Nick Aries

I co-head Bird & Bird's representative office in San Francisco, advising on and coordinating European and UK IP law matters from a US time zone.

Having been with Bird & Bird for nearly 15 years, I am a trusted advisor in connecting Bird & Bird's US clients with our experts in Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, covering all areas in which our firm specialises. Very often, my work involves coordinating with colleagues from a number of countries, and converting that collaboration into results for clients.

Over the course of my career, multiple secondments to a large digital communications company and a major international brand have helped me see things from the client's point of view and understand how to add value.

I specialise in identifying and advising on IP issues in the digital economy, including copyright and trade mark questions in a wide range of online services and social media. I give advice on coordinating multi-jurisdictional IP litigation and strategy. My litigation experience includes trade mark infringement and passing off, breach of licence/coexistence agreements, software copyright, trade secrets, and designs. I also cover transactional IP work such as licensing and the IP aspects of corporate restructures and reorganisations.

I've been recognised more than once by WTR as one of the 'World's Leading Trademark Professionals'. I am an advisory Board Member of the San Francisco IP Law Association. I am also a member of INTA's Enforcement Committee and IPOA's European Practice, Copyright, and International Trademarks Committees.

• Litigating multiple High Court and Court of Appeal cases concerning trade mark infringement and breach of IP-related contracts.
• Advising on copyright and trade mark aspects (including online platform liability) of streaming, linking, hosting, scraping and online search services, and helping design solutions mitigating risks.
• Advising on merits and strategy relating to software copyright infringement risks and breach of software licence.

• Merck KGaA v Merck Sharp & Dohme - large-scale UK trade mark infringement and breach of co-existence litigation involving 3 trials and an appeal (upholding our client's successful breach of co-existence agreement claim), plus interfacing with teams in 10 other countries as part of the worldwide dispute.
• Assos v Asos - substantial trade mark infringement litigation in High Court and Court of Appeal, part of a wider international dispute which resulted in a multi-million global settlement.
• Codemasters v ACO - breach of IP warranty and indemnity litigation relating to alleged misuse of car designs and branding in a computer game
• Daimler v Sany - successfully defending Sany in trade mark litigation brought by Daimler regarding alleged infringement of its 3 pointed star logo.