WP Thompson

Number of partners: 6

Assistant attorneys: 3

Other fee-earners: 10

Areas of Practice:

Intellectual Property

Contacts:

Trade Marks: Francesco Simone Email: [email protected]

Patents: Dr Julian Potter Email: [email protected]

Stuart Forrest Email: [email protected]

Designs: Alistair McKinnon Email: [email protected]

THE FIRM

WP Thompson is a specialist IP prosecution and litigation firm, with patent and trade mark attorneys based in Liverpool and London and with a presence in Munich. The firm's ethos is exclusively focused on meeting its clients’ needs and expectations now, and on providing its clients with professional advice and support services which are technically excellent, legally sophisticated and commercially astute.

PRINCIPAL AREAS OF WORK

WP Thompson has a strong team some of whom are dual qualified Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys with very active practices.

Its experts work at all stages of the IP life cycle, advising on patent, trade mark and registered designs, as well as any IP-related disputes and legal and commercial requirements. In addition to the day-to-day prosecution of patent, trade mark and design applications, the team has considerable expertise in patent litigation as well as litigious matters, both in prosecuting and defending against centralised oppositions before the EPO and infringement and validity actions before the UK courts.

The patent team is well-rounded with areas of expertise covering all subject-matters but is noted for its significant technical expertise in the areas of software inventions, AI and machine learning, telecommunications, cryptography and data security, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, medical and diagnostic devices, healthcare, biotechnology and chemistry, orthotics and prosthetics, energy storage and green energy technologies, food sciences, ceramics and material chemistry.

In addition to general trade mark work, members of the trade mark team have particular experience in trade mark litigation in areas of electronics/telecommunication and clothing sectors brand selection and protection, pharmaceutical brand selection and protection, food sector brand selection and protection, international portfolio management, European brand protection and internet take down notices and sports brand selection and protection.

Having considerable experience, the teams understand the marketplace, the regulatory requirements that go with it, and the importance that a well-managed IP portfolio has as a commercial tool. In addition to acquiring IP rights, the firm also provides Freedom-to-Operate and validity advice, formulates prosecution strategies to minimise risk, provides initial landscaping assessments, provides detailed infringement opinions, with the advice given to its clients complimented by the team’s up-to-date knowledge on matters of copyright, contract and competition law.

WP Thompson is also highly recommended for handling of complex IP transactions and licence agreements of all types before the various patent offices around the world.

CLIENTS

With a strong direct client base in Europe, WP Thompson works closely with direct clients, getting to know their business and technologies and is thus able to advise them from a position of detailed knowledge and understanding of their market and technology sectors and business objectives.

WP Thompson has a long history of advising clients ranging from large multinational companies to UK-based start-ups, as well as research centres and hospitals, and university technology transfer departments and their spin-out companies.

The firm's approach is always personal and client focussed. It offers clear points of contact with a dedicated client partner, attorney team, paralegal and a secretarial group to support clients.

INTERNATIONAL

The firm’s knowledge and experience extends to a substantial overseas client base and commensurate network of professional relationships in literally every IP functioning jurisdiction worldwide.

The firm has language expertise in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Italian, Spanish & French.

RECRUITMENT

Applications from strong candidates are always welcomed. Known for strong training and individual mentoring the firm also provides opportunities for more experienced attorneys to develop their skills over a wide range of work and clients.