Will is both a solicitor and UK & European chartered trade mark and design attorney. His practice covers the protection, monitoring and exploitation of IP in the UK, Europe and globally.
Will has advised a broad range of clients from SMEs to household names on commercial, corporate and litigation matters covering trade mark law, patent law, design law, copyright law, and the use and protection of confidential information and know-how.
Will has a particular interest in trade marks and designs. This includes the management of IP portfolios, availability searching, oppositions, cancellations, invalidity and revocation actions, and infringement matters in the UK, Europe and around the world.
Will has dealt with numerous matters in the UK’s Trade Mark Registry, the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) and the High Court as well as through the European Union’s Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), including its appeal bodies/courts. In addition, he has handled a broad range of litigious matters spanning the whole IP rights spectrum, as well as managing several cross-border litigious matters throughout Europe, North America, South America and Australasia.
Expertise
- Trade mark protection and exploitation
- Trade mark oppositions, revocation and invalidity actions in the UK and Europe
- Trade mark litigation
- Design mark protection and exploitation
- Design cancellation and invalidity actions
- Design litigation
- Copyright protection and exploitation
- Database right protection and exploitation
- Patent exploitation
- Patent litigation
- Protection and exploitation of confidential information
- Breach of confidence litigation
- Domain name disputes
- IP licensing
- IP portfolio management
Experience
Energy and Natural Resources
- Acting for a prominent plc in the energy sector on patent infringement, copyright subsistence, and the filing and management of its trade mark portfolio. This included advice on a complete rebrand, including clearance advice and advice through to obtaining trade mark protection.
- Advising a plc utility company on the protection and management of trade marks and associated domain names.
Financial Institutions
- Advising the UK’s first digital bank on all intellectual property matters including patent and trade mark advice, trade mark filing and management strategy, and management of its intellectual property portfolio.
- Advising a major insurer on the trade mark filing, management and protection strategy for its pension’s business.
- Advising a major UK plc involved in international investment, savings, insurance, and banking group on the trade mark filing, management and protection strategy for key brands.
Transport and Infrastructure
- Advising a train operator on the trade mark filing, management and protection strategy.
- Advising a European rail operator on trade mark matters.
- Advising a prominent security, surveillance and engineering solutions company within the transport sector on various intellectual property matters including patent and trade mark advice, trade mark filing and management strategy, and copyright advice.
Education
- Advised a prominent public school on the international franchising of its name and other IP rights to create schools in India and other locations.
- Provided general strategic advice to a college on IP protection, and filing strategy in relation to obtaining registered IP protection
- Provided a variety of strategic IP advice to NCFE including the filing of trade mark protection, the subsistence and licensing of copyright material and the creation and ownership of IP in material produced for courses and examinations
- Provided advice to a grammar school in Newcastle on the protection of its key trademarks and filing and obtaining® protection in the UK for its trade marks.
- Advised a prominent public school on the international franchising of its name and other IP rights to create schools in India and other locations.
Retail
- Advising a UK-based global fashion brand and retail store chain on High Court litigation.
- Advising a US-based global fashion brand and retail store chain on trade mark and design matters, including both commercial and litigation matters.
- Advising a high-end fashion retailer on all IP matters, including trade mark filing and monitoring, as well as commercial and litigation matters covering trade marks, copyright and designs.
Other
- Advising the owner of one of the most exclusive hotels in the world on trade mark litigation in various jurisdictions.
- Advising the most prominent operator of mass participation sporting events in the UK on its trade mark filing, management and protection strategy for its running and swimming events.
- Advising a government department on it global trade mark filing strategy.
- Advising one of the biggest consumer media businesses in the UK on all intellectual property matters including copyright infringement, design infringement, patent protection and the filing and management of its global trade mark portfolio.
- Provided a variety of strategic IP advice to NCFE including the filing of trade mark protection, the subsistence and licensing of copyright material and the creation and ownership of IP in material produced for courses and examinations.
- Advised an Isle of Man-based international consultancy and advisory business on its rebranding and new terms and conditions.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised in Chambers UK 2025 for Intellectual Property: North East
“Will is a consummate professional and a pleasure to deal with.”Chambers UK 2025
“Will is an experienced practitioner.”Chambers UK 2025
Acknowledged by Chambers 2025 for his practice as both a solicitor and a chartered trade mark and design attorney. He is well versed in licensing and all kinds of IP disputes, including trade mark, designs and copyright infringement litigation.
Recognised as a Leading Partner by The Legal 500 2025 for Intellectual Property: North
Recognised in WIPR leaders 2024 for expertise in IP, including patent, trademark, and copyright issues.
Recognised in Chambers UK 2024 for Intellectual Property: North East
“Will Sander is a technically excellent trade marks adviser who is keen to understand our business. Will has successfully assisted us with trade mark oppositions and strategic trade mark applications. Will is prompt in his communications and always keen to better understand our needs and priorities.” Chambers UK 2024
Recognised by The Legal 500 2024 for Intellectual Property: North
Recognised by WTR1000 2023 – Bronze – Individuals: enforcement and litigation
Recognised by WTR1000 2023 – Bronze – Individuals: prosecution and strategy
“Dual-qualified solicitor and trademark attorney Sander is well versed in handling disputes both in the United Kingdom and abroad.” WTR1000 2023
Recognised in Chambers UK 2023 for Intellectual Property: North East as a Leading Individual
“Will Sander consistently provides excellent service with an honest opinion and in a timely manner.” Chambers UK 2023
Recognised in Chambers UK 2022 for Intellectual Property: North East
Recognised by The Legal 500 2022 for Intellectual Property
Recognised in Chambers UK 2021 for Intellectual Property: North East
“Will is great – he always provides very succinct, commercial advice and is available when needed.” Chambers UK 2021
Recognised in The Legal 500 2020 for Media and Entertainment
Will Sander is held in healthy regard for his practice as both a solicitor and a chartered trade mark and design attorney. Chambers UK 2020
Will Sander of Keystone Law provides advice and representation on the full span of copyright and trade mark matters. Chambers UK 2019
Recognised in The Legal 500 2018 for Brand Management
Will Sander of Keystone Law joined from Bond Dickinson in July 2017. He provides advice and representation on the full span of copyright and trademark matters. One client says: “He gave us concise and intelligent advice.” Chambers UK 2018
Will “combines a very strong technical understanding of the issues at hand with a sound appreciation of our business and the commercial environment in which we operate.” Chambers UK 2017
Will is recognised for giving ‘pragmatic’ and ‘commercial advice’ and has been noted as being ‘highly regarded’ particularly in relation to trade mark matters. Chambers UK 2014
Career
Will qualified as a solicitor in 2005. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2017, he worked at Bond Dickinson.