Ben Evans

Ben Evans is a Partner and Head of IP & Brand Protection at Harper James. Dual-qualified as both a solicitor and Chartered Trade Mark Attorney, Ben advises businesses on all aspects of brand protection, trade marks and wider soft intellectual property matters, from clearance and portfolio strategy through to disputes, enforcement and litigation.

Ben qualified in 2011 at a specialist boutique IP practice before joining top-50 law firm Blake Morgan in 2012, where he spent more than a decade advising clients ranging from ambitious start-ups to established international brands before joining Harper James in 2023.

He works closely with fast-growing and established businesses across a broad range of sectors, with particular expertise in FMCG, retail, lifestyle and consumer brands. Ben regularly advises on UK and international trade mark strategy, worldwide filing programmes, passing off, copyright and other soft IP disputes, contentious proceedings before the UKIPO, EUIPO and WIPO, and wider commercial brand protection issues.

Ben’s experience on both sides of brand protection - developing and managing trade mark portfolios as well as handling contentious intellectual property matters and enforcement strategies - enables him to provide commercially focused, practical advice designed to create genuinely enforceable protection aligned with a client’s growth strategy.

His work leading brand protection programmes for scaling businesses have earned recognition across the leading legal directories, including Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, Managing IP’s IP Stars and the World Trademark Review 1000.

Work highlights include:

• Advising premium golf apparel brand Manors Golf on trade mark strategy and international brand protection to support the company’s rapid growth and expanding profile;
• Supporting AU Vodka with trade mark protection and enforcement strategy for one of the UK’s fastest-growing consumer drink brands;
• Managing complex international trade mark portfolios for global businesses including a leading payments tech company and a global corporate payments provider, coordinating protection across multiple jurisdictions;
• Advising an education sector supplier on the protection and enforcement of key brand assets across its established education sector portfolio;
• Successfully resolving a range of contentious soft IP matters involving trade marks, passing off and copyright issues, helping clients protect brand value, market position and commercial reputation;
• Coordinating multi-jurisdictional trade mark filing and enforcement programmes for fast-scaling retail and e-commerce businesses expanding into new international markets;
• Advising a leading UK consumer products business on a strategic rebrand, including clearance, filing strategy and risk management relating to existing third-party rights;
• Successfully handling trade mark opposition, invalidity and cancellation proceedings before the UKIPO and EUIPO, securing and defending valuable brand rights for clients across a range of sectors.

“My approach is to understand the commercial realities behind a brand - what makes the business different, where it wants to grow and the risks it faces - so I can provide practical trade mark advice that genuinely supports long-term growth.”

Ben is exceptionally knowledgeable. He combines a meticulous attention to detail with a pragmatic approach, making him a delight to work with.”

“An excellent and knowledgeable trade mark attorney” who brings “smart, practical solutions to the table.

World Trademark Review 1000

Outside of work, Ben has a young family and enjoys coaching children’s football, surfing, paddleboarding, golf and has the dubious pleasure of supporting Southampton FC as a season ticket holder.