21 Mar 2014 | 10:19 am | 1 min. read
International law firm Pinsent Masons has won the prestigious ‘UK Trade Mark litigation team of the year’ category at the Managing Intellectual Property Global Awards 2014.
The ‘UK Trade Mark litigation team of the year’ accolade is awarded based on research for Managing Intellectual Property’s world IP survey, a review of market developments and client feedback.
Pinsent Masons won the award for its successful representation of Interflora on its High Court battle with Marks and Spencer plc. over the use of Google AdWords. In May 2013, the High Court of England and Wales handed down its judgment in the long running case of Interflora, Inc. and Interflora British Unit versus Marks and Spencer plc. Mr Justice Arnold ruled in favour of Interflora, Inc. and Interflora British Unit, finding that Marks and Spencer's use of the "Interflora" trade mark as a Google AdWord to advertise its M&S Flowers & Gifts website was trade mark infringement.
Pinsent Masons fought off fierce competition from Bird & Bird, Bristows, King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin, Redd Solicitors, Taylor Wessing and Wragge & Co.to claim the accolade.
Iain Connor, a Partner who led the Pinsent Masons team advising on the case, said:
“We are delighted to have won this prestigious award. The case has set precedent at every level from the Court of Justice of the European Union to the UK Court of Appeal. It has developed trade mark law in ways that could not have been predicted at the outset of the case and has shown how ‘big data’ can be used to show that online advertising causes customer confusion. It is great to be recognised for the innovative way we successfully presented the evidence in the case to the court.”
Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has hired Gillian Harrington to join the firm’s Aberdeen office as employment partner from 6 May.
Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has hired corporate partner, Rachel Soundy, to join the firm’s Birmingham office.
Multinational law firm, Pinsent Masons LLP, has advised IGCF VI Euro, L.P. a sub-fund of Balbec Capital LP, a global alternative investment manager headquartered in the United States on its first European public securitisation in relation to the issuance of notes totalling EUR 392 million backed by a portfolio of reperforming Spanish mortgage loans, arranged by Goldman Sachs.
Pinsent Masons has appointed Judith Krens (Partner, Amsterdam) and Tom Nener (Partner, Birmingham) as co-leads of the Global Intellectual Property (IP) team, and has appointed Charlotte Weekes (Partner, London) as Head of Life Sciences. The appointments come in light of the upcoming departure of Clare Tunstall, the current Head of IP and Life Sciences, who will be leaving the firm in the Autumn.
Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has hired intellectual property and technology partner Maureen Daly to lead its IP team in Dublin and expand its pan-European Technology, Science and Industry sector capabilities.
Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has hired European and UK life sciences partner Kristina Cornish into its London office.
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