Paola Ruggiero

As Counsel here at Bird & Bird, I have broad experience in Italian and European IP law, representing our clients from industries including food, fashion, entertainment, media, retail, finance and insurance, in trade mark, copyright and design matters.

I have built a strong reputation for supporting clients globally in handling and protecting their trade mark, design and domain name portfolio, as well as on developing and implementing strategies in prosecution and enforcement of IP rights portfolios.

My experience is in trade marks, designs and domain names filing and prosecution, conducting searches, in defending and opposing trademarks and in defending designs. I have also been involved in opposition procedures before the Italian and European Union Intellectual Property Office and in nullity actions both for trade marks and designs before the European Union Intellectual Property Office. I have also filed UDRP and ADR procedures to recover domain names. I specialise in providing legal advice on the recognition and protection of geographical indications and on anti-counterfeiting activities and custom seizures.

In addition, I am a trade mark strategist with extensive experience in managing trade mark portfolios and advising on branding strategies for a wide range of clients, from individuals through to large multi-nationals, both in Italy and overseas.

After spending 20 years working at an Italian firm, I joined Bird & Bird in 2011.

• I recently assisted a client in rationalising its portfolio in the most cost-effective way. Thanks to our capability of working as a team, we also won a pitch and took over the entire portfolio of a company leader in the furniture sector.

• I work with a client in the cookware field to identify the best European strategy in case of lookalike infringements. I have also succeeded in several oppositions/cancellations proceedings for one of our clients in the food sector.