Operating in unprecedented times - A letter from ip21's Chairman

I wanted to write to you as ip21’s Chairman to reassure you that, as you would expect, we have arranged full access to all facilities to continue operating every aspect of our business throughout this continuing health crisis.

I also wanted to let you know what we have recently been doing to strengthen our service departments – and in particular our trade marks division – in advance of these developments.

First, in July of last year we acquired the well-known established trademarks practice of Oakleigh IP Services Limited together with its international client base and wider legal contacts. Oakleigh, as many of you will know, was founded by David Goldring (ex Novagraaf) and Alan Venner (formerly Senior Partner of Venner Shipley); two of the profession’s best known and respected trade mark lawyers. Its staff includes John Weston (from another famous IP family) and they are now fully integrated into ip21’s operations worldwide.

Next, we have expanded our UK operational base to incorporate new client contact facilities in Cambridge and Ipswich with the first of these, in particular, bringing in a rapid take-up of new business from the scientific and academic community.

Finally, we have in the last month been trialing a system in which we offer to supply, free of charge:

• An up-to-date schedule of your IP holdings and pending contentious matters including a ‘next due date’ list;
• A review of your portfolio and a report identifying any gaps in protection, e.g. geographically and/or in terms of specification, logos, colours etc; or 
• A brief IP holdings report identifying the pending and registered trade mark and/or patent rights of up to three of your principal competitors.

I hope this has given you a snapshot of how we view the current situation and what we are doing to service your needs and ensure we emerge stronger from it. But may I end with the sincere wish that you and those closest to you will come safely through this challenging period and reaffirm our ability to continue to handle any or all of your specialist IP needs at any time.

And if you would like to take up the offer set out above, please contact me or one of our Senior Attorneys at once.

Bill Jones, Chairman for ip21 Ltd