Six Keystone Law partners recognised as leading practitioners in Managing Intellectual Property IP Stars 2024

Six Keystone partners have been recognised as leading practitioners in Managing Intellectual Property (MIP) IP Stars 2024, the leading specialist guide to IP law firms and practitioners worldwide.

MIP’s IP Stars identifies the leading IP firms and private practice practitioners from 80 jurisdictions on an annual basis, making it the most comprehensive and widely respected guide in the IP profession. The results are based on extensive research with firms, IP practitioners and their clients.

The Keystone lawyers who have been ranked are:

Simon Chalkley: Transactions Star 2024

Simon is an IP and commercial lawyer with almost 30 years’ experience advising brand, creative and technology-driven businesses on IP law, strategy, transactions and IP contract disputes. He is a recognised expert in transactions relating to the commercial exploitation of all intellectual property rights including licensing, distribution (including selective distribution), franchising and technology transfer agreements. Simon advises businesses both in the UK and internationally.

Simon’s experience spans a wide range of business sectors, in particular fashion/retail, video games, consumer products, software and engineering.

Rebecca Halford-Harrison: Patent Star 2024 and Trade mark Star 2024

Rebecca is a well-established IP, technology and disputes lawyer. She is recognised as a leader in her field in intellectual property, particularly in relation to chemistry-based industries. These include food and beverage, life sciences and pharmaceuticals, household products, cosmetics, FMCG, plastics, and oil and gas, especially where there is crossover with technology.

Rebecca advises on a wide range of matters relating to patents, designs, trade marks, copyright and confidential information, as well as related regulatory issues.

Lucy Harrold: Notable Practitioner

Lucy is a specialist IP lawyer and has extensive experience in advising on all IP and related rights. She has particular expertise in the protection, exploitation, and enforcement of IP rights as well as in IP disputes, and has a distinct specialism in copyright issues in the context of software, the Internet, and databases.

Lucy’s clients have ranged from artists and inventors through to banks, professional service firms, and large airlines. Other sector experience includes shipping, energy, retail, healthcare, and manufacturing. She also specialises in contractual issues related to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, about which she advises international non-governmental organisations.

Karen May Fong: Trade mark Star 2024

Karen is a specialist IP and commercial lawyer with an abundance of international experience. She has advised well-known international IP owners as well as start-ups and creative individuals on all aspects of business issues which involve the protection and exploitation of IP rights in the UK and internationally in a broad range of industries. She has particular expertise in the fashion and beauty, technology, food and beverage, and media sectors.

Her non-contentious practice includes work from brand management and protection, product development, IP audits, licensing and sponsorship, to IP elements of business sale and purchase and other exploitation of IP rights.

James Tumbridge: Patent Star 2024 and Trade mark Star 2024

James is an intellectual property litigation lawyer with a specialism in data protection, and has litigated all IP rights, before the courts of several countries. He is also a qualified arbitrator and mediator, listed with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office, CIArb, Clerksroom and a number of other ADR providers.

His practice covers all types of intellectual property disputes, and ancillary issues in commercial litigation, employment, and insolvency affecting intellectual property rights.

Nick Weaser: Notable Practitioner

Nick is an expert adviser to the music and wider entertainment industry on a variety of legal and commercial matters. His expertise includes advising a diverse range of artists, producers, songwriters and managers on all aspects of their careers and across the full spectrum of music industry contracts. Much of Nick’s work relates to the UK, Europe and the United States.