Intellectual Property
UK Guide 2025 : Northern Ireland
Band 1
About
Provided by Lewis Silkin
Following our merger with Lewis Silkin in January 2022 (previously Forde Campbell) we have seen significant change and growth. With Forde Campbell’s local reputation, we are known as one of Northern Ireland’s leading advisers to local start-ups, major UK and Irish companies, as well as overseas investors.
Lawyers in the commercial team advise on IP law, advising clients in the UK, EU and US servicing Northern Irish, UK, EU and US client on a range of global IP issues. The work divides between:
- IP protection - the team has its own trademark and design right registration service and IP licensing
- IP asset related transactions - advising on IP asset management, assignments, licensing, acquisition and disposal transactions
- IP defence and prosecution – the firm’s IP litigation department defends and prosecutes IP rights for clients
The IP team is known for:
- Its ability to understand the commercial value and importance of IP to the firm’s clients, allowing our lawyers to quickly evaluate the commercial context in which any particular IP related instruction arise.
- The multi-disciplinary skills each lawyer can bring to a particular negotiation. In particular, Mathew Forde uses experience from over 25 years to advise clients on brand launches, content release and publication.
Client sectors include: manufacturing/design/creative; software development; digital games; luxury goods; media; food industry; manufacturing; publishers; business support services.
Chambers Review
Lewis Silkin offers high-quality advice on commercial IP arrangements and has strong sector expertise with regard to IT, media and entertainment. It frequently represents clients in litigation and IP-driven corporate and capital markets transactions.
Work Highlights
- Lewis Silken advised Unicorn Hygienicson its launch of a new female hygiene range of products. The team assisted on brand protection issues including assessing competitors' validity of patents.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Lewis Silkin are a dynamic team with a strong understanding of IP matters. They have a systematic approach to handling problems with the best commercial interests of the client always in mind."
"The Lewis Silkin team are thorough, prompt and a true pleasure to work with.They have a very deep grasp of IP law, coupled with a practical approach to achieving the client’s results."
"Lewis Silkin is brilliant. The lawyers are professional, understanding and thorough."
"Lewis Silkin are a dynamic team with a strong understanding of IP matters. They have a systematic approach to handling problems with the best commercial interests of the client always in mind."
"The Lewis Silkin team are thorough, prompt and a true pleasure to work with.They have a very deep grasp of IP law, coupled with a practical approach to achieving the client’s results."
"Lewis Silkin is brilliant. The lawyers are professional, understanding and thorough."
Notable Practitioners
Mathew Forde is frequently called on by clients in the design, manufacturing, retail and food industries for commercial IP and brand enforcement matters.
"Mathew is a first-class individual with great commercial understanding. His advice and practices are always fitting for the situation."
"Mathew is excellent. He is a highly intelligent and sophisticated lawyer."
"Mathew is fantastic. He is very knowledgeable about copyright law and has a very practical, results-oriented approach that is essential to achieving a client’s objectives."
Rory Campbell has a prominent reputation for his dual IP and IT sector practice. He is frequently instructed to coordinate the protection of IP rights overseas.
"Rory is a very notable practitioner."