Brandsmiths

Founded in 2014 with offices in London and Manchester, Brandsmiths is the law firm for the world's leading brands. Brandsmiths is a specialist across all IP related matters, including trade marks, copyright, and design rights. They solve problems in business and make deals happen. Key clients include Microsoft, BMW, Manchester United, Christian Dior, Mo Farah, Peppa Pig, Vinted and a range of tomorrow’s major players.

Founding Partner: Adam Morallee
Number of partners: 9
Assistant solicitors: 23
Other fee-earners: 7

Areas of Practice:

Intellectual Property
Intellectual Property is the heart of Brandsmiths. Brandsmiths has considerable experience of high-profile litigation in the Appellant Courts, High Court, IPEC and before the registries. Main strengths are litigating trade mark, design, passing off, copyright and confidential information cases. That courtroom experience is also utilised to secure clients the best licensing, corporate and other IP related deals. Brandsmiths has recently represented clients in two Supreme Court cases on points of public importance including Lifestyle Equities v Amazon which is now the leading case on the interaction between territorial trade mark rights and global internet trade. Brandsmiths also successfully represented the owners of the iconic UMBRO brand in the Court of Appeal in a trade mark infringement case. That case is going to the Supreme Court in March 2025.

Litigation
The Brandsmiths litigation team has market leading experience in high profile cases in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. They are particularly adept in high value breach of contract, director’s duties or employee claims. The team also have considerable experience in a range of media, harassment, privacy, actions, plus claims relating to clubs, agents and/or talent in the sports industries.

Trade Marks
The trade mark team has worked with some of the biggest and most well-known brands in the world and their experience is second to none. Brandsmiths has a full-service trade mark offering: the same team that prepares and files the application to protect your brand will exploit it commercially and prevent others from infringing it. Combining solicitors, trade mark attorneys and international advocates, Brandsmiths lawyers have cleared and registered thousands of trade marks and designs in the UK, Europe and across the world.

Commercial & Corporate
The commercial and corporate department works with clients across a range of areas, with a particular focus on intellectual property heavy businesses and contracts. The team works with household names such as Umbro, Speedo and The Fragrance Shop, as well as upcoming brands such as Dirtea and Here We Flo. The department also helps its clients with fundraising, including advising Venture Capital investors and businesses on making and receiving investment, with a particular focus on IP-rich sectors such as in technology and media.

Sport
The Brandsmiths Sports Group regularly advises clubs, agencies, athletes and global brands. They work across the entire range of sports but are strongly recommended for their unmatched expertise in football and boxing. A number of their lawyers have in the past worked in these industries in non-legal roles, providing them with a genuine understanding of the unique and fast paced environment. Clients appreciate their responsive and to the point advice. Work encompasses advising on player transfers, regulatory issues, media and privacy, commercial deals and the full range of litigation services, including seeking urgent injunctive relief. Clients of note are Manchester United, Everton, Joe Joyce, YMU, Wasserman, Ben Foster, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Top Rank, Umbro and Speedo.

Key Clients
The firm represents some of the world's most cutting-edge clients across a range of sectors. Brandsmiths' key industries lie in technology, fashion and retail, sport and e-commerce. A full range of clients can be found on the website. To name a few, they have acted on behalf of Gordon Ramsay, Mini, Entertainment One, Umbro, Hunter and Lacoste.

International
Brandsmiths regularly undertakes work with an international aspect, for both UK clients abroad and overseas clients in the UK. The firm has particularly strong links in the EU and United States. The team includes fluent Arabic, Spanish, Italian, Greek and French speakers.

Contacts:
Intellectual Property: Andrew Lee / [email protected]
Litigation: Michael Forrester / [email protected]
Commercial & Corporate: Jacob O’Brien / [email protected]
Trade Marks: Stephen Lowry / [email protected]
Sport: Tom Keane / [email protected]

Offices
London, UK: Old Pump House, 19 Hooper St, E1 8BU
Manchester, UK: 31 Princess St, M2 4EW