Praised by clients for its 'keen business sense ', the Cambridge based group at Mills & Reeve LLP handles a broad range of issues for clients in the life sciences, automotive, and agriculture industries. Practice head Mark Pearce works from both the Leeds and Cambridge offices, regularly advising chemical and higher education clients on licensing issues. Head of life sciences James Fry and consultant Alasdair Poore, who specialises in the protection, exploitation, and enforcement of IP rights, are key contacts. Principal associates Richard Plaistowe and Nicola Hanglin ‘provide nuanced, commercially pragmatic advice’ to both public and private sector clients on trademark filings and data protection.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘It is an extremely collaborative environment. The team has a keen business sense and is always looking for the best options and path forward while keeping in mind the type and resources of that business. We are always kept up to date and informed on the latest developments.’
‘Richard Plaistowe is an exceptional attorney with a wealth of knowledge and experience. He is also a great communicator. Nicola Hanglin is likewise an excellent communicator and attorney. I always feel in the loop and up to speed on what is going on with my cases.’
'M&R offers commercially pragmatic and cost effective advice. The communication is excellent and their responsiveness is beyond expectations.’
‘Richard Plaistowe and Nicola Hanglin are extremely knowledgeable and very willing to share their experience and knowledge with you. They provide nuanced, commercially pragmatic advice appropriate to the matter in issue, rather than taking a one-size fits all approach Richard, particularly impresses with his responsiveness.’

Key clients

AVEVA Group PLC
Breedon Holdings Limited and group companies
The British Council
The University of Cambridge
IELTS Australia Pty Limited
IELTS UK Services Limited
Casella Family Brands (Europe) Limited
Diurnal Group
Domino Printing Sciences Plc
F-star Therapeutics
First Light Lamps Limited
GlaxoSmithKline
MD Orthopaedics
Orderly Mind Limited
Parkdean Resorts UK
Peachaus Limited
PhoreMost
Smart Skincare Limited
The Binding Site

Work highlights

Assisting The British Council, the University of Cambridge and IELTS Australia Pty Limited with portfolio management issues, acting in trade mark oppositions against applications for IELTS MEDICAL, and handling domain name complaints against domain names in the name of IELTS Medical Ltd.
Advising F-star Therapeutics on its licence and collaboration agreement with Takeda, which grants licences to Takeda of F-star’s proprietary platform IP relating to the generation of bi-specific antibodies will facilitate research towards the development of a next generation immuno-oncology bispecific antibodies.
Acting for MD Orthopaedics Inc in resolving a trade mark dispute, achieving withdrawal of a conflicting trade mark application, securing MDO’s valuable UK registration of Ponseti, and providing it with contractual rights against any future unauthorised use of this mark by the other party.