Marks & Clerk to open in France

Patent and trade mark attorney firm Marks & Clerk has joined up with the IP arm of electronics group Thales to launch its first office in France.

The new venture is 60 per cent owned by the management team of Thales’ IP department, with Marks & Clerk owning the remaining 40 per cent. The office will be known as Marks & Clerk France.

The 30-strong Thales team of patent and trade mark attorneys were previously reponsible for the protection of the company’s IP rights. Marks & Clerk France will continue to work for Thales in addition to other clients.

This latest expansion follows 2004’s launch of Marks & Clerk Solicitors in London.

Marks & Clerk chair Chris Gibson said France was a key IP market which would benefit the firm’s clients.