Chris Fotheringham

Biography

Chris assists the team in both contentious and non-contentious commercial and intellectual property matters including copyright, designs, trade mark law and the law relating to passing off.

Chris’ contentious work includes advising clients on a range of commercial disputes from breach of contract to infringement of intellectual property rights. Chris has experience from smaller disputes in the Small Claims Court to large disputes in the High Court.

Prior to qualifying, Chris previously worked at Ashfords LLP as a Paralegal in the Real Estate department, where he assisted on Landlord and Tenant matters as well as assisting in residential development work, before going on to assist in the Risk & Compliance department.

Having trained with the firm, Chris undertook seats in Corporate, Commercial/Intellectual Property and Commercial Litigation prior to qualifying.

Prior to joining Ashfords, Chris studied a BA in History and an MA in Medieval Studies. Chris converted to law having studied the Graduate Diploma in Law at the University of Law, Exeter. Chris then went on to complete his LPC MSc in Law, Business and Management with the same institute.

Relevant experience

Shazam Productions Limited (the owners of the copyright in the scripts for Only Fools & Horses) – assisting in a copyright infringement and passing off case against those creating the “Only Fools (Cushty) Dining Experience” and protecting Shazam’s IP rights post-trial with further infringers.
Private and corporate clients – assisting in drafting cease and desist letters for copyright and trade mark infringement.
Private company – assisting in the handling of a global trade mark portfolio with the exercise involving liaising with international counsel, drafting cease and desist letters, drafting and agreeing undertakings, and assisting in report to the client on a global assignment process of various trade marks.