Logos and No Gos: How to Understand and Get the Most from Your Brand IP

GEOFF STEWARD qualified as a solicitor at Macfarlanes in 1995. In 2002 he became a partner in the Litigation Department and now heads the firm's contentious intellectual property practice. He regularly advises on trade mark, copyright, database right, designs (registered and unregistered),passing off and domain name disputes involving clients in the television, sports, newspaper, retail and food and drink industries. Geoff acted on the widely reported Davidoff parallel importing case which was referred to the European Court of Justice and has particular expertise in grey market goods.

He also advises on sales promotion and advertising/copy clearance issues as well as brand strategy generally and managing trade mark portfolios. Geoff is a member of The Intellectual Property Lawyers Organisation (TIPLO), an associate member of the Institute of Trade Mark Agents (ITMA)and sits on the Editorial Board of Trademark World.

Macfarlanes is widely recognised as one of a handful of high quality independent law firms in the UK. With some 270 lawyers, the firm provides a comprehensive service in its chosen areas of expertise, handling work of a quality and scale that places it among the leading law firms in the City of London. The lawyers from each of its four departments – Corporate, Private Client, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, and Real Estate – are consistently ranked among the leaders in their field. Macfarlanes has a particularly strong reputation in advising on intellectual property, advertising, direct marketing, sales promotion and PR issues – acting for a large number of major brand owning clients.