Venner Shipley

Firm overview:

Venner Shipley is a European IP firm composed of patent attorneys, trademark attorneys and lawyers. Its client base includes a range of FTSE 100 companies as well as small and medium-sized enterprises and startups. The firm has a balanced practice, assisting equally on trademark litigation and prosecution. Its non-contentious practice advises on UK, European and global portfolios, taking a risk-informed and commercial approach to brand expansion and registrations in new territories.

For trademark enforcement and protection, Venner Shipley challenges and defends applications before the UK and EU Intellectual Property Offices and is prepared for matters before the UK courts. For client Norfolk Dinosaur Park, Venner Shipley has handled oppositions and cases in the High Court and Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) to protect its brand. Additionally, the team handles domain name disputes, filing complaints under WIPO and ICANN dispute resolution systems to combat cybersquatting.

Team overview:

Venner Shipley has locations in London, Tunbridge Wells and Munich, and its UK team includes practitioners with in-house experience and dual qualified attorney-solicitors. Head of legal, barrister James Tumbridge advises on all facets of IP, with a history of matters reaching the UK Supreme Court. His experience goes beyond the UK as Tumbridge has appeared in courts in the US and Canada and worked on disputes in Gibraltar, Germany, France, Austria and Spain. A thought leader, Tumbridge has authored a chapter in the Sweet & Maxwell UK Trade Marks Handbook.

Key matters:

• Venner Shipley has represented Norfolk Dinosaur Park in multiple opposition and trademark disputes involving high-profile British brands including the Early Learning Centre and John Lewis. In a recent matter, the client won in two opposition proceedings against a trademark application for ‘Totally Roarsome’, registered by Totally Attractions. The matter is ongoing before the IPEC.
• In another successful claim, Venner Shipley brought proceedings against the use of the client’s mark ‘Roarr’ in a video game created by game developer Klabater on platforms such as Xbox and Nintendo. The intervention interestingly resulted in a licensing agreement between the parties, and the video games in question are now on offer at the client’s park. The team working with Norfolk Dinosaur Park includes James Tumbridge, Robert Peake and Benedict Sharrock-Harris.

Clients:

Jensen International Automotive, Land Energy, Motor Sport Magazine, Norfolk Dinosaur Park, Perilogics