Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2022 Our sole focus is to support innovation and creativity through clear and incisive legal advice. With expertise in intellectual property (IP), data, trade secrets and commercial law, we work with individuals and businesses forging new ground in content creation, design, branding and technology. We invest time to understand our clients’ needs, internal structures and decision making and are able to tailor our advice and add value to commercial decisions of our clients. We advise on laws relating to protection and exploitation of copyright, trade marks, databases, trade secrets and other IP rights. We assist with IP registration (where available) and draft and advise on enforcement of agreements with an IP element, such as licences, consents, assignments, franchise agreements, and non-disclosure agreements. We also collaborate with law firms without IP capabilities, advising on M&A and restructuring transactions involving IP assets. Our two directors have a wealth of knowledge and experience not only in advisory work but also in policy making and legislative drafting in collaboration with the UK Intellectual Property Office, and are active speakers on new technologies and IP rights. Firm Profile Sarah Hadland is a Director of Open Plan Law. Over 25 years, she has established a leading IP practice acting for a number of high-profile clients including Gü Desserts, Ty Inc (the makers of Beanie Babies) and Next Retail Ltd, as well as smaller businesses and individual designers. The firm’s clients cover a broad range of sectors, including the Arts and Heritage sector, publishing, technology, media, fabric and clothing designers, food manufacturers and restaurants, scientific enterprises, authors and financial services providers. Ms Hadland has acquired a significant reputation in IP law focusing on design rights, trademarks, copyright and confidentiality. She is listed in both The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as a leading individual who “continues to command the respect of peers and clients”. One client enthused: “It’s great to have someone like Sarah – you can have complete faith in everything you need to have faith in: her judgement, her acumen and her ability to get a good result” (Chambers and Partners). She advises on the protection of IP rights including dispute resolution, civil litigation in the High Court and Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, criminal matters such as counterfeiting and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs seizures, and trademark and design right portfolio management. She also assists clients in the negotiation and drafting of agreements including development, maintenance and licensing of software, global licensing of IP rights and publishing and merchandising contracts. Her notable cases include Teleworks Limited v Telework Group, Gucci v Next Retail and Unilever Plc v General Housewares Corp, and clients have said that “she seems to know instinctively when to fight and when to settle” (ILO Client Choice Awards 2013). Ms Hadland has been awarded the 2021 Lawyer Monthly Women in Law Award for copyright. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Trademark Attorneys. About Sarah Hadland www.openplanlaw.com 89 UNITED KINGDOM
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