Trade Marks

Your brand isn’t just a logo or a name — it’s the foundation of your reputation, your customer loyalty, and your commercial value. Whether you’re building a new venture or expanding into new markets, protecting your brand is essential to securing long-term business success.

That’s where a smart trade mark strategy makes the difference. At Stratagem, we help you safeguard your identity with expert trade mark protection services — from registering your first mark to managing complex, international portfolios. Our approach ensures your trade marks are distinctive, enforceable, and aligned with your business goals from the outset.

For start-ups, a registered trade mark builds trust, supports funding conversations, and stops competitors from capitalising on your name. For SMEs, it provides a structured, scalable foundation for growth. And for larger corporates, a strong trade mark portfolio enhances global recognition, supports licensing deals, and reinforces market leadership.

A trade mark is a legally protected sign — such as a name, logo, slogan, colour, or even a sound — that distinguishes your goods or services from those of other businesses. It acts as a badge of origin, helping customers recognise and trust your brand in the marketplace.

In the UK, “trade mark” is written as two words, while in the US it appears as “trademark.” Both forms are correct and refer to the same concept. Once your trade mark is registered, you can use the ® symbol to show legal protection in the countries where it’s registered. Even without registration, you can use the ™ symbol (e.g. Stratagem™) to indicate that a mark is being claimed, although this does not offer legal exclusivity.

Registering your trade mark gives you exclusive rights to use it in connection with specific products or services — helping prevent copycats, build brand recognition, and secure commercial value as your business grows.

A trade mark is more than just a name or logo — it’s your brand’s identity and reputation. It’s what customers remember, recommend, and return to. Registering a trade mark protects that identity by giving you exclusive rights to use it in that country in connection with your products or services.

Without a registered trade mark, your brand is vulnerable to imitation or misuse by competitors. A registered trade mark gives you the legal power to stop others from using a confusingly similar brand — helping you safeguard your reputation, stand out in the market, and build long-term brand value.

Whether you’re filing for the first time or managing an established portfolio, our support is shaped around you. First-time filers benefit from step-by-step guidance, helping you handle every stage with confidence. For more experienced clients, we offer strategic insight on scaling and optimising your trade mark portfolio — ensuring your protection evolves in step with your brand’s growth.

From your first conversation with us, you can expect clear communication, practical advice, and fast turnaround. We aim to provide cost estimates and strategic recommendations within 24 hours of your initial consultation, helping you make informed decisions without delay. Once you request a trade mark search, we typically deliver results within 2-3 working days — powered by our AI-enhanced global search tools that offer deep insight into the trade mark landscape. If you choose to proceed, we prepare and file your application within 2-3 working days, assuming there are no major concerns. Throughout the process, we combine legal expertise with commercial awareness to deliver protection that’s fast, effective, and built around your business goals.

Whether you’re preparing for investment, licensing a brand, or acquiring a company, thorough IP due diligence is essential to ensure your trade marks are valid, enforceable, and commercially viable. Investors and acquirers need confidence that the intellectual property they’re backing is properly protected — and won’t pose risks down the line.

At Stratagem, we support clients on both sides of the table. For investors and acquirers, we conduct independent due diligence to assess the strength, scope, and status of trade marks and related IP. For companies preparing for scrutiny, we help you get ready by reviewing portfolios, resolving gaps, and identifying potential red flags before they raise concern.

Our due diligence process covers all the critical aspects — from checking registration status and renewal history, to confirming territorial coverage, class scope, legal validity, and ownership. We assess whether the IP will truly prevent competition, whether it stands up to legal challenge, and whether there are risks to future expansion, such as conflicting rights in key markets or potential freedom-to-operate issues.

Supporting your deal with expert IP insight

We also look beyond registered rights. Unregistered trade marks, designs, copyright can carry significant value — and risks — so we include them in our analysis. Our team works across a wide range of technical and commercial sectors and can assemble multidisciplinary experts quickly to meet tight deadlines.

Depending on your needs, we can provide registration copies, host secure data rooms, and work alongside legal teams to simplify the process. And if the deal proceeds, our IP legal services are on hand to support negotiations and draft robust agreements that reflect the value of your intellectual property.

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