Intellectual Property

Protecting and Exploiting Your Intellectual Property Rights

At Nelsons, our Intellectual Property team provides comprehensive legal advice to help you safeguard, manage and maximise the value of your intellectual property assets.

We advise across the full spectrum of intellectual property (IP) rights, including:

• Trade marks
• Copyright
• Registered and unregistered design rights
• Patents
• Know-how
• Confidential information and trade secrets

Our Services

Subsistence and Ownership

We advise on the subsistence and ownership of all forms of intellectual property rights — from employee-created IP and commissioned works to complex scenarios involving jointly developed innovations. Whether you need clarity on who owns what, or guidance on structuring arrangements to secure your position from the outset, we can help.

Trade Mark Registration and Protection

We advise on and file both UK and international trade mark applications, helping you secure protection for your brands in the markets that matter most to you.

Our team also acts in opposition and invalidation proceedings before the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), defending your registrations or challenging those of others where necessary.

IP Exploitation and Commercialisation

Your IP has the potential to generate significant revenue and strategic value beyond your own direct use. We help you unlock that potential through carefully structured commercial arrangements, including:

• Licensing agreements – drafting and negotiating licences that allow you to grant others the right to use your IP on terms that protect your interests, whether exclusive, sole or non-exclusive, and across specific territories, fields of use or time periods
• Assignments – advising on the sale and transfer of IP rights, ensuring that transactions are properly documented, due diligence is conducted, and your position is protected both as a buyer and a seller
• Franchise and brand licensing — structuring arrangements that allow third parties to operate under your brand while maintaining quality control and safeguarding your reputation
• Royalty and revenue-sharing structures — helping you negotiate commercial terms that reflect the true value of your IP and align with your wider business objectives
• IP due diligence — supporting you in transactions, investments and corporate deals where understanding the strength and scope of an IP portfolio is critical

Whether you are looking to monetise an underutilised asset, expand into new markets through licensing, or acquire IP to strengthen your competitive position, we provide clear, commercially focused advice tailored to your goals.

IP Disputes and Enforcement

When disputes arise, we act for both claimants and defendants across a wide range of IP infringement matters. Our team has substantial experience in:

• Interim injunctions — seeking or resisting urgent relief to protect your position
• Cease and desist correspondence — preparing robust communications to address infringement swiftly and effectively
• Pursuing and defending claims — managing contentious proceedings through to resolution
• Settlement and co-existence agreements — negotiating practical solutions that protect your interests while avoiding protracted litigation

Why Choose Nelsons?

Our Intellectual Property team combines deep technical knowledge with commercial pragmatism. We understand that your IP rights are not simply legal entitlements — they are valuable business assets that underpin your brand, your competitive advantage and your growth.

We work closely with you to develop strategies that protect and enhance the worth of your IP portfolio, whether through proactive rights management, strategic registration or vigorous enforcement when it counts.

How We Can Help

At Nelsons, our Intellectual Property team advises businesses on protecting, managing and commercialising their IP assets. Whether you need to secure your brand through trade mark registration, negotiate a licensing arrangement, resolve an infringement dispute, or develop a long-term IP strategy, we provide clear, commercially focused advice that protects your business and maximises the value of your intellectual property.

We’re based in Nottingham, Leicester and Derby, but we work with businesses throughout the UK.

Call us: 0800 024 1976 Submit an enquiry: Complete our online enquiry form