Claire O'Brien

Head of IP Litigation

+441214568404

+447436807911

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What can I do for you

Claire specialises in resolving intellectual property disputes. She assists clients with disputes involving trademarks, designs, copyright, patents and breach of confidence. She has represented clients in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, High Court and Court of Appeal. Whether you are a major corporation, an SME or a public sector organisation, Claire provides pragmatic, timely and cost-effective advice. 

What do others say

Listed as a Leading Individual in Legal 500, Claire is noted for her experience in litigating disputes involving trade marks, designs and copyright.  Clients say:  “Claire is a fantastic lawyer, knowledgeable and personable.  Knows what I want and the right way to go about it” and “Claire is a great IP litigator, who is easy to work with and keeps her clients’ interests at the top of the agenda”.

Supporting your ambitions

When a competitor started selling all-terrain vehicles in Europe under the "Defender" name, Claire obtained swift relief for an automotive client - Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) - in trade mark infringement proceedings. Claire made use of the Shorter Trials Scheme in the High Court to bring about a cost-effective resolution of the dispute. A Europe-wide injunction was granted, and damages and costs awarded. Ready and able to enforce its intellectual property rights in relation to this iconic and much-loved vehicle, JLR was delighted with the speedy result.

What else should you know?

Having lived and worked in Hong Kong for two years, Claire takes an active interest in China's developing intellectual property regime. She helps clients with business interests in China to understand how to protect and enforce their intellectual property rights in that jurisdiction.

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What our clients say about us

“I think Mills & Reeve are a wonderful firm. The support they have provided to us in a really difficult area has been brilliant, collaborative and commercially minded. The team were absolutely wonderful and a joy to work with. Amazing advice and support and a real collaborative effort with us. I can't thank them enough for getting us through some really tough times and doing so with an amazing can-do attitude.”

“They are friendly, fast, always available and always on top of the game. I tend to judge my legal team against the other side's legal team and never doubt Mills & Reeve is the better of the two.”

“All interactions have been very clear. Responses to questions have always been very swift and unambiguous. Our company, and my family, have used various services in Mills & Reeve with the same level of satisfaction.”

“I value the fact that Mills & Reeve are recognised as a good place to work in the UK Best Companies survey. This aligns with the values of our business and means that Mills & Reeve can share what is required to achieve this status with our business.”

As many clients will testify, too many lawyers deliver the required legal expertise but fail to deliver an outstanding client experience. Which is why we always listen to our clients and constantly ask ourselves what we can do to deliver the results you expect.

You expect a close and attentive working relationship, with a lawyer that is responsive and available when you need them. You also want clear, pragmatic and commercial advice tailored to your needs, and transparency and certainty on costs. We completely agree. That’s why every day, through our culture and approach we are committed to delivering the exceptional results and service our clients expect of us.

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Contact Claire