IP and IT
Macfarlanes acts for some of the world’s most successful brands. We understand the value of rights, both as assets to evidence value as well as to generate revenue, and are not only expert IP lawyers but strategists, who help clients to design and implement effective brand and intellectual property protection and exploitation policies, both in the UK and worldwide. Simply owning IP is no good unless you put it to work for you, and that is our specialisation, often working closely with our tax colleagues to drive maximum benefit for owners.
The same applies for technology - given the pace of change in the sector, our lawyers maintain an agile approach and a versatile mind to provide answers and options. Each party to a licensing arrangement must ensure that their key assets are protected and that the arrangement provides a measurable benefit. What make our group different is that notwithstanding the inevitable specialist knowledge required, we do not lose sight of the need to provide clear, concise and moreover workable advice within the time required. We advise on a diverse range of IT issues, from social networking to the electronic trading of financial products, and always acquire a thorough and rapid understanding of a client's business and products.
IT and IP issues rarely exist in a vacuum and are in many instances impacted by contractual, regulatory, real estate, employment or other issues. By virtue of intensive training and front-line experience, our IT and IP lawyers have that broader perspective, and in particular are contract law experts so that the exploitation is not compromised in its execution. This breadth of experience has contributed to the development of our expertise in fields including advertising and marketing, sponsorship and sports.
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"Macfarlanes has a 'close-knit, personable IP group' that is 'excellent, confident with technology and pretty much unflappable' with a strong stable brand of clients."
The UK Legal 500 2009

"Clients praise the 'commercially sound practitioners' who are quick to understand pressing business requirements."
Chambers UK 2009


