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Intellectual Property Law
At Wright Hassall, our specialist intellectual property (IP) solicitors help businesses and individuals identify, protect, and maximise the value of their intellectual property assets. These assets may include brands, trademarks, inventions, designs, confidential information, and creative works such as literary, artistic or musical content.
We focus on proactive, non-contentious IP management, helping clients put the right protection in place before problems arise, so their assets are safeguarded and can be used and developed to support long-term business growth.
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CLICK HERE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH USIdentifying and maximising the value of your IP
For many clients, the first step is understanding exactly what intellectual property they own and how it's being used. We help identify the full scope of your IP, not just products and designs, but also your brand name, logo, reputation, business plans, know-how, and even customer data.
Our team assesses whether these valuable assets are protected and being fully leveraged for commercial benefit. As the business landscape becomes increasingly digital and innovation-led, effective IP protection is more important than ever.
We offer comprehensive IP audits tailored to your needs, whether you're a start-up, SME, or large multinational business, to help you unlock hidden value and minimise risk.
Our expertise
Trademarks
Trademarks protect various forms of branding, including business and product names, logos, shapes, sounds, and even smells. After identifying key branding elements, our IP solicitors can help you register your trademarks in the appropriate jurisdictions, ensuring they are protected against misuse. Our team conducts thorough searches to identify conflicts and assists in registering your trademarks in relevant categories.
Domain Names
Domain names are a related form of IP protection that overlaps with trademark registrations. Having a registered trademark makes it easier to prevent cybersquatters from hijacking domain names relevant to your business.
Patents
A patent grants an inventor the right to stop others from making, using, or selling their invention. Disclosure of an invention before filing a patent application can result in the loss of potential protection. Our specialist lawyers and patent attorneys can help you navigate the patent application process, ensuring your innovations are adequately protected.
Design rights & product designs
Design protection, often underused in the UK, safeguards the shape or outward appearance of a product. While basic unregistered protection arises automatically, stronger protection is available through registration. Our solicitors help you understand and secure design protection before launching your products to market.
Dealing with intellectual property infringements
IP rights are infringed when protected works are used, copied, or exploited without consent. Our top-ranked IP dispute resolution team works proactively and cost-effectively to handle such infringements, ensuring your rights are enforced and protected.
Why choose Wright Hassall?
Wright Hassall is one of the UK’s largest full-service law firms, with the resources and flexibility to assist businesses of all sizes across various industry sectors. We help everyone from lone inventors and owner-managed businesses to multinational corporations. Our approach is tailored to each client, ensuring a deep understanding of your business and IP needs.
Ann Critchell-Ward
Ann is an Intellectual Property and Commercial Law specialist with over 20 years’ experience.
"A client says: 'A fantastic team: good commercial awareness, flexible, and they coached us through the situation to raise our knowledge and capabilities.'"