John Colbourn

Intellectual Property

John has over 15 years’ experience as a lawyer, with a broad practice covering all aspects of intellectual property and related issues, with particular focus on brands.

His practice covers all aspects of brand management and protection, from advising on risk of using new brands or expanding existing use, through protection and registrations, including management on a global basis, to enforcement and dispute management. He manages and advises on both UK and international brand portfolios for a number of well-known brands in a variety of sectors, and advises on complex issues involving of disputes, enforcement, and related filing strategies in multiple jurisdictions.

He has advised in many trade mark and passing off disputes and has particular experience running multi-matter enforcement programs against misuse of trade marks and copyright works, both domestically coordinating  overseas. He also has a particular interest in parallel imports and exhaustion of rights.

John has acted in the High Court (including shorter trials scheme), Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) and the UK IPO and the EUIPO (including appeals to the General Court of the EU) and in the European Court of Justice. He has helped clients coordinate customs enforcement actions to prevent counterfeit goods entering the UK and with international online takedown programs. He uses digital tools where available to gain insight into infringement activity, to help clients prioritise action and resource allocation, and inform protection strategies.

John completed the Bristol University Post Graduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice in 2007, and won the AIPPI national award for the best young contribution for work in relation to trade mark dilution laws in 2010.