One of the region’s leading trademark specialists is joining the Manchester office of national law firm Shoosmiths to help meet growing demand for its intellectual property and creative industries expertise.
Registered UK and European Trade Mark Attorney, Rachel Nicholls, joins as a partner from the trademark team at Marks & Clerk LLP.
Rachel brings more than 15 years’ experience to her role at Shoosmiths, having managed all aspects of the protection, maintenance and commercialisation of trademark portfolios in a wide variety of sectors including automotive, fashion, sports management, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and finance in the UK, Europe and worldwide.
A key appointment to the Shoosmiths IP team, Rachel will lead the new national Shoosmiths trademark practice which will advise clients on all aspects of the protection and enforcement of their trademark rights.
The team will carry out trademark searching, filing and prosecutions for clients in the UK, EU and internationally, and will assist clients in bringing and defending trademark oppositions, invalidity and revocation proceedings and also represent clients at the UK and EU Trade Mark Tribunals.
Rachel’s appointment will further enhance the Shoosmiths Manchester IP and creative industries team, which has gone from strength to strength during the last two years under the leadership of partner, Laura Harper.
The team acts for a broad range of clients including software and technology companies, fashion and textile companies, advertising and design agencies, digital agencies, games companies, publishing, marketing and PR companies, film and TV companies, musicians and music businesses.
Rachel will join Laura Harper and associate, Carol Isherwood, at Old Granada Studios and the firm’s dedicated creative industries office at The Sharp Project.
Already renowned as leading advisers to brand owners, Rachel’s appointment will reinforce Shoosmiths’ position in the market and the firm’s commitment to supporting both brand owners and businesses which work closely with brands.
Rachel will also advise on commercial practice and the development of trade mark portfolios.
She will work with clients to understand their commercial objectives, assessing their branding needs, and providing clients with strategic and tactical advice on the most appropriate and cost effective methods of protecting trademarks and brand identity nationally and internationally.
Rachel’s appointment is the latest in a string of new appointments for the technology, media and commercial practice at Shoosmiths Manchester, which is already the largest of its kind in the city.
Laura Harper, partner, said: ‘Rachel’s appointment is a direct response to increased client demand for legal advice and support relating to trademarks and brand protection. Her depth of knowledge and experience will enable us to provide a service to clients that is second to none in the regional marketplace.’
