Kempner Robinson, the leading intellectual property law firm, has been appointed to offer advice and support to Centrica, the top 30 FTSE 100 company, and its portfolio of brands in the UK, North America and Europe.
The appointment by Centrica is Kempner Robinson’s first major client appointment since it launched earlier this year.
Partner Richard Kempner said: “Centrica understands the values of its brands and is moving to get tough with others who might seek to exploit its intellectual properties. The company recognised Kempner Robinson’s strengths as an experienced team specialising in all aspects of intellectual property law.”
Partner Jason Dainty added: “Our job now is to ensure that Centrica’s intellectual property assets are properly protected and ensure that they have legal strategies in place to mine their brands for the biggest commercial gain.”
Centrica, which has a turnover of £21.3 billion, secures and supplies gas and electricity for millions of homes and business in Europe and the US, has a number of significant brands in its portfolio of businesses.
These include British Gas, the UK’s biggest domestic supplier of gas and electricity with 16 million customers; Centrica Energy and Storage in the UK; Centrica Energie in Germany; Centrica Energia in Spain and Oxxio, the Dutch supplier of gas and electricity to the residential and small business market. Elsewhere, it also owns Dyno, the UK’s leading drain cleaning service and Direct Energy, North America’s largest energy service provider.
Jane Forster, Head of Legal at Centrica, said: “Kempner Robinson clearly demonstrated that they understood our business, its aim and values. More importantly, as a dedicated intellectual property law practice it will deliver a proactive service identifying issues which might impact on our business and delivering solutions to ensure we optimise our intellectual property.”
Kempner Robinson clients include major brands such as ASDA, Jet2.com, BASF and e-Buyer. The firm is currently working on a significant parallel import case in the courts on behalf of the two largest bike importers and dealers in the UK in a dispute with Honda.
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For further information contact:
GREEN Communications
Thomas Atcheson, Account Manager Tel: 0845 4503210 E: thomas@greencomms.com
Kathy Burke, Account Executive Tel: 0845 4503210 E: kathy@greencomms.com
Kempner Robinson
Andy Robinson Tel: 0870 361 4101 E: andy@kempnerrobinson.co.uk
Jason Dainty Tel: 0870 361 4101 E: jason@kempnerrobinson.co.uk
Editors Notes
Kempner Robinson is a specialist intellectual property law firm. Kempner Robinson advises clients, including leading multinational IP owners, on their IP strategies and assists in the protection, exploitation and enforcement of IP rights world-wide.