Giles Crown

I’m never happier than when getting my teeth into an interesting intellectual property dispute. I work across the full range of intellectual property matters, including trade marks, copyright, design rights, confidentiality, data protection and patents. My particular area of specialism is intellectual property as it affects brands.

I have been involved in some landmark intellectual property cases, including acting for the mobile operator ‘3’ against O2 in a comparative advertising dispute which proceeded all the way to the European Court of Justice and is one of the leading cases on the use of trade marks in comparative advertisements. I also acted for Whirlpool Corporation against Kenwood in a trade mark infringement and passing off action relating to the shape of the iconic KitchenAid stand mixer. I am currently involved in a case going to the Supreme Court involving data protection issues in the context of a disclosure application (RFU v Viagogo).

I am recommended as a leading intellectual property lawyer by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 legal directories and am ranked as one of the top 1000 trade mark lawyers in the world by the World Trademark Review magazine. I am an accredited mediator and have higher rights of audience.

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I’ve been involved in the advertising world for well over a decade. I started off my professional life as a media barrister, then went in-house at leading advertising agency TBWA. I advise on the full range of advertising and marketing issues, from clearance of international campaigns to litigating advertising disputes. I regularly deal with the advertising regulatory bodies, such as the ASA, including challenging their adjudications when necessary.

My clients include household name brands and leading marcoms agencies. I am recommended as a leading advertising/brand management lawyer by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 legal directories.

I am co-author and editor of the leading textbook “Advertising Law and Regulation” (Bloomsbury Professional) now in its second edition, having been the sole author of the first edition. I’m a member of the Advertising Lawyers’ Group, the British Brands Group and am on the Committee of the Branded Content Marketing Association.

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My expertise in advertising, intellectual property and reputation management means I’m ideally placed to advise on all aspects of brand management, including the creation and protection of brands, the exploitation of brands and brand protection and enforcement.

I have a deep understanding of both the legal and commercial issues affecting brands, helped by my time spent as in-house counsel at the leading advertising agency TBWA. I have been involved in a wide variety of brand related disputes, including acting for the mobile operator ‘3’ against O2 in a comparative advertising dispute which proceeded all the way to the European Court of Justice and is one of the leading cases on the use of trade marks in comparative advertisements. I also acted for Whirlpool Corporation against Kenwood in a trade mark infringement and passing off action relating to the shape of the iconic KitchenAid stand mixer.

I am recommended as a leading advertising/brand management lawyer by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 legal directories.

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Before joining Lewis Silkin, I spent five years as a barrister at leading media chambers One Brick Court specialising in defamation, privacy and confidentiality issues. During my time at the Bar I acted for politicians, celebrities and sports stars, including for the footballer Bruce Grobbelaar in his libel action against The Sun newspaper over allegations of match fixing.

At Lewis Silkin I’ve continued my interest and expertise in reputation management work, now working mainly for brands and corporations who require assistance with their dealings with the media, including traditional media, online media and social networking sites. My clients range from major multinationals to start-ups, including household name brands, leading marcoms agencies and media companies.

I understand the need to act quickly and efficiently when dealing with media issues. Recent work includes the seeking of an urgent injunction to restrain the broadcast of a television programme (Viagogo v Channel 4) and acting for a multinational company in a Press Complaints Commission complaint against a national newspaper. I’ve been recommended in the legal directories for defamation and reputation management and listed in the Lawyer Monthly Magazine’s ‘Leading Lawyer 100’ 2011 Guide for media and entertainment.

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