Karen joined Edwin Coe as a trainee in September 2009 and qualified as a Solicitor into the Intellectual Property team in September 2011. She became a Partner at the firm in April 2023. Karen is also a qualified Chartered Trade Mark Attorney.
Karen studied Law at The University of Manchester and graduated in 2008 with a 2:1 honours degree. She then completed the Legal Practice Course (with Distinction) in June 2009 at The College of Law.
Karen deals with all aspects of intellectual property law, both contentious (including acting for parties in the High Court, IPEC, UKIPO and EUIPO) and non-contentious matters (including drafting assignments, licences and non-disclosure agreements) in the fields of trade marks, passing off, copyright and design rights.
In addition, Karen regularly prosecutes trade mark and registered design applications at UK, EU and international level. She manages, co-ordinates and deals with the enforcement aspects (including dealing with counterfeits, intellectual property right recordals with custom authorities, oppositions, invalidity and revocation actions) concerning the clients’ trade mark and registered design portfolios. Her clients include individuals, companies, charities and international organisations in the fields of media and entertainment, advertising and sport, fashion and beauty, restaurants, electronics and education.
- Acting for a Defendant in UK High Court proceedings in successfully defending against trade mark infringement and passing off proceedings (Lifestyle Equities C.V v The Copyrights Group Limited and others [2021] EWHC 1212 (Ch)) alongside acting for the same client against the same party in 6 separate disputes in the EU before the EUIPO, Boards of Appeal and General Court.
- Acting for a Claimant in IPEC proceedings concerning passing off and trade mark infringement (Miss Maid Limited v HQ Cleaning Limited and other (IP-2017-000100)).
- Acting for a technology company in 6 EUIPO disputes running concurrently alongside a UK High Court claim concerning trade mark infringement and groundless threats against the same party (Nvidia Corp v Hardware Labs Performance Systems Inc [2016] EWHC 3135 (Ch)).
- Acting for a Defendant in IPEC proceedings on the alleged infringement of design right (Cyclehoop Limited v Bike Dock Solutions Ltd and others (IP 14 M02140)).
- Acting for a Defendant in UK Court of Appeal proceedings concerning a declaration of non-infringement (Trademark Licensing Co Ltd and others v Leofelis SA [2012] EWCA Civ 985).
- Acting for a Claimant European clothing licensee in UK High Court proceedings as part of a multi-jurisdictional dispute concerning trade mark infringement and breach of a trade mark licence (Leofelis SA v Lonsdale Sports Equipment Limited and others [2008] E.T.M.R. 63).
- Acting for numerous clients in prosecuting trade mark applications, oppositions, invalidity actions and cancellation actions at the UKIPO, EUIPO and WIPO.
- Managing large worldwide trade mark portfolios for clients including in the art, media and entertainment industries.
- Acting for numerous well-known companies including in the fields of media and entertainment and beauty in conducting clearance searches and advising on trade mark and design filing strategies, managing and co-ordinating their international trade mark and design filing programmes and portfolio management and carrying out enforcement activities.
- Acting for various clients, in particular in the fashion, media and entertainment industries, in their copyright infringement disputes.
- Acting for an international company in its purchase of a large restaurant chain in relation to various intellectual property matters.
- Acting for a company in its sale of its e-commerce travel business in relation to various intellectual property matters.
Expertise
Credentials
Member of the Law Society
Member of the International Trade Mark Association (INTA)
Member of the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA)
Member of the Law and Practice Committee of CITMA
Has been published in a range of publications including the CITMA Review, Financier Worldwide and The Trademark Lawyer.
Karen's Blogs
Blog - 16/12/2024
UK Supreme Court Skykick v Sky decision: What...
Intellectual Property
Blog - 06/11/2024
Can your use of an EU trade mark on two small...
Intellectual Property
Blog - 06/02/2024
Four rings on a spare part car grille infring...
Intellectual Property
Blog - 07/12/2023
Lewis Hamilton crashes out of intellectual pr...
Intellectual Property
