Addleshaw Goddard (AG) has recruited a five-strong team in London led by one of the UK’s top IP litigators, Geoff Steward, from IP boutique Stobbs.

Moving over alongside Steward is litigation lawyer Emma Dixon, who joins AG as a legal director, a managing associate, an associate and a trainee. 

Georgina Powling, head of IP at AG, said the firm has "ambitions to be a tier-one IP practice," adding she was "delighted that Geoff will help to lead in delivering that vision."

Steward brings more than 30 years' legal experience and has represented leading brands in significant disputes, including acting for Marks & Spencer in its highly-publicised dispute with Aldi relating to the design of its light-up gin bottle. Recently he also acted for fashion footwear brand Dream Pairs against the owners of the Umbro sportswear brand in the UK High Court and Court of Appeal, establishing authorities on post-sale confusion, honest concurrent use/acquiescence and registered design interpretation.

Steward will join AG in October after nearly six years at Stobbs, where he was head of litigation. Before that he spent 25 years at Macfarlanes, joining as a trainee solicitor and eventually becoming head of IP; there he acted on a number of well-known trademark cases including Zino Davidoff SA v A&G Imports concerning importation of goods from outside the EEA for resale in the block. He also acted for the UK Formula 1 (F1) racing team Team Lotus against Lotus Racing in two passing off cases, which were successfully defended regarding the name of the F1 team.

Meantime Dixon has more than a decade of experience in commercial and IP disputes. She joined Stobbs in 2020 after working for several years as an in-house litigator at Rolls-Royce.  

Steward said AG had a “wonderful existing platform from which to help grow the IP practice to the next level.” He added on LinkedIn that he was looking forward to “knocking a few of the big players off their perch."

AG's full-service IP team has grown significantly in recent years, including the recent promotions of IP litigator Emily Nuttall-Wood as partner and Jemma Green as legal director. The team has particular expertise in the retail and consumer sector, acting for brands such as Stella McCartney, Kickers and Harrods.

Mark Molyneux, AG's head of disputes, said that having recently promoted Nuttall-Wood to partner, “we have made a significant investment in our IP disputes capability to support our clients in protecting and enhancing their brands and IP."

Steward and the team will be based primarily in AG's London headquarters, supporting clients and matters across the firm's 19 global offices.