Withers Graduate Careers

Intellectual Property

The work of the IP team

The Intellectual Property department specialises in helping clients to fully exploit and protect their IP in the UK and on a worldwide basis. The team advises from both a contentious and non-contentious perspective on all aspects of intellectual property law including patents, trade marks, copyright, design rights and IT IP.

Sara-Jane Knock

Sara-Jane Knock

University attending/attended: St Andrews

PgDL/LPC institution: BPP London

Seats experienced: Commercial Litigation, IP and Real Estate

My experience within the IP team

On my first day in the IP team, I was thrown into a huge dispute involving the name of a very famous restaurant in London. The case was fascinating, culminating in a delicious meal in the restaurant post-settlement. My other work in IP has been split between contentious and non-contentious, involving everything from pancakes, television commercials, major fashion brands and iconic storybook characters. I can be in the Court of Appeal one day, and helping to draft an agency agreement for a famous brand the next, so the work is incredibly varied. I have also been involved with pro bono work for small creative businesses and individuals, which has enabled me to practise my client skills in a more relaxed environment.