Paul Walsh

Partner

Paul is an industry-acknowledged leader in all aspects of brands law. He specialises in the entirety of the work – from brand and design creation to brand enforcement and exploitation. In terms of exploitation and use of brands, he advises not only on IP rights but day-to-day use of brands in market. This includes advertising, specific product regulatory regimes and relevant consumer law.

As well as being a well-renowned litigator, Paul’s litigious practice is one of dispute resolution, in which the commercial avoidance and settlement of disputes is every bit as important as victories in the courts. Paul is a member of the International Trademark Association.

Paul has lectured and taught widely on brands and dispute resolution. In addition to his many corporate clients, he also acts as the legal adviser to the British Brands Group – a UK industry body of brand manufacturers which is widely acknowledged as the UK industry “voice for brands”.

Paul’s cases have defined the law of brands: creating the law of intermediary liability (L’Oreal v eBay), registrability of non-traditional trade marks (KitKat), genuine use of UK and EU trade marks (Walton v Verweij) and “targeting” of UK/EU trade (BDO v BDO Unibank).

Credentials

  • BA Law, University of Oxford
  • Qualified 1983
  • Partner 1988

What others say

Paul Walsh “is second to none in the trademark field – the person you want onboard when you head into litigation matters. His counsel is commercial, pragmatic, clear, succinct and timely.” WTR 1000, 2020
Paul "maintains a booming dispute resolution practice" WTR 1000, 2020
"A strategic maven who can establish IP rights as easily as he can litigate to protect them" WTR 1000, 2020
Paul Walsh is "absolutely brilliant, commercial and succinct." Chambers and Partners 2020
"Paul Walsh is one of the most admired trade mark litigators of his generation" Chambers and Partners 2020
Paul Walsh is "an excellent all-round brands expert" Legal 500 2020
"a tenacious litigator" Who’s Who Legal Trademarks 2019
Paul Walsh "will go the extra mile for clients" Who’s Who Legal Trademarks 2019
"Paul Walsh is one of the most accomplished trade mark litigators working today. A client says: "I always feel that I am in very safe and commercial hands. He has a great ability to reduce complex matters to a couple of easily understandable issues and to give clear direction and strategy."" Chambers and Partners 2019
Paul Walsh maintains a sterling reputation for his handling of commercially sensitive trade mark litigation. Sources say: "He has really good instincts for the points that matter and is very sophisticated and strategic in his approach." Chambers and Partners 2018
“Commentators have ‘nothing but admiration for’ Paul Walsh, who is ‘one of the leading stars’ for contentious trade mark matters, such as infringement claims and oppositions to new registrations. Sources appreciate ‘his dedication to defending the positions of his clients’." Chambers and Partners 2017
"Paul Walsh is a 'huge name' in the trademarks industry, according to one source. He is known for his 'excellent' brand management practice and highly regarded for his dispute resolution abilities." Who's Who Legal 2017
"In Paul Walsh, the group has a masterful litigator with abundant experience in high-stakes suits and a devoted client following. 'His straightforward and plain-speaking style is great – nothing is ever over-engineered or over-complicated – and he presents his advice in a very clear and commercial manner. He is top class in the world of contentious trademark work.' In recent years, he has acted for Cadbury at UK and EU levels to prevent Nestlé’s registration of the shape of the Kit Kat bar; things came to a head in 2016 when the High Court ruled in his client’s favour." World Trademark Review 2017
"Paul Walsh is head of the brands practice at the firm and is regarded as 'a market leading practitioner for brand enforcement and exploitation." Who's Who Legal 2016
"When he's on the other side of a case, he's sensible and doesn't try to score points for the sake of it," say peers of Paul Walsh; while according to brand owners, "he can effortlessly manage any case to a successful and elegant conclusion. He has a great team behind him, which he doesn't hesitate to use, and is one of the finest lawyers out there. You get real value for money when you employ him, too." World Trademark Review 2016
"Paul Walsh is one of the most celebrated trade mark lawyers in the country, and is much sought after for brand disputes. Sources say he is "a class act" and "one of the best strategic thinkers" in the market." Chambers and Partners 2016

Recommended For

Intellectual Property Law
Best Lawyers™ UK 2021

Intellectual Property
Chambers and Partners Global 2020

Intellectual Property
Chambers and Partners 2020

Brand Management
Legal 500 2020

Trade Mark Strategy & Counseling, Trade Mark Litigation
MIP, IP Stars 2020

UK Trademark Contentious
Firm of the Year, MIP Awards 2020

Trademark Litigation
Leaders League UK 2020

Trademark Prosecution
Leaders League UK 2020

WIPR Leaders
2020

Intellectual Property (star individual)
Chambers and Partners 2019

Trade Mark Office Proceedings
MIP, IP Stars 2019

Intellectual Property
Legal 500 2019

PATMA: Trade Mark Attorneys
Legal 500 2019

Enforcement and Litigation / Prosecution and Strategy (Gold)
World Trademark Review 2019

Trademarks
Who's Who Legal Thought Leader 2019

Trade Mark Litigation
UK Best IP Firms, Leaders League 2018

Intellectual Property (leading individual)
Legal 500 2017

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