Partner & Head of Trade Marks Team
Geoff provides specialist advice regarding the registration, management and protection of intellectual property rights and, in particular, trade marks and designs.
He specialises in dealing with trade mark and design protection, enforcement, clearance, portfolio management and due diligence. He is a highly experienced practitioner before the UK and EU Trade Mark / Design Registries and provides strategic advice regarding international IP protection strategies. His practice covers diverse industry sectors including, in particular, pharmaceuticals, software and financial services.
Highlights of Geoff’s career and important issues he has advised on include:
- Registration of corporate colours, computer file suffixes and the name of a spiritual movement.
- Complex invalidity actions concerning the scope of protection provided by registered Community Designs.
- IP due diligence on many high-profile corporate deals.
- Variety of enforcement actions for high profile brands.
- Management of the world wide trade mark portfolio of the ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ TV game show.
Geoff began his career at a patent and trade mark attorneys, before qualifying as a solicitor. Subsequently he worked in industry within the IP team of a worldwide company, before becoming a partner in the trade mark department of a London law firm. Geoff joined HGF in 2004 and is head of the firm’s trade mark practice.
Geoff is qualified as a registered Trade Mark Attorney and as a UK Solicitor. He is a member of the UK Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys, the European Community Trade Mark Association and the International Trademark Association. He is an editor of the leading practitioner’s guide the “Community Trade Mark Handbook” and contributes to the “Community Design Handbook”.
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