Barker Brettell relocates Southampton office as Jenny Atkinson takes over as head of the team
Intellectual property (IP) firm Barker Brettell has relocated its Southampton office to Ocean Village Innovation Centre (OVIC), reinforcing the firm’s commitment to clients across Southampton and the wider Solent region.
The move from Medina Chambers at Town Quay marks a new chapter for the firm’s Southampton office, following the recent appointment of partner Jenny Atkinson as head of office after the retirement of Barker Brettell’s long-serving partner Alan Wilson.
Located alongside a growing community of innovative businesses, OVIC provides an ideal base from which Barker Brettell can continue supporting companies developing new products, technologies and brands.
With offices in Southampton, London, Birmingham and Sweden, Barker Brettell advises clients in the UK and internationally on patents, trade marks, designs and copyright. Its clients range from independent inventors and start-ups to SMEs, universities, research organisations and multinational businesses.
Jenny Atkinson, partner and head of Barker Brettell’s Southampton office, said:
“We’re delighted to have moved into Ocean Village Innovation Centre. It is an excellent location for us and puts us alongside many of the innovative businesses we are here to support.
“Being based at OVIC makes it easier for local companies to access specialist intellectual property advice, whether they’re protecting a new invention, developing a brand or growing their business. We enjoy working with clients at every stage of their journey, helping them protect and realise the value of their ideas.
“Having recently taken on the role of heading up our Southampton office, I’m looking forward to building on the strong foundations already in place, developing new relationships and continuing to support our existing clients across the region.”
Barker Brettell advises on all aspects of intellectual property, as well as IP strategy, portfolio management, freedom-to-operate advice, domain name disputes, customs matters and enforcement. The firm currently protects more than 119,000 live patents, trade marks and design rights on behalf of its clients.
Stephen Deller, Centre Manager at Ocean Village Innovation Centre, said:
“Barker Brettell is highly respected within the intellectual property profession and we’re delighted to welcome the team to OVIC. Intellectual property is often one of the most valuable assets an innovative business owns, so having experienced specialists based here is a real asset for our business community.
“Many of our occupiers are developing new products, technologies and services, and they’ll now have easy access to expert advice on protecting and managing their intellectual property. Barker Brettell’s arrival further strengthens the collaborative innovation ecosystem we’ve built at OVIC.”
Ocean Village Innovation Centre has supported more than 200 businesses since opening in 2010 and is home to a wide range of technology, engineering and professional services companies. Barker Brettell is the latest business to join the centre’s innovation community.
