Trade mark attorneys coming to the High Court

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Trade mark attorneys coming to the High Court

For the first time last week, a High Court case in London was decided where a trade mark attorney appeared as the sole legal representation of his client. No solicitor, no barrister. Should firms and chambers be worried?

Ever since the end of 2012, qualified UK patent and trade mark attorneys have been able to represent their clients in appeals of IPO decisions at the High Court. They could appear in the High Court previously, but had to instruct a barrister.

Tommy Nutter

Aaron Wood of Swindell & Pearson was the first person to do so, in a May revocation case over the trade mark Tommy Nutter. The name of the 1960s Savile Row tailor (right) had been registered as a mark in 2000, but was successfully revoked for non-use. Wood represented the applicant at the IPO and did so again on appeal.

Fear and money, as per usual

The reason was largely financial. The client, Nutters (Holdings), knew which barrister the other side had instructed, and was looking around for someone of a similar level. In the end, it went with Wood – he was 80% cheaper.

So why was he the first? Fear, most probably. This is a largely untested route for an attorney (and client) and there's a big risk that if case is lost, the blame will fall on whoever made the decision not to employ a barrister.

There have been signs that this was coming. Another trade mark attorney, Ian Bartlett at Beck Greener, had appeared in the High Court on appeal from the IPO, though he was an ex-barrister and therefore qualified to do so before the new rights came in (along with 30 others).

Attorneys have also gained experience representing clients in the Patents County Court, now the IPEC, since that UK small-claims court was reformed and became an increasingly popular venue. Last year Managing IP listed all the cases so far, showing Withers & Rogers attorneys to have taken on the most cases.

So should solicitors, and barristers, be worried? Perhaps – particularly mid-size firms, or those with cash-strapped clients. If the case seems relatively simple and the attorney that filed the IP right has experience with advocacy, it will be tempting to stick with them at the next level. The advent of the Unified Patent Court, which will be more paper-based, might also favour attorneys.

Evolution, not revolution

But firms have been dealing with this evolution of the industry for a while. Attorneys such as Marks & Clerk, Harrison Goddard Foote and D Young all have solicitors – the latter as part of the same firm under the Legal Services Act. And law firms have been adding their own trade mark filing practices.

aaron-wood.jpg

The most interesting thing may be how many attorneys take the next step and become full advocates.

As well as granting certain rights to UK attorneys, the changes in December 2012 enabled them to qualify for two further levels. At the first, they will be able to bring proceedings in the High Court, even when the case is not on appeal from the IPO (taking the role of the solicitor). And at the second, they will be able to advocate on behalf of their client, replacing the barrister.

Both require separate courses or assessments. Wood (right) is planning on doing the first level next year, and several patent attorneys already have the second, advocacy level.

Few attorneys use their existing rights at all, even at the IPO. But as more of that group qualify for higher levels, take on cases, and gain confidence from seeing others do so, they will begin to blur the traditional distinction between professions in the UK.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Eva-Maria Strobel reveals some of the firm’s IP achievements and its approach to client relationships
Lateral hires at Thompson Hine and Pierson Ferdinand said they were inspired by fresh business opportunities and innovative strategies at their new firms
The launch of a new IP insurance product and INTA hiring a former USPTO commissioner were also among the top talking points this week
The firm explains how it secured a $170.6 million verdict against the government in a patent dispute surrounding airport technology, and why the case led to interest from other inventors
Developments of note included the court partially allowing a claim concerning confidentiality clubs and a decision involving technology used in football matches
The firm said adding capability in the French capital completes its coverage of all major patent litigation jurisdictions as it strives for UPC excellence
Marc Fenster explains how keeping the jury focused on the most relevant facts helped secure a $279m win for his client against Samsung
Clients are divided on what externally funded IP firms bring to the table, so those firms must prove why the benefits outweigh the downsides
Rahul Bhartiya, AI coordinator at the EUIPO, discusses the office’s strategy, collaboration with other IP offices, and getting rid of routine tasks
A boom in transactional work and a heightened awareness of IP have helped boost revenue for the rebranded commercial services team
Gift this article