CMS

Partner Co-Head of Intellectual Property

Joel Vertes is a Partner in CMS’s “Band-One” ranked IP team – one of the largest dedicated IP teams of any law firm. Joel has spent 20 years acting as IP “consiglieri” to his clients, and working on the full life-cycle of clients' IP rights. He is equally comfortable filing and protecting IP rights, enforcing those rights in litigation, and advising on deals ensuring clients commercialising their innovations.

Joel is a highly experienced litigator, with particular expertise in trade mark, copyright, database right, confidentiality, anti-piracy and other IP disputes. He has led many high-profile litigation matters before the UKIPO, EUIPO, the High Court and the CJEU.  He manages the IP portfolios of some of the world’s largest brands, working alongside CMS's significant in-house trade mark and patent attorney practice.

Joel also has a significant non-contentious and advisory practice. He has extensive experience of complex technology, copyright, trade mark and software licensing, joint ventures, collaboration agreements and similar deals. He has acted for many clients, including software giants, oil & gas conglomerates, fashion houses, restaurants, hotels and fintech and automotive businesses, exploiting their technologies and brands on a cross-border basis. He regularly advises businesses on the IP aspects of M&A transactions. Finally, he also heads the firm-wide, full-service franchising practice.

Finally, Joel is jointly responsible for CMS Umbra – our transformative AI-driven patent monetisation product.

British Franchise Association - Accredited Professional Advisor since 2014

2006 - Postgraduate Diploma in Commercial IP (Distinction), Nottingham Law School, Nottingham. 2002 - Legal Practice Course, Commendation, College of Law. 2001 – MA (Law), Emmanuel College, Cambridge.