Department profile
Intellectual Property
UK Guide 2026 : North West
Rankings
Ranked Individual
Ranked Individual
About
Provided by Brandsmiths
Intellectual Property is the heart of Brandsmiths. Brandsmiths has considerable experience of high-profile litigation in the Appellant Courts, High Court, IPEC and before the registries. Main strengths are litigating trade mark, design, passing off, copyright and confidential information cases. That courtroom experience is also utilised to secure clients the best licensing, corporate and other IP related deals. Brandsmiths has recently represented clients in two Supreme Court cases on points of public importance including Lifestyle Equities v Amazon which is now the leading case on the interaction between territorial trade mark rights and global internet trade. Brandsmiths also successfully represented the owners of the iconic UMBRO brand in the Court of Appeal in a trade mark infringement case. That case is going to the Supreme Court in March 2025.
Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Work Highlights
Provided by Chambers
Brandsmiths advised Gluck Health and its subsidiary the London Specialist Pharmacy on high-profile litigation relating to claims of breach of confidence against a former employee turned competitor.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
They are very good and very practical.
Intellectual Property respondentUKThey are highly professional and talented folks, always great at staying on top of deadlines.
Intellectual Property respondentUKThey have fantastic depth of knowledge across the team and a real willingness to work with the client to understand the business and therefore propose commercial solutions.
Intellectual Property respondentUKThey are the real experts. IP is their sweet spot.
Intellectual Property respondentUKThey are really trusted advisers. We really like working with them; they are really approachable and easy.
Intellectual Property respondentUK
Notable Practitioners
Provided by Chambers
Band 3 
Band 3 Michael Forrester
Michael Forrester is head of litigation at Brandsmiths in Manchester. He is recommended above all for contentious work involving trade marks, registered and unregistered designs and also software copyright. He has additional expertise in portfolio management and trade mark prosecution and opposition. Michael was very easy to work with, very business-oriented and very practical.
Intellectual Property respondentUKI want Michael on my side for anything requiring tricky arguments.
Intellectual Property respondentUKHe is really supportive and really helpful.
Intellectual Property respondentUK
Ranked Individuals at Brandsmiths (1)
North West
Michael Forrester
Intellectual Property
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Members
Provided by Brandsmiths
Michael Forrester
View profile of Michael Forrester
Brandsmiths has rankings in the following guides
Band 4 Band 4 UK 2026
Practice area: Intellectual Property
Location: London (Firms)
View department profile for UK 2026
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