Edward Carstairs

As a highly experienced trade mark attorney, Edward Carstairs is a trusted partner for businesses looking to build, protect and leverage their valuable brands. With over 15 years of expertise, Ed has a proven track record of delivering tailored strategies that drive tangible commercial outcomes for clients.

Ed’s comprehensive trade mark capabilities span the full lifecycle – from comprehensive clearance searches and robust registration strategies, to seamless global portfolio management and proactive brand enforcement. Whether clients are launching a new brand, expanding into new markets, or protecting their hard-earned reputation, Ed is adept at navigating the complexities of trade mark protection.

Ed works closely with a diverse range of clients, from ambitious start-ups to global industry leaders.   His clients include an award winning audio product company, a famous serial investor, an international dairy cooperative, an international investment manager, a renowned sportswear company, and new entrants to the food & drink sector.  He takes the time to understand each client’s unique brand, market positioning, and long-term business goals. This allows him to develop trade mark solutions that are perfectly aligned with their specific needs and priorities.

Clients have described Ed as being “incredibly attentive, has great knowledge and I don’t hesitate to recommend him” and “an exceptional trade mark attorney.  He always provides very thorough, complete and clear advice on every matter.  He is always available and keen to understand the general strategy and vision of the company”. He is “Highly Recommended” in the World Intellectual Property UK Trade Mark Rankings.

Beyond the world of trade marks, Ed is a keen cyclist and has also achieved a second dan black belt in Taekwondo.

Ed has advised clients of all sizes from start-ups to large multi-nationals and has a particular interest in the food, drink and hospitality industry.  Ed specialises in a number of areas including:

• Food, drink & hospitality sector regularly hosting, attending and speaking at events
• IP portfolio audits and strategic reviews to ensure that the portfolio reflects the business objectives so that they are well prepared for due diligence when seeking investment or selling the business
• Preparing global freedom to operate and filing strategies in order to identify the IP that is created by the business, to mitigate any risks to use and to ensure that the IP is properly protected
• Enforcing and defending trade mark rights in opposition and cancellation proceedings at the UKIPO and around the world
• Guiding clients through complex IP issues in China including successfully defending a client in court against a malicious squatter attack and subsequently recovering the client’s trade mark rights
• Enforcement strategies against inappropriate internet use such as filing Nominet and UDPR complaints objecting to abusive domain name registrations, as well as action against Twitter accounts and infringing use on Amazon and eBay
• Liaising with customs and trading standards to protect clients against counterfeits

UK Trade Mark Attorney
Member of the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA)

Ed studied English Literature at the University of Sheffield.  Ed joined GJE in 2011 and was promoted to partner in 2019.  He qualified as a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney in 2010 and was awarded the Payne/Bennett Memorial Award for one of his professional exams.