripe and Joe Armstrong manage the global portfolio for Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), the state-owned oil company for the UAE. Trowers & Hamlins, acting on all IP matters, coordinates on trademark filing and protection and handling trademark infringement actions in multiple territories. ADNOC has trademark applications filed in more than 55 countries and is handling 32 contentious matters relating to trademark and copyright enforcement of the ‘ADNOC’ mark, not including actions in Hong Kong, Indonesia and Japan that concluded in 2023.
• Trowers & Hamlins represents Dubai real-estate company Ayana in two UK infringement matters. One issue related to UK company Popin, apparently using a clone of the client’s website with its own name and indicating it was a subsidiary of the client. When Popin was contacted, it became apparent that Popin was not connected with the website and the firm is now advising on possible proceedings and an injunction against the unknown operators of the website. In another matter, the team is handling a claim relating to a former employee who, since leaving Ayana, has set up a company using the name ‘Ayana Properties’. Caroline Hayward and Joe Armstrong are advising on trademark registration and passing off.

Clients:

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Ayana, Grand Union Housing Group