Birmingham-based patent and trade mark attorney firm Barker Brettell is recommended for IP protection and portfolio management. The firm has experienced patent attorneys for areas such as mechanical engineering, chemistry, medical devices, computer technology and electronics.
It is led by European patent attorney Andy Tranter, who heads the automotive sector group. John Lawrence, Alan Wilson, Yvonne Johnson, Lucy Trueman, Jennifer Atkinson, Carrie Johnson, and Nicholas Braddon are the key patent contacts. Johnson, who specialises in computer technology work, oversees its designs practice. She was appointed to the firm’s leadership board in 2020. Other notable patent practitioners are Mark Thurston, David Combes, David Pearce, David Harris, Jonathan Myers, Robin Tyson and Neil Kilpatrick.
Catherine Wiseman leads its trade mark practice. She is supported by brands sector leaders Lucy Walker, Tracy Arch and Rosalyn Newsome. The other notable trade mark practitioners are Lisa King, Louis Pittortou, Ian Pearce, and Roseanne Farmer. The firm has a team in Sweden which is led by European trade mark attorney and lawyer Liselott Enström.
2024
"They give candid, prompt and professional advice providing risks and outcomes."
"They are the best firm I have worked with. Highly responsive. Very competent. Acceptable rates."
"Reasonable cost, practical advice, and they are responsive and enjoyable to work with. They have multiple people capable of handling projects and providing solid advice; personable, practical approach."
"Barker Brettell is very responsive, providing good practical advice and great expertise. They are congenial and easy to work with in addition to their professionalism."
"Barker Brettell is extremely responsive and reliable and their advice is practical and not over-lawyered."
"I have known a large number of their senior partners for many years. They are trusted advisers who are commercial, extremely knowledgeable and most importantly work seamlessly as part of our client service team. Their pricing structure is clear and competitive. Many of their partners are trusted advisers to our clients. They have a strong sense of diversity, equality and inclusion running through their strategic planning as a firm and as a result have a very strong and diverse crop of emerging talent."
John Lawrence
"Works on all aspects of patent prosecution, transactional and opposition work."
"Very responsive. Incredibly well versed in UK patent law. Provides creative solutions."
Catherine Wiseman
"Understands the client's business objectives and provides rational and reasonable approaches to problem-solving."
"Superb communicator, and cares deeply about client service and results."
Tracy Arch
"She is a good client manager and excellent trademark lawyer."
Liselott Enström
"Handles EU trademark work."
Lucy Walker
"Highly knowledgeable, commercial and straight talking. Clients love working with Lucy."
2023
"We appreciate their personal approach."
"Barker Brettell's attorneys are very skilled and represent our clients very well. The attorneys are very responsive, and their advice is comprehensive for the question asked."
"Lucy Walker and her team are always responsive, even out of hours. They go the extra mile for clients, whilst always remaining commercially focused and conscious of the fees which are being charged. There are never any surprises, and our clients are always satisfied with the outcome."
"We appreciate the ability to obtain uniformly sound advice from multiple members of the Barker Brettell team, and the practicality of the advice."
2019 client testimonials
A client said: “I have worked with the firm for a number of years. The firm provides a consistent high level of service at a reasonable cost and I have always found the firm to be one of the best if not the best I have worked with.”
Case studies show the firm handling patent prosecution and office proceedings for a range of clients, including universities. Clients include Corindus, Surepulse, University of Nottingham, and Transatlantic Research Institute. Richard Abel, Katie Howe and Oliver Pooley are practitioners to watch. Lucy Holloway has left the firm.