Podcast special: Ringside with Brandsmiths and Bird & Bird

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

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

Podcast special: Ringside with Brandsmiths and Bird & Bird

MIP Podcast newsletter header banner sample-2000.jpg

IP leaders at Brandsmiths and Bird & Bird, who were on opposing sides at the UK Supreme Court in Iconix v Dream Pairs, unpick the landmark case and its ramifications


In this special episode of the IP Lounge, Ewan Grist, partner at Bird & Bird, and Andy Lee, head of IP at Brandsmiths, join Managing IP editor Max Walters to discuss the Iconix v Dream Pairs trademark case.

Brandsmiths acted for Iconix, while Bird & Bird represented Dream Pairs in this closely followed case. The case had made its way through the courts, finally culminating in the UK Supreme Court’s ruling on June 24.

Ultimately, Bird & Bird secured victory for its client. However, the Supreme Court’s decision also accepted some of the arguments put forward by Iconix, which could have a significant impact on future trademark law.

More details of the case can be found here.

In the podcast we unite the two litigating parties to dig into the ramifications of the case.

On the agenda:

  • What must be considered when assessing “real and representative” circumstances regarding the similarity of trademarks;

  • Post-sale confusion and how it can be a basis for trademark infringement even if there’s no confusion at the point of sale;

  • The possible effects of the ruling on trademark applications and oppositions; and

  • Whether the England and Wales Court of Appeal overreached by interfering with the trial judgment, and what the role of an appeal court should be.

We will be back with another episode later this month. Thank you for listening.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Powell Gilbert lawyers reveal how they navigated parallel EPO proceedings and collaborated with European peers to come out on top in the Nordic-Baltic Division’s first judgment
The firms posted increases in revenue and profit per equity partner, with both giving a nod to their IP expertise
EasyGroup, the owner of the easyJet airline, said in a press release that UK-based first-instance judges are “less experienced”, bringing a long-running debate back to the fore
A cross-practice team from Mayer Brown, which included members of the firm’s IP practice, advised on the deal
María Cecilia Romoleroux discusses the challenges she has faced in her career in IP and how she hopes to improve things for the next generation of women
Value-added services give in-house counsel the satisfaction that they are getting more value for money, while law firms get the opportunity to win more work
A team at Boies Schiller Flexner is advising shoe company Kizik and parent company HandsFree Labs in the dispute
Nokia’s latest enforcement actions against Geely and Transsion joining Via LA’s AAC pool were also among the top talking points
Benjamin Kelly, the firm’s fifth IP partner hire in a little over one year, has experience in patent and trade secret disputes involving complex technologies
Half-year Talent Tracker data shows Pierson Ferdinand was among the most prolific hirers in the US, while in Europe, there has been a notable UPC swing
Gift this article