Kaisa is a Senior Associate who leads the dedicated Designs Team forming part of CMS’ IP group.

Her practice is broad and diverse, covering both contentious and non-contentious aspects of all types of soft IP, with a particular focus on branding and designs, dispute resolution, IP transactions and licensing. She advises on all aspects of brand protection, with particular expertise in coordinating enforcement strategies and negotiating settlements. She is also an experienced litigator, having handled complex cross-border claims and brand litigation from the IPEC through to the CJEU. Her practice also covers domain name disputes, advertising and promotions, fraudulent websites and infringement claims involving copyright, designs and passing off.

Kaisa also regularly advises on transactional IP work and has handled the IP aspects of numerous high-profile and IP-rich corporate deals. She has extensive experience of IP licensing and commercialisation across various sectors. Her recent transactional work includes global merchandise licensing, joint branding agreements, R&D agreements, energy contracts, fashion brand extensions, coexistence arrangements and non-disclosure agreements. She also has experience of advising on regulatory aspects of IP, including in the healthcare and food and drink sectors.

Kaisa works with clients across a variety of sectors with a focus on consumer products, fashion, luxury goods, technology and media. Her design clients range from start-up companies to household brands and major multinationals, including high street retailers, supermarket chains, high-end fashion, leading technology businesses, luxury furniture and homeware designers, consumer brands and media companies. She regularly provides training and commentary on design law, both within CMS and externally, and contributes frequently to notable legal practice resources as part of her leading role in CMS’ contribution to the reform of UK design law and policy.

Sample Relevant Experience

• Regularly advising on design registration strategies, including for major clients in the fashion, healthcare, consumer electronics and media sectors.
• Providing ongoing support on design litigation risk analysis for a major lifestyle and furniture brand, advising on copyright and design rights in the UK and various EU jurisdictions.
• Carrying out product design clearances for leading supermarket chains, fitness and retail brands.
• Advising on design enforcement and tackling counterfeit and ‘lookalike’ products (including online marketplace take-downs) in the consumer goods sector.
• Day-to-day management of major trade mark portfolios including ITV plc, BAE Systems plc, The 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan, Allergan (formerly Actavis), and Thomas Cook, including all aspects of filing strategy, prosecution and enforcement and co-ordinating global networks of local attorneys.
• Routinely conducting trade mark clearances for major clients and project-managing extensive, international and strategically significant clearance projects for high-profile brand launches.