Credit squeeze leads to increase in IP work for lawyers
CREDIT SQUEEZE LEADS TO INCREASE IN IP WORK FOR LAWYERS
Difficult trading conditions have led to an increase in the workloads of intellectual property lawyers at Freeth Cartwright, as more and more companies are striving to protect what they have.
The Branding and Anti-Counterfeiting team at Freeth Cartwright, led by Ann Critchell-Ward (pictured), has seen such a rise over recent months in the number of new clients seeking to find out more about how they can protect their assets, that it has recruited new members to the already eight-strong team.
This means that lawyers at Freeth Cartwright, who advise high street names and big-name clients in the financial services market, can provide legal answers on any aspect of intellectual property law from trademark and branding advice to licensing and drafting assignments to progressing major anti-counterfeiting campaigns.
Ann commented: “It seems that as the shortage of accessible finance begins to bite, companies are looking to ensure that their intellectual property rights are legally watertight and that there are no infringements in the marketplace diverting profits. Where action is required, more often that not it will be taken.
“We are also seeing a marked change in how people are going about protecting their innovations from the start. Previously, some people would cut corners avoiding the cost of things like filing patents or designs but now they are more aware of how important it is to look after the intellectual rights as well as the physical products or services those rights cover.”
The IP team provides a one-stop-shop for people and companies, as different members of the team handle different aspects of the IP protection process, from initial branding advice to trademark searches and registration, anti-counterfeiting campaigns and issuing or defending infringement claims.
For more information, call Ann Critchell-Ward on +44 (0) 845 058 0753 or e-mail ann.critchell-ward@freethcartwright.co.uk
ends - 28 July 2008