Tackling lookalikes in the UK – the new landscape
5 August 2025
Roland is the head of our Brands practice in the UK and co-heads the international trade mark group. For over 30 years, he's advised major international brand and technology owners on their IP rights.
Clients describe Roland as a tactically smart, solutions-focused, and commercially-minded. He's responsible for protecting the name, logos, shapes, colours and packaging for numerous household name brands in a wide range of sectors. These include food and beverage, FMCG, fashion, luxury goods, tech, financial services, auto industry and travel.
Roland advises on the full range of contentious and non-contentious "soft" IP matters, including: trade mark, designs and copyright disputes and litigation, lookalikes, anti-counterfeiting, domain name and content infringements, trade mark clearance, prosecution, oppositions and strategic portfolio advice, comparative advertising, and all types of commercial transactions involving these rights.
He's led first instance and appeal cases in the English courts, the UKIPO, the EUIPO and CJEU and taken part in a number of successful mediations, and regularly coordinates crossborder IP litigation in the EU.
Outside of private practice, Roland sits on the Executive Board of MARQUES (the European brand owners' association), the Parallel Import Committee of INTA, the Law Society's IP Law Committee, the UKIPO's Marks & Designs Forum and the EUIPO's SQAP judicial quality audit panel. He is a facilitator on the Oxford University IP diploma course.
Roland comments on IP related matters of national interest with media outlets including the BBC.
Roland's news & insights
Brands & advertising
Click here to find out more
Why lookalike cases in the UK are not a lost cause despite Thatcher's Cider v Aldi
27 March 2024
Brands & advertising
Click here to find out more
New EU law could limit distinctive packaging
Louise Popple, Elena Glengarry and Roland Mallinson look at the potential impact of the EU's proposed packaging legislation on 3D shape trade mark rights.
1 February 2024
In-depth analysis
