Leading independent law firm Brabners has appointed a new partner in its commercial law practice in Leeds to support growing demand for its intellectual property (IP) specialism in Yorkshire.
Sara Ludlam brings 25 years’ experience to the firm, having worked with leading brands including Lacoste, Berghaus, Kickers and Sports Direct. She advises on all areas of IP including trade mark, patent and design right registrations and litigation, as well as a full range of commercial agreements and GDPR compliance.
Sara joins Brabners’ 85-strong partnership from 3volution in Leeds. Prior to that, she ran her own independent specialist practice, having trained at boutique IP firm Llewelyn Zietman in London.
Her arrival marks the ninth partner appointment at Brabners’ Leeds office since its launch in May last year, and the firm expects to continue to expand its team in Yorkshire throughout 2023.
Brabners was the first law firm outside London to achieve B Corp certification, employing 470 colleagues across its four offices in Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Lancashire.
Sara Ludlam said: “Brabners has an excellent reputation in the profession as a top employer with a major commercial practice. Joining the firm is an exciting opportunity for me to help enhance its existing services in IP law by further strengthening the team.
The fact that Brabners also has B Corp certification perfectly aligns with the needs of businesses looking to enhance their proposition via ESG programmes, which may also require legal advice on trade marks for brands, slogans or logos.”
Nik White, managing partner at Brabners, said: “There’s great strategic value in further strengthening our commercial and IP services, with specialist support frequently needed by the hundreds of businesses we represent across the UK.
Sara’s unrivalled expertise and entrepreneurialism will add to our niche expertise, while enabling us to start new conversations with clients on how we can help protect their intellectual assets.”
Brabners featured on the UK’s Best Companies to Work For in 2022. The firm launched its new Leeds office at 1 City Square in May 2022 and has since grown a 30-strong team in the city.
