AA Thornton ranked with ‘Leading Firm’ status in the Legal 500 2017


The Legal 500 2017 edition has now been published and we are delighted that the firm has once again been ranked as a leading firm for both patents and trade marks, and that our level of service was recognised as “outstanding”. The editorial sections for each of our entries in the directory are reproduced below:

“AA Thornton’s level of service is ‘outstanding’ – ‘timeliness and appropriateness of advice are a constant’ according to clients, who rate the level of scientific knowledge displayed by the partners and associate lawyers as ‘excellent’. The team is highly experienced in European and UK patent prosecution and EPO oppositions and appeals, and following the arrival of IP litigator Geoff Hussey, who joined from Bird & Bird LLP, the team is increasingly handling high-stakes contentious patent cases. Highlights included successfully representing RSR in patent infringement proceedings in Germany relating to a medical diagnostic kit; acting for a well-known British tea company on assessing and mitigating the legal risks associated with a new product launch, which involved infringement analysis of a number of third party patents; and assisting a US multinational corporation with the defence of EPO opposition proceedings relating to licensed technology used in the oil & gas industry. According to clients, Craig Turner‘s main strength is ‘his ability to quickly understand complex applications’ in the fields of chemistry, chemical engineering, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Also recommended are Mike Jennings, for his ‘technical competence and ability to understand and explain complex arguments’; Marianne Privett and Lawrence King, who are ‘very knowledgeable both in Chemistry and in IP law’; mechanical engineering specialist Adrian Bennett, Christian Reinders and Christopher Burnett are further names to note..”

“2016 saw AA Thornton’s team handle a large volume of trade mark matters for longstanding and a number of new clients. The firm is praised for its ‘good level of industry knowledge and service’ and for its ‘extremely professional approach’. Ian Gill successfully represented eHarmony in its opposition to the registration of the Matchedharmony mark, while Vanessa Lawrence is assisting a British designer clothing brand on the trade mark aspects of the establishment of a new brand. Rachel Havard is representing a UK-registered charity in trade mark oppositions and negotiations in multiple jurisdictions and, in a separate matter, successfully defended against a non-use cancellation application at the EUIPO cancellation division for a well-known US brewery. Another highlight saw litigator Geoff Hussey and Ian Gill successfully assist an international fashion retailer with defeating an invalidity action at the EUIPO and in the General Court. Senior associate Sarah Darby is another name to note.”

Partner Lawrence King commented: “We are very pleased to have been once again ranked as a leading firm for patents and trademarks in the Legal 500. This is a testament to our commitment to providing every client with a personalised, superior service that reflects their commercial needs, which is our mission at AA Thornton We work very hard to deliver professional excellence, and this is valued by our clients, as highlighted in this year’s edition. We are also delighted that a number of our associates were recognised in this year’s edition, demonstrating the strength in depth across both our patent and trade mark practice groups.”

We extend our sincere thanks to those clients that provided feedback to the Legal 500 researchers this year, and to all of our staff, whose ongoing commitment and dedication is fundamental to our ongoing recognition and success.


Category: News | Author: Adrian Bennett, Sarah Darby, Ian Gill, Geoff Hussey, Mike Jennings, Marianne Privett, Craig Turner | Published: | Read more

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