Her Intellectual Property practice covers all rights across a variety of sectors, with a focus on soft IP disputes and cross-border litigation within the creative, consumer and pharmaceutical industries. She is instructed in many of the most significant IP cases before the UK courts, regularly appearing in the Court of Appeal, High Court, IPEC and UK IPO. She is frequently instructed as sole counsel against silks and has significant higher court advocacy experience, including in the Court of Appeal.

Stephanie has experience in more specialist aspects of intellectual property law such as malicious falsehood, breach of confidential information, moral rights and ARR, false endorsement and non-traditional trade marks.

Recent and key cases include:

Thatchers cider v Aldi [2025] EWCA Civ 5 | [2025] 3 All E.R. 544: Landmark case on s.10(3) infringement in the context of supermarket “look-a-likes”. Led by Michael Edenborough in Court of Appeal; led Niamh Herrett at first instance

Crafts Group LLC v M/S Indeutsch International [2024] EWCA Civ 87, [2024] F.S.R 19: A trade mark and passing off case spanning the UK and EU Courts for over 10 years. In Feb 2024 the Court of Appeal handed down judgment on a Brexit-focused procedural dispute that involved an amendment to allege infringement of an EU trade mark after IP Completion Day (original and supplement judgments at [2023] FSR 23 and 24). Trial judgment pending which will determine the substantive issues of unjustified threats, infringement, invalidity and revocation of TMs relating to patterns on knitting needles (Stephanie led Anneliese Mondschein at trial).

EasyGroup v Jaybank  [2025] EWHC 3077 (IPEC) | [2025] 11 WLUK 338 | [2026] E.T.M.R. 6: The first trade mark case to consider the interpretation of the new s.11A defence to trade mark proceedings of non-use. Appeal before the Court of Appeal pending.

Jersey Heritage Trust v Chris Levine (Claim no: IL-2024-000039 settled): A copyright infringement and breach of contract claim arising from portraits commissioned by the trust of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Shantell Martin v GM Drinks/Bodegas San Huberto | [2025] EWHC 1827 (IPEC) | [2025] 7 WLUK 530: Artistic copyright case including successful claim of false endorsement (passing off) by way of emulation of an artistic style.

Case T‑768/20 Standard International Trade Mark: Leading case on the concept of targeting and advertising use relating to hotels with international customers.

EasyGroup v Nuclei and others [2022] EWHC 901 (Ch): A leading case on infringement and use, following a previous well-known judgment by the late Henry Carr J ([2018] EWHC 3608 (Ch)) upholding a revocation of Pathway’s trade marks, easyGroup brought this claim for trade mark infringement.

EasyGroup Ltd v Beauty Perfectionists Ltd [2021] EWHC 3385 (Ch): Leading case on the interpretation of the law relating to jurisdiction following Brexit in pending EU trade mark proceedings.

Glencairn IP Holdings Ltd v Product Specialities Inc (t/a Final Touch)  [2020] EWCA Civ 609: Designs case which created new law on solicitor conflicts acting for different clients in respect of the same IP rights (acted unled at first instance and the Court of Appeal)

Easy Rent a Car Ltd v Easygroup Ltd [2019] EWCA Civ 477: Dispute of jurisdiction in relation to a trade mark and passing off claim, owing to previous proceedings in Cyprus. Sole counsel.

Glaxo Group Ltd v Sandoz and others [2019] EWHC 2545 (Ch) (and various interim judgements): Passing off case relating to the colour and shape of a respiratory inhaler. Led by Simon Malynicz QC (Hogarth) and Tom Hickman QC (Blackstone Chambers).

Further examples of cases:

Jaguar Land Rover Ltd v HaynesPro B.V (Case Number: IL-2024-000006 settled): Trade mark, copyright and database right infringement and breach of contract claim with competition law counterclaim

Adolf Schaller v Ivor Braka (Case no: IL-2021-000020 settled): A copyright infringement case involving a piece of appropriation art, and the applicability of UK and US law thereto.

Urbanbubble Ltd v urban Evolution Property Management Ltd [2022] EWHC 134 (IPEC): A trade mark and passing off infringement dispute relating to use of similar names in residential Property Management.

Christie's Trade Mark Application (No.3268877), Re Trade Marks Registry (Appointed Person) [2020] 1 WLUK 557: Appointed person appeal to an opposition bought by ZARA in respect of the mark “ZOHARA”.

Next v Matalan: Unregistered design infringement and copyright infringement case involving designs in clothing and footwear.

Beiersdorf v Aldi: Trade mark dispute relating to packaging marks of Nivea sun cream.

Pathway IP Sarl (formerly Regus No 2 Sarl) v EasyGroup Ltd (formerly Easygroup IP Licensing Ltd) [2018] EWHC 3608 (Ch): High Court appeal from the registry on revocation of trade marks for non-use. Led by Simon Malynicz KC.

Glaxo Group Limited v EUIPO T-803/16 (CJEU, General Court): Second appeal in relation to a revocation of a pharmaceutical shape mark. Led by Tom St Quintin (Hogarth Chambers).

Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC v WPMC Ltd [2015] EWHC 1853 (Ch): Trial involving rights to footage of the first Beatles concert recorded in the USA. Claims were brought under UK and USA copyright, with defences of a collateral contract and proprietary estoppel. Led by Alastair Wilson QC (Hogarth Chambers).

With her background in the art world, Stephanie is particularly well-placed to advise clients in both contentious and non-contentious art matters. She is experienced in advising galleries, museums, dealers and individual artists and their estates. She has particular skill in acting in cases involving a range of rights and legal causes of action, and devising innovative strategies for settling and litigating such matters. She is also involved in pro bono projects advising early career artists and designers on a range of legal matters, often in the field of IP or contract law.

A large portion of Stephanie’s work in the art and cultural property sector is confidential. Recent public cases include:

Shantell Martin v GM Drinks/Bodegas San Huberto | [2025] EWHC 1827 (IPEC) | [2025] 7 WLUK 530: Artistic copyright case including successful claim of false endorsement (passing off) by way of emulation of an artistic style.

Jersey Heritage Trust v Chris Levine (Claim no: IL-2024-000039 settled): A copyright infringement and breach of contract claim arising from portraits commissioned by the trust of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Adolf Schaller v Ivor Braka (Claim no: IL-2021-000020 settled): Which involved a piece of appropriation art, and the applicability of UK and US copyright infringement law and defences thereto.

Other examples of advisory and drafting work include:

• Various advice on ownership (tangible and intangible property) in an estates context.
• Advising directors of a gallery in a dispute involving a breach of shareholders agreement, breach of director’s duty and trade mark infringement.
• Advice on applicability of artist resale right to applied art.
• Advice in relation to copyright in unconventional contemporary media.
• Advice in relation to incidental use of copyright artworks within films.
• Drafting indemnity clauses for the commission of a replica work of art where there had been previous allegations of breach of copyright and misuse of confidential information.
• Advice and draft proceedings in relation to a copyright and confidential information dispute relating to painted works used in interior design.
• Moral rights disputes and in particular advice relating to the risk of selling particular art works that have been altered or decontextualised.
• Advised a commercial London gallery on the cross-border sale of a conceptual piece of sound art and potential copyright infringement in displaying/playing it in public, including drafting indemnity clauses to protect the purchaser.
• Advised a major international museums authority on a complex architectural copyright issue with a conflicts of law element.
• Advised a London art gallery on the commercial and regulatory risks involved in posting a conceptual piece of art involving gambling on their website.
• Advised an architectural sculptor on the commissioning of various pieces of public art.
• In relation to artists and designers - advice in relation to IP and commercial disputes, commissioning and licensing agreements; product design protection and strategy advice.

Read Stephanie's IP ITeaser mini-series from LinkedIn here.

Stephanie regularly acts for clients involved in international and cross-border disputes, often with an IP element. She has gained particular experience recently in applications disputing jurisdiction, both in the UK and abroad, and applications for service and enforcement out of the jurisdiction.

Examples of recent cases include:

• Shantell Martin v GM Drinks/Bodegas San Huberto | [2025] EWHC 1827 (IPEC) | [2025] 7 WLUK 530: Artistic copyright case partially under Argentine law and involving service out of the jurisdiction
• Adolf Schaller v Ivor Braka which involved a piece of appropriation art and the applicability of US copyright infringement law in the UK (settled).
• EasyGroup Ltd v Beauty Perfectionists Ltd [2021] EWHC 3385 (Ch): Leading case on the interpretation of the law relating to jurisdiction in pending EU trade mark proceedings.
• EasyGroup v Easy Fly and Avila [2020] EWHC 40 (Ch): Dispute of jurisdiction application involving considering full and frank disclosure and territoriality of acts for the purpose of jurisdiction in a trade mark case. Led by Michael Bloch QC (sole counsel for costs hearing and further application to serve out). 
• Easy Rent a Car Ltd v Easygroup Ltd [2019] EWCA Civ 477: Dispute of jurisdiction in relation to a trade mark and passing off claim, owing to previous proceedings in Cyprus.
• Glaxo Group Limited v Sandoz Limited [2016] EWHC 2743 (Ch) (led by Simon Malynicz KC): Application joining German domiciled Defendants also party to proceedings in Germany.
• Various hearings for permission to serve abroad, including applications for default judgment where there has been service abroad.

Stephanie has acted in a number of IT contractual and copyright disputes, with issues such as:

• Breach of licence terms and failure to meet software design specifications.
• Copyright infringement and licensing including reliance on implied and equitable licences.
• Breach of confidential information.
• Misappropriation of proprietary information.
• Disputes involving former employees.
• Advice on interim remedies including injunctions.

Stephanie has experience on broader commercial issues pertaining to the creative and technology sectors, such as contractual and tortious IT disputes or advice on IP transactions and licensing. She also has experience in regulatory matters within contractual disputes.

Stephanie acts in a wide variety of IP and commercial matters pertaining to sports, media and entertainment. Her clients range from individual artists and composers to television channels and sports hospitality providers. She accepts instructions both in contentious and non-contentious matters. Prior to coming to the bar Stephanie trained in theatre costume where she worked in West End theatres including Soho Theatre and the Shed at the National Theatre.

Recent cases include:

Successfully representing a Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Trevor Nunn in a strike out and summary judgment application against a performer who claimed to have written songs from the musical Cats.

Acting for Canal + Group in several trade mark registry disputes including before the Appointed Person.

Acting for a music industry client in a claim involving the appropriation of its brand, including allegations of fraud.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC v WPMC Ltd [2015] EWHC 1853 (Ch): Trial involving rights to footage of the first Beatles concert recorded in the USA. Claims were brought under UK and USA copyright, with defences of a collateral contract and proprietary estoppel. Led by Alastair Wilson QC (Hogarth Chambers).

She has further experience and interest in:

• Theatre: including managing works of co-authorship, special issues arising with devised pieces, and licensing.
• The Film industry including permissions relating to use of imagery and other copyright works within films.
• Brand and licensing disputes relating to sports teams.
• Music industry disputes in particular licensing and copyright infringement.
• Copyright and contractual disputes in the publishing sector.
• Disputes relating to the use of fonts and typefaces.