Sean has been part of the Bristows team who have acted in some of the leading IP cases over the last decade. He has experience handling disputes from the pre-action stage, through trial and on to appeal. He has also acted in numerous interim applications as well as quantum proceedings.

In recent years, he has acted for:

• Samsung (as co-counsel) in trade mark infringement proceedings brought by Swatch relating to the sale of watch face apps. The dispute reached the Court of Appeal in 2023 and the dispute has now reached a damages inquiry.
• Newmark (part of Cantor Fitzgerald) in passing off proceedings, brought by our client to ensure continued use of the name in the UK.  The proceedings were stayed shortly before the start of a 12-day trial.
• Vectura in passing off proceedings brought by GlaxoSmithKline concerning the shape and colour of an asthma inhaler.
• Fidelis in trade mark infringement proceedings brought by Fidelity.
• Blizzard in copyright infringement proceedings and a subsequent account of profits. Blizzard’s claim related to the sale of unauthorised ‘cheats’ and ‘bots’ for its multi-player online games including World of Warcraft.
• Thomas Pink in trade mark infringement proceedings brought against Victoria’s Secret in relation to the PINK brand.

Sean also has extensive experience in the operation of enforcement programmes to protect trade marks, copyright and design rights, particularly in the fashion, jewellery and consumer goods sectors, having acted for household brands such as McDonald’s.

Separately, Sean also advises both brands and publishers on compliance with advertising regulations, related disputes between competitors, and investigations by the UK’s advertising regulator, the ASA and enforcement action taken by the CMA in relation to consumer protection legislation. He has advised a number of high-profile brands on their response to ASA investigations.

Sean writes and speaks on his areas of interest, including for Bristows’ Brands Review of the Year, Designs and Copyright Review of the Year, the Kluwer copyright blog and LexisNexis. He has contributed to publications including Brand Protection Online and International Advertising Law. Sean also speaks regularly at conferences including the annual White Paper trade mark law conference. He has also presented a number of webinars for MBL including on copyright and trade mark law, and the protection of image rights in the UK.