Geoff Steward is a trial lawyer with over twenty-five years’ experience and has long been recognised in Chambers and Legal 500 as a leading individual for IP disputes. He joined Stobbs in 2018 after being a partner and head of the IP group at leading London firm, Macfarlanes.

He has handled IP disputes for some of the leading brands of the world, including Budweiser, Nike, Pernod Ricard and various Formula One teams. His expertise includes disputes relating to trade marks, passing off, copyright, designs (registered and unregistered), database rights, data protection, breach of confidence and anti-trust. As well as undertaking pure IP claims, Geoff has acted on a broad range of contractual disputes relating to brand protection and brand monetisation such as licensing, franchising, manufacturing, supply and distribution. He has acted for clients in industries as diverse as retail, publishing,  television, sports (soccer, cycling, golf and Formula One), food and drink; automotive and aviation.

Reported cases

Iconix Luxembourg Holdings SARL v Dream Pairs Europe Inc & Anor [2023] EWHC 706 (Ch) (28 March 2023): Acting for the defendant shoe manufacturers and successfully defending High Court trade mark infringement claims brought by the owners of the Umbro brand.

Combe International LLC & Anor v Dr August Wolff GmbH & Co KG Arzneimittel & Anor [2022] EWCA Civ 1562 (30 November 2022): Acting for the claimants in a successful Court of Appeal decision on limitation/acquiescence in trade mark infringement claims.

Combe International LLC & Anor v Dr August Wolff GmbH & Co. Kg Arzneimittel & Anor [2022] EWHC 125 (Ch) (20 January 2022): Acting for the claimants (owners of the VAGISIL trade marks) in a successful High Court trade mark infringement and passing off claim against the Defendant owners of the brand VAGISAN.

GHS Global Hospitality Ltd v Beale & Ors [2022] EWHC 1403 (Ch) (07 June 2022): Acting for two co-defendants in respect of a High Court conspiracy and copyright infringement claim in the IT sector, raising jurisdictional issues and questions of alternative service: ongoing.

Rothy's Inc v Giesswein Walkwaren AG [2020] EWHC 3391 (IPEC) (16 December 2020): Acting for the Defendants (German owners of the Giesswein shoe brand) in an IPEC claim for registered and unregistered design infringement by Rothy’s.

New Balance Athletics, Inc v The Liverpool Football Club and Athletic Grounds Ltd [2019] EWHC 2837 (Comm) (25 October 2019): Successfully defending Liverpool FC in a High Court speedy trial on the construction of a matching right in a kit sponsorship contract.

Thai Airways International Public Company Ltd v KI Holdings Co Ltd & Anor [2015] EWHC 1250 (Comm) (11 May 2015): Successfully acting for the claimants in a High Court breach of contract claim against the defendant Japanese aircraft seat manufacturers and securing damages in excess of $100m.

Budejovicky Budvar Narodni Podnik v Anheuser -Busch Inc [2012] EWCA Civ 880 (03 July 2012): Series of long-running trade mark revocation actions, acting for US Budweiser, which went to the ECJ and Court of Appeal on the question of honest concurrent use.

Group Lotus Plc & Anor v 1Malaysia Racing Team SDN BHD & Ors [2011] EWHC 1366 (Ch) (27 May 2011): Successfully defending a High Court passing off claim (and speedy trial) relating to Lotus naming rights for Formula One.

Looney v Trafigura Beheer BV [2011] EWHC 125 (Ch) (01 February 2011): Successfully defending a High Court copyright infringement and contractual repudiation claim relating to literary works.

Hudson Bay Apparel Brands LLC v Umbro International Ltd [2009] EWHC 2861 (Ch) (04 November 2009) and Hudson Bay Apparel Brands Llc v Umbro International Ltd [2010] EWCA Civ 949 (11 August 2010): Successfully defending Umbro in the High Court and Court of Appeal in respect of a breach of contract claim relating to a licensing agreement for men’s soccer-inspired leisure wear in the USA.

Kangol Ltd v Hay & Robertson Plc Rev 1 [2004] EWCA Civ 63 (22 January 2004): Successfully acting for Claimant on High Court and Court of Appeal claim on validity of termination of a trade mark licence.

Zino Davidoff (Approximation of laws) [2001] EUECJ C-414/99 (20 November 2001): Leading parallel importing trade mark infringement case which was ultimately referred to the European Court of Justice.

Notable unreported cases

• Advising The Ritz Hotel (London) in respect of on-going claims for trade mark infringement.
  

• Advising the UCI Independent Commission in relation to a public inquiry into the Lance Armstrong doping affair in professional cycling. 

• ICC arbitration in respect of an international licensing dispute for a leading sports brand.

• Contractual ICC arbitration dispute arising out of the temporary stadia for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

• Representing a leading wine supplier on an ICC arbitration relating to the contested termination of its UK warehouser.

• Conducting an LCIA arbitration for an international sports brand, governed by Indian law but with the seat in London, relating to the disputed exercise of a call option over shares in an Indian joint venture company with the reputation of the brand being at the core of the dispute.

• Defending a multi-party cartel follow-on damages claim in the Competition Appeal Tribunal relating to the supply of automotive bearings.

• Acting for a sports brand in a substantial LCIA arbitration.

Favourite food?

Turkish Delight & Red Bull.

Favourite music?

Most things beside mainstream, with particular favorites being Wilco, Nick Cave, Eels, Jason Isbell and any female artists from Nashville.

Favourite book?

The Cemetery of Forgotten Books series by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

Favourite gadget?

Record Player/Gramaphone.

Favourite film?

Star Wars Episode 1V A New Hope.

Choice of night out?

Attending or playing a gig.

Choice of dress code?

Anything dark blue (or black).

Choice of holiday?

USA national parks.

What sound or noise do you love?

Fender Telecaster.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Author or Musician.

Favourite brand?

Liverpool FC (I don't support them but I do act for them and they have terrific brand values, looking after local fans, former players and employees, with occasional tickets for advisers).