Our partners and attorneys are highly qualified and highly experienced to advise you in all areas of Intellectual Property law. We advise start-ups, SMEs, and multinational corporations and ensure that your inventions, brands and designs are expertly protected.
All of the Partners & People of AA Thornton are joining forces with Venner Shipley
“Daniel Byrne deserves special mention for his exceptional negotiation skills in licensing deals.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“Dan’s expertise in patent licensing and business acumen have made them an outstanding partner in our licensing endeavours”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“Marianne provides invaluable legal advice relating to European patent practice, and her general communication skills are excellent.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“Leonita has a very impressive ability to handle a large number of quite complex European patent applications.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“(Sarah Neil) Very efficient and concise in communicating and proactively making proposals, making it easy for the client to respond.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“Suzanne Power provides sound advice on tricky matters.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“Sarah Darby and her team do a terrific job in managing huge portfolios, keeping on top of things at all times and providing pragmatic, strategic advice. I very much value working with her.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“Dr. Craig Turner at AA Thornton has been an invaluable asset to our patent strategy. Their in-depth understanding of our business and industry has allowed for tailored advice that aligns perfectly with our commercial objectives.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“(Dr. Craig Turner) His professionalism, communication skills, legal and technological analytical skills, and advocacy skills in European patent litigation is impressive.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“(Dr. Craig Turner) An excellent attorney, team leader, and advocate.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“Ian Gill is a star, a good businessman, and strategy head. He is always calm, clear, and appropriately guiding.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“He (Ian Gill) combines his in-depth knowledge of trade mark law with outstanding business acumen.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“Not having Geoff Hussey on the other side of a dispute helps me sleep at night.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“Their knowledge, dedication, and exceptional qualities differentiate them from their competitors. I have valued their professionalism, expertise, and proactive approach to meeting our company’s IP needs.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“Potential clients would be delighted to know that the team’s strengths lie in their deep understanding of the biotech landscape and their ability to provide comprehensive support for both contentious and non-contentious patent matters.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“Craig Turner and Leonita Paulraj are helpful, thorough, and extremely reliable. One knows that when issues are discussed with them, you will receive a clear, thoughtful answer.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“Their unique combination of expertise, innovation, and client-centric approach sets them apart from other firms.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“The team have excellent knowledge in a wide variety of technical areas as well as their patent knowledge.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“Incredibly helpful, patient, and always able to answer any questions. Always able to take the time and help navigate the legalities of IP protection.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“The team at AA Thornton provides insightful comments on patent law that guides decision-making processes. The team members are clear, prompt, and always willing to help.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“The patent attorneys practice truly stand out for its exceptional qualities, deep expertise, and unwavering dedication to client success.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“What a team! Always there, always accurate, always got a solution to our many matters.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“The team are specialist trade mark attorneys and their expertise really shines through. They are also more than mere process driven; they consistently excel in giving client-intelligible counsel and strategic advice.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“First-class team always thinking laterally. Great fun to work with, and they are innovative, bright, and pragmatic. ”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“Ian Gill and Sarah Neil invest time in getting to understand the background and context of any matters we raise with them, and have a long-standing track record of skilfully guiding us through seemingly difficult processes.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“The team are specialist trade mark attorneys and their expertise really shines through. They are also more than mere process driven; they consistently excel in giving client-intelligible counsel and strategic advice.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2023
“Dan Byrne and AA Thornton have been the best service providers and legal advisors throughout. They have always had our interests as a priority and have been consistently professional in delivering exceptional levels of service”
Donna Hartley – Director – Rompa Limited
“Thank you very much for ….. the constructive and straightforward approach of yours in the oral proceedings this week”
Member of EPO Board of Appeal
“Your work in assisting us to respond to the consultation on the UK’s future exhaustion of intellectual property rights regime was invaluable. Thank you”
Catriona Stevenson, General Counsel, The Publishers Association
“Once again I am most grateful for all the work AA Thornton has done for me. Not only has the work been outstanding, you and your colleagues have been so enthusiastic and easy to work with.”
Jeff Allan, Jeff Vehicles Ltd
“It is always reassuring to know that we have AA Thornton standing by to advise us all on IP and trade mark matters. Geoff Hussey and his team of lawyers and attorneys always provide us with first class advice and guidance. We would like to thank Sarah Neil for her great work on the recent sale of our European price comparison businesses to ZPG.”
Dan Caunt, Head of Legal, Admiral Group
“It has been our good fortune to have been a client of AA Thornton for many years in the area of protecting our intellectual property. Ian Gill and his team have assisted us in a plethora of ways in both the protection and arrangement of our trademarks and in their defence in the UK , EU and worldwide as needed. The advice and guidance has been excellent and their always proactive advice has proved invaluable. I have no hesitation in recommending their excellent service “
Roland Earl, Director General, British Toy and Hobby Association
“AA Thornton have provided me with thoughtful, considered and practical support as a Chief IP Counsel across prosecution, infringement analysis and support in the IP aspects of M&A transactions. Mike Jennings and Geoff Hussey provide commercial solutions, approach problems with real business acumen and are collegiate in supporting me to achieve my objectives. Client care at its best!”
Emily O’Neill, IP & Litigation Counsel at Spectris plc (now moved to Deminor Recovery Services)
“You [Partner Alex Bone] and your team have been very helpful and efficient during the patent process. Thank you on behalf of Paul, myself and the ABP team.”
Bill Stirling, Director & Co-owner of ABP Technology Ltd
“Dan [Partner Dan Byrne] was superb and helped us through our case, clearly explaining the next steps and giving superb advice, that resulted in a great outcome for us.”
Matt Gowar, CEO of Equip Outdoor Technologies
“We believe in the possibility of a better future, and we are glad that we chose you in our journey as you are equally passionate about our efforts to change the world. Thanks AA Thornton, we wouldn`t have done it without your input!”
Ahmed Refaat, CTO of Odqa
“Since we are small team, we didn’t have resources to hire a separate intellectual property strategy team outside of AA Thornton, and we are very glad that we didn’t as AA Thornton helped us understand the boundaries of the protection of intellectual property in such a way that we formed our own intellectual property strategy and decided how we wanted to proceed with our intellectual property decisions without any additional costs. Your team has been very helpful and accommodating in every way imaginable. You know we are a small start-up trying to make an impact with limited resources and all of our interactions reflect the professionalism we were looking for.”
Ahmed Refaat, CTO of Odqa
“One of the more surprising aspects of our relation with AA Thornton is how easily you guys appeared to understand and handle this, and to adapt to the continuously moving target. I would definitely recommend looking for people you can work with easily, and who “get it” and speak your language!”
Andy Kemp, Founder of EPIQ
“This is most certainly a unique practice. Their key strengths and capabilities are the uniformly very high standard of patent and trade mark work across the entire firm; very good communication skills; ability to obtain excellent results; and the exceptionally high level of honesty and trust. Their cost structure is very fair and they are nice people to do business with. Overall, this is an outstanding firm, and I cannot recommend it too highly.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2021
“The team are innovative and creative in their responses on challenging issues in software and telecoms prosecution. They listen to feedback, work to understand the business goals, and then work to create a path to issuance with those elements at the front of their mind. Their success rate and the quality of the claims they obtain is consistently high – an excellent combination.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2021
“We have used the services of AA Thornton for many years, and have no hesitation in recommending them to other commercial entities who have sought advice on IP or trade mark matters.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2021
“A great team of specialist trade mark attorneys and practitioners. Down-to-earth, business-friendly advice from people who not only know the technicalities of trade mark law and practice here and elsewhere, but understand how trade marks work for businesses.”
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2021
“You have always been responsive, creative, technically astute, and clear in your communications. I appreciate the accuracy and organization of your emails, which make them easy to pass along to the client for review.”
US attorney Howard Speight, of Howard L. Speight, PLLC
“The ‘excellent’ A.A. Thornton & Co. ‘goes the extra mile to provide outstanding customer service’ and has expertise in both contentious and non-contentious matters.”
Legal 500, 2019
“Patent attorney par excellence Craig Turner of AA Thornton is an inspired choice for all manner of chemistry, biotech and pharmaceutical oral proceedings.”
IAM Patent 1000, 2019
“AA Thornton’s unique combination of skilled technical know-how and unquestioned legal expertise have made them my go-to European firm for over a decade.”
Jerry Harris, Partner, Wick Phillips Gould & Martin LLP
“Thanks again (Adrian Bennett) for your brilliant performance today.”
DeLaval attorney
“AA Thornton is my favourite and most reliable Firm in the UK. It is one of the finest IP Firms in UK”
D Calab Gabriel, Managing Partner, Lex IP Care
“For over a decade Ian Gill is our very reliable and trusted trademark attorney in the UK. His passion about trademark law, paired with his analytical skills, his professional excellence and his ability to step into his client’s shoes, set a new benchmark within Merck’s global network of trademark agents.”
General Counsel Trademarks, Merck Group
“You (Stuart Greenwood) and your colleagues pulled a rabbit out of the hat for our Road Ahead Pot Hole Repair patent, for which I’m extremely grateful.”
Matthew Lobley, Managing Director, Road Ahead (UK) Ltd
“Well done Martin [Patent Attorney Martin Hedges]!! Thanks so much for your good work on this case, and for your efforts in attending the oral proceedings and obtaining a very good outcome!”
Senior Shareholder, US Intellectual Property law firm
“Halliburton has worked with AA Thornton & Co. for nearly 40 years, and we are delighted with the service they have provided during our many years of working together. Their expertise in the oil and gas sector has been invaluable to help us achieve our commercial objectives. Their large patents team has helped us across the broad range of different technologies we handle, and they are very approachable and commercially-minded.”
Clive Menezes, Senior VP and Chief Patent Counsel, Halliburton
“Establishing our intellectual property rights has been key in adding value and protecting our business since our launch in 2011. AAT has provided all the necessary professional services and support we would expect and more from such a company. As a small but fast growing business they have guided us through the often complex and subjective world of IPR. We can move forward with our business and develop new products with confidence with AAT as part of our wider team.”
John Abrahams – Co founder – Hiplok
“At the risk of repeating myself, I would like to say how impressed I was with the way you [Patent Attorney Craig Turner] handled the Opposition case – both the meticulous preparation and your outstanding advocacy skills. I hope that we will have the chance to work together on similar cases in the future (but preferably for the Opposing party). Needless to say, our client was extremely pleased with the outcome.”
Dr. Avraham Rutman, A.J. Rutman – Patent Attorneys
“I appreciate the extreme high caliber of work that pours forth from your offices. Despite our turning up the flow this year…., your firm keeps purring along, seemingly unchallenged by whatever we throw your way. The fine work is actually noticed, and greatly appreciated.”
Assistant General Counsel, Multinational oil field services corporation
“As I promised you at our meeting this weekend – here is a GREAT European Associate I highly recommend. I have worked with this firm many years and their services are wonderful and the prices very fair. I highly recommend the partner Adrian Bennett as he took over some of the cases we were working on with (now retired associate) Philip Curtis.”
International Intellectual Property Paralegal, Mechanical beds and technologies manufacturer
“Vanessa Lawrence – our main point of contact is knowledgeable, approachable, friendly & extremely professional. A pleasure to work with!”
“Absolutely fantastic service with very prompt response time. All correspondence to [our company] is clear & concise.”
Director, World’s largest travel company for students and young people
“Thank you too for all your hard work on our behalf. It has been a good team effort. We are delighted with the outcome.”
Technical Manager of UK-based engineering company
“Excellent – many thanks again for your work in getting this through. I appreciate how difficult it can be to translate ideas and convey their originality in an objective way as you do.”
Director, Oil and Gas division, Design, engineering and project management consultancy
“As I’ve mentioned before, we are indeed thrilled with your firm – your service and work quality is absolutely superior to others in Europe.”
US Attorney, Intellectual Property law firm
“At AA Thornton, the ‘highly regarded’ Emily Cottrill and Craig Turner successfully defended an opposition to a European patent on behalf of Halliburton Energy Services. Mike Jennings specialises in patent prosecution and oppositions, and advises on a range of technologies including electrical and computer-related inventions. Lawrence King was promoted to the partnership in 2013.”
Legal 500 2014, including client comments
“AA Thornton handles all aspects of the trade mark registration process, and has particular expertise in the fashion sector. Ian Gill successfully defended Paul Smith Group Holdings in relation to a French registered design infringement case. Vanessa Lawrence is ‘remarkable in her knowledge’, and Rachel Havard is also recommended.”
Legal 500 2014, including client comments
“AA Thornton’s ‘excellent’ trade mark team handles all aspects of the trade mark registration process, and is particularly renowned in the fashion sector.
Vanessa Lawrence is ‘knowledgeable, friendly and extremely professional’; Ian Gill is ‘responsive, creative and flexible’; and Rachel Havard is ‘very thorough’.
Legal 500 2013, including client comments
AA Thornton’s ‘top-notch’ team advises clients such as Merix Pharmaceutical, RSR Limited and Robert Bosch.
Craig Turner successfully represented longstanding client Halliburton Energy Services at oral proceedings before the EPO Examining Division. Martin Hedges provides ‘consistent quality at an appropriate cost’; Mike Jennings is ‘able to solve even the most complex problems with ease’; and Emily Cottrill is ‘always on time, and always correct’.”
Legal 500 2013, including client comments
“Great work” and “Thank you very much. It is a pleasure working with you [Nick South] Sir.”
Leading manufacturer of high-performance power and Hall-effect sensor integrated circuits
“[Rachel] we truly appreciate your continuing indulgence and invaluable assistance!”
Partner Intellectual Property & Technology, Full service law firm
“I missed the opportunity to meet you in person this time, but as I heard from my colleagues that your visit was very helpful and they had a very good interactive time with you. We really appreciate your effort to come here and meet the IP Team in person and give your valuable inputs and advice to them.”
Global pharmaceutical manufacturing company
“Thank you for your analysis. This is exactly the insight that we need to enable us to formulate a response in this case.”
Chemical producer
“Firstly, Craig can I thank you for the support over many years!!..the service has been excellent.”
Pharmaceuticals organisation
“Perfect! Thank you, Adrian – I don’t know what I would do without you, but I sure don’t want to find out!”
“Thank you, Adrian – I always know I can count on you”
Certified Paralegal, Professional services firm
“Thank you very much for your great efforts in this matter.”
“Many thanks for your excellent support.”
Attorney, Multinational engineering and electronics company
“Thank you so much for your hard work on this application. I greatly appreciate it.”
Patent Attorney, Intellectual Property law firm
“You consistently present logical and well thought out proposed responses!”
Patent Attorney, Intellectual Property law firm
“AA Thornton is at the top of the list when it comes to entrusting cases to European associates. I look forward to being able to send another healthy work load your way this coming year.”
Patent Attorney, Intellectual Property Law firm
“Many thanks for your advice which is – as always – very much appreciated” (advice on US patent)
“Thanks also for your excellent draft arguments document” (on Chinese appeal case)
Managing Director, Manufacturer of remote controlled spotlights
“I think this draft is excellent.”
“Very nice work!”
Partner & US Patent Attorney, Intellectual Property law firm
“I have now considered your response to the grounds of appeal filed by Lely and I think it is great.”
European Patent Attorney, Leading producer of dairy and farming machinery
“Thanks Ian – a good case of value-for-money advice”.
Senior Legal Counsel, Diversified international food, ingredients and retail company
“You [Rachel Havard] are one of the best lawyers I cooperate with.”
Trade Mark Attorney, Intellectual Property law firm
“Thanks Rachel. Super-efficient as always!”
Marketing Manager, Food & beverage manufacturer
Re: Work experience within the Trademark department with Vanessa Lawrence, Partner and Louise Foster, Trade Mark Attorney:
“Just to say thank you for having Jessica for the last 3 days, it is really appreciated. She really enjoyed her time with you and found the work very interesting”.
Financial Controller, Leading educational publisher
“Thank you Rachel. Excellent overview below”.
Director, Designers and manufacturers of specialist protective clothing
“[Gerry] thank you for your report. We are very glad for the positive outcome of this case. Thank you for your good work”.
Trade Mark Manager, Aerospace and defense company
