Nick Aries

I help client's navigate trade mark, copyright and other IP questions when they are resolving disputes, pursuing transactions or designing compliant business processes.

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

For 5 years I was Co-Head of Bird & Bird's representative office in San Francisco, advising on and coordinating European and UK IP law matters from a US time zone.

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

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

• 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.