Venner Shipley LLP

Managing Partner: Pawel Piotrowicz

Number of partners: 31

Other fee earners: 60

Contacts:

Chemical & Life Sciences: Tim Russell

Electronics: Jan Walaski

Mechanical Engineering: Ian Grey

Legal: James Tumbridge

Trade Marks: Clare Turnbull

Firm Overview:

Venner Shipley is a prominent full-service international intellectual property firm, uniquely with a leading team of patent attorneys, trade mark attorneys, solicitors and barristers, providing a complete IP service to our client base. With offices in London, Cambridge, Guildford, Manchester, Tunbridge Wells and Munich, it works with clients from a variety of industry sectors ranging from major domestic and international corporations, to SMEs, universities and individual inventors playing a key role in nurturing innovation.

The firm has played a leading role in one of the most followed, high-tech European Court of Appeal cases held over the last two years. Its early involvement in the G1/19 case means that no other firm has the depth of expertise in the patentability of computer-implemented simulations. From preparing and filing the application, handling examination, right through to the appeal stage.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Venner Shipley has not only been at the forefront of technological developments but also the scientific challenge against the coronavirus pandemic and COVID-19. The firm is assisting its clients in their efforts through patenting various coronavirus vaccine strategies, including Imperial College’s self-amplifying RNA vaccine, invented by Prof Robin Shattock, and anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies, as well as other Covid-19 testing-related technology.

The firm's current portfolio has also seen it provide pioneering advice on artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, genome editing techniques (including CRISPR), battery technology for electric and driverless cars, machine learning, computer-simulated inventions, the Internet of Things, cyber-security, gene therapy inventions, precision medicines, 5G telecommunications, as well as augmented and virtual reality.

This means that the firm's multi-disciplinary team is dealing with a hugely diverse and constantly evolving range of intellectual property issues with specialist teams in chemistry, biotechnology, materials and software, as well as all flavours of engineering, from heavy mechanical to electronics.

Patents:

The firm's patent attorneys regularly advise on obtaining patent protection, potential patent infringement (whether the firm’s clients are asserting their rights or defending), challenging third parties’ patent rights on behalf of clients, and defending clients’ rights against such challenges. The firm has extensive experience and a deserved reputation in opposition and appeal proceedings before the European Patent Office, and can also represent its clients before the German Patent Office through its Munich office.

Trade marks:

The firm's dedicated trade mark team is composed of chartered trade mark attorneys, solicitors and barristers, bringing together a breadth of experience and skills to help clients protect and enforce their rights. The firm offers its clients an innovative, bespoke service from its team of expert UK and European trade mark attorneys, who are equipped with the relevant skills and experience to think commercially and always offer advice to ensure that clients reach their strategic goals, whilst maintaining brand protection. The team also has extensive experience in opposition and appeal proceedings before the registries, as well as litigation in the UK and overseas; including before the EUIPO, the UKIPO and all levels of English courts. The firm's combination of opposition and litigation experience is rare in UK firms and is well regarded by foreign attorneys.

In November 2020 the firm merged with (formerly) Brookes IP who have a wealth of experience in the trade mark field strengthening its ability to offer a personal service and tailoring its services to its client’s individual needs, whether acting for multi-national corporations, SME’s or smaller businesses.

Designs & Copyright:

The firm's attorneys regularly file and prosecute applications for registered designs. It also advises on unregistered design rights and copyright, rights that are relevant to all manner of products and that do not need to be applied for. The firm's specialist team also provides advice on the potential infringement of registered or unregistered design rights and/or copyright by its clients or by third parties. Its European design attorneys practice before EUIPO in connection with registered community designs. The attorneys also act before the UK Intellectual Property Office and the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) working with a network of international experts to obtain design protection worldwide.

Legal:

Clients can draw upon the firm's full-service offering of IP solicitors and barristers, to handle all their legal and dispute needs. The legal team is on hand to work alongside the attorneys to advise on intellectual property rights, confidentiality agreements, licences, assignments, copyright and all associated contracts. Core to the legal team is their dispute resolution service, with experience in all UK courts and tribunals. The firm's lawyers have appeared in key cases from the Enterprise Court right through to the UK Supreme Court. Uniquely the team also has direct experience in overseas courts, especially Canada. Additionally, the firm's lawyers are leading data protection experts having advised the UK Government on the Data Protection Act 2018. The firm routinely advises on global data transfers, ICO audits and investigations, data loss, direct marketing, processing agreements and outsourcing. The legal team also prides itself on its expertise in government relations, advising clients on regulatory changes and responses to consultations.