Tom Collins

Managing Associate
Tom helps clients to maximise the value of IP assets and navigate complex disputes.
Tom helps clients to maximise the value of IP assets and navigate complex disputes.

About

Tom is the Co-head of Sport. He is a responsive and pragmatic lawyer, specialising in infringement and ownership disputes, licensing and acquisitions, and IP protection and exploitation strategies.

Since joining Stevens & Bolton in 2013 as a trainee, Tom has worked with global brands, start-ups and high-profile personalities to help these clients protect, exploit and enforce their IP rights. His practice is primarily focused on the sport, media & entertainment and life sciences industries.

Tom is approachable and collaborative, helping clients to understand complex legal issues, create value from their IP, and solve problems in a commercially focused manner.

Tom co-heads the firm’s sport practice, advising high-profile sports clubs, professional athletes and other stakeholders operating in this sector.

Expertise
Intellectual property Media and entertainment Sport Life sciences

Experience

  • Recent work
    • Advising three England international cricketers on the protection and exploitation of image rights.
    • Acting for an award-winning production company on a copyright dispute and related settlement negotiations to launch a video game based on an animated TV franchise.
    • Supporting a fast-growing e-commerce and TV shopping business on a wide range of IP issues, including TV presenter agreements, trade mark disputes, and infringement claims against copycat businesses.
    • Advising an award-winning football fanzine, podcast and merchandise business on the protection and exploitation of its key brands and designs.
    • Acting for scriptwriters and executive producers on the acquisition of audio-visual rights to make and produce a TV series/film based on a well-known series of adventure game books.
    • Supporting a former Formula One champion and a world-renowned luxury hotel group on negotiating book publication agreements.
  • Qualifications and recognition

    Tom has consistently been listed as a “Rising Star” in IP Stars (Managing IP), as well as a “Leading Associate” for both Sport and Intellectual Property work in the Legal 500. He is also recognised as a “Key Lawyer” for Media and Entertainment.

    Tom has completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law at the University of Oxford.

  • Advising three England international cricketers on the protection and exploitation of image rights.
  • Acting for an award-winning production company on a copyright dispute and related settlement negotiations to launch a video game based on an animated TV franchise.
  • Supporting a fast-growing e-commerce and TV shopping business on a wide range of IP issues, including TV presenter agreements, trade mark disputes, and infringement claims against copycat businesses.
  • Advising an award-winning football fanzine, podcast and merchandise business on the protection and exploitation of its key brands and designs.
  • Acting for scriptwriters and executive producers on the acquisition of audio-visual rights to make and produce a TV series/film based on a well-known series of adventure game books.
  • Supporting a former Formula One champion and a world-renowned luxury hotel group on negotiating book publication agreements.

Tom has consistently been listed as a “Rising Star” in IP Stars (Managing IP), as well as a “Leading Associate” for both Sport and Intellectual Property work in the Legal 500. He is also recognised as a “Key Lawyer” for Media and Entertainment.

Tom has completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law at the University of Oxford.

Our main point of contact was Tom Collins. Tom always made himself available when we needed him. He was a reassuring, expert voice and we had complete confidence that he was working in our best interests. He helped navigate us through some tricky negotiations and we always felt we were aligned in what we wanted to achieve.
THE LEGAL 500