United Kingdom - Scotland • TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
Burness Paull LLP
Burness Paull LLP is renowned in the Scottish market for its ‘dedicated contentious IP practice with unmatched depth of knowledge’, as well as a formidable transactional offering which excels in key sectors from technology and financial services to life sciences and food and drink. Colin Hulme leads the contentious offering, overseeing a particularly broad span of work including patent, trade mark, copyright, confidential information and trade secret disputes. On the transactional side Colin Miller leads the team, his practice continuing to focus on IP licensing, collaboration and due diligence, supported by the vastly experienced David Goodbrand, who offers considerable expertise in the fintech space. Below partner level, senior associate Megan Briggs and associate Rebecca Ablett bolster the contentious offering, both regularly acting for clients in the Court of Session on patent, software and copyright disputes.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team always provides full and timely instructions.’
- ‘Colin Hulme has significant experience in trade mark matters and has a pragmatic attitude.’
‘Colin Miller provides excellent advice on intellectual property matters in a variety of research contracts.’
‘Responsive, helpful, and knowledgeable.’
‘Burness Paull LLP has gained a well-deserved reputation as one of the leading dispute teams in Scotland. Their ability to reach suitable resolutions in some very difficult IP and copyright disputes which my company were victims of is a clear indication of their qualities.’
‘Burness Paull's ability to enforce IP rights in a way which deters others either through their innovative approach or media publicity is hugely valuable.’
‘Colin Hulme has a depth of knowledge, experience and skill in IP work which proves valuable beyond measure in protecting copyright and IP interests.’
‘Rebecca Ablett is a credit to Burness Paull, displaying the same stellar qualities which Colin Hulme possesses.’
Key clients
- Harris Tweed Authority
- Sky UK Limited
- PPL PRS Limited
- ImageRights
- Exact Sciences Corporation
- ScottishPower
- Two Rivers Media
- Bolt
- Zoopla
- RUA Lifesciences
Work highlights
- Continuing to perform a general counsel role for the Harris Tweed Authority, involving advising on the strategic direction of the development of the Harris Tweed portfolio of registered marks as well as enforcement of those marks.
- Acting for Two Rivers Media on their commissioning agreements, carrying out a review of contracts and flagging the key risks to the client. Productions advised on include the new channel four series “Escape to the Chateau”. This included advice on ownership and licensing of copyright in the production materials and film rights.
- Advising Norcliffe on its multi-million pound investment in Aureum Diagnostics, a spin-out company from the University of Strathclyde which has been developing rapid cost-effective electrochemical sensors for the diagnosis of Covid and other life-threatening conditions such as sepsis, heart disease and certain cancers.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Rising stars
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Colin Hulme, Colin Miller