Leading Manchester-based law firm Ward Hadaway has announced a key strategic appointment to its intellectual property team.
Sonia Burgess, a highly experienced chartered trademark attorney, joins the team bringing with her considerable expertise in trademark law. She has a rich, specialist background, having trained with a national intellectual property firm.
Sonia is based in the North West and will work out of Ward Hadaway’s office in Chapel Walks, Manchester. Her key objective is to grow the client base across the region working with large and small businesses who require intellectual property and trademark legal support.
Bill Goodwin, head of IT/IP at Ward Hadaway and also a qualified Trademark Attorney, said: “Sonia’s appointment represents a significant milestone for Ward Hadaway’s trademark legal services, building on a 20-year legacy. Bringing her into the fold will enable the firm to rapidly expand the scope and enhance the complexity of its offerings in this specialist area of law, especially in the North West. The addition of Sonia to our team signifies our ongoing commitment to innovation and service excellence particularly in the trademark field, where our services have been steadily expanding over the last few years. It’s an exciting new chapter in our growth, and we’re delighted to have Sonia on board.”
Sonia, who played a pivotal role in setting up a trademark practice at a previous law firm, complements the skills of the existing team. This includes other chartered trademark attorneys and a diverse range of intellectual property and commercial law specialists.
Liz Bottrill, executive partner at Ward Hadaway in Manchester, said: “Sonia’s addition to our team is an exciting development, reflective of Ward Hadaway’s commitment to continuous growth of our experience and expertise. Her unique background will enhance our multidisciplinary approach to trademark law and enable us to further meet the needs of a wider spectrum of clients that require comprehensive trademark legal support. Welcome to the team, Sonia.”
Ward Hadaway provides a breadth of legal services in intellectual property law including brand management and protection, copyright issues and infringement disputes alongside a trademark and design registration portfolio service. In terms of trademark services specifically, the firm works with all types of businesses from startups to large household names and now handles legal matters for over 1,000 active trademarks.
Sonia Burgess added: “I’m pleased to join Ward Hadaway, which is well known for its excellent client service. The firm also has a highly collaborative culture, where everyone works together to achieve the best outcome for clients – which aligns closely with my own values. One of the key objectives of my new role is to expand the scope and diversity of our work both in the North West and nationally, which is an exciting challenge I’m looking forward to.”
