West law firm Thrings, which has an office in Bristol, has helped Bath-based online sex toy retailer Lovehoney secure a deal to sell products inspired by the best-selling erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey.
Partner Graeme Fearon led negotiations for Lovehoney to acquire exclusive world rights outside the Americas allowing it to design, manufacture and sell what it calls adult pleasure products based on those used by the lead characters in the book.
Lovehoney worked closely with author E L James to develop the high-quality range of sex toys and accessories.
The deal comes as Thrings, which also has offices in Bath, Swindon and London, celebrates a number of its lawyers gaining recognition in the Chambers UK Guide 2013.
Published today, the guide is widely-regarded as one of the legal sector’s key reference tools, highlighting individual and firm-wide strengths, areas of expertise, and reputation in the main.
Graeme Fearon is cited by Chambers for his work and expertise in the intellectual property arena, while partners Andy Braithwaite and John Davies gain number one ranking for expertise in IT and intellectual property and corporate/mergers and acquisitions respectively. Colin Stratton who was cited for his real estate work in the Bristol area, and Louise Webberly who was noted for her personal injury work in Swindon.
A total of 18 Thrings lawyers are among Chambers’ leading practitioners in the South West.
The qualities on which personal rankings are assessed include technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence, commitment and other qualities most valued by clients.
Partner Huw Ponting is also in the top ranking for work with personal injury cases (mainly acting for claimants). Peter Cusick, Neil Barbour, Anita Symington and Duncan Sigournay are all ranked highly as leading agriculture and rural affairs lawyers, with Russell Reeves tipped as an “associate to watch”.
Restructuring and insolvency partner Mark Cullingford and associate solicitor Melissa George are both applauded, as are Neil Elliott (personal injury), Kerrie Hunt (employment) and Eric Livingston and Steve McCombe (construction). Partner Alex Madden has made the list for his expertise in planning while Colin Stratton was cited for his real estate work in the Bristol area.
Thrings managing partner Thomas Sheppard said: “I am absolutely delighted to see the talent, skill and dedication of so many of our colleagues being recognised by one of the most consulted independent legal bibles in the UK.
We count ourselves tremendously fortunate to be able to attract such able lawyers and while we appreciate them, it is doubly rewarding to see that recognition coming from clients and the objective researchers at Chambers UK.”
Thrings has 57 partners, 163 lawyers and more than 100 business support staff working across its four offices.
