Together with

Table of Contents

• EDITOR’S RAMBLE 🗣

• FEATURED REPORT 📰

• TOGETHER WITH CLIFFORD CHANCE* 🤝

• IN OTHER NEWS 🗞

• AROUND THE WEB 🌐

• STUFF THAT MIGHT HELP YOU 👌

EDITOR’S RAMBLE 🗣

Lawyers are meant to be very. serious. professionals.

So why did a Kirkland & Ellis partner get a piercing in court (wearing a paper crown)?

Well, Josh Sussberg was working on the bankruptcy process for Claire's (the jewellery and accessories store).

And he made a promise: “If we land a buyer for this company, I’ll get my ear pierced… in court.”

So, when private equity firm Ames Watson swooped in to buy the struggling retailer, he followed through — right there in front of a bankruptcy judge.

There was even a Claire’s employee flown in with piercing gear (yes, seriously).

I thought this was pretty funny.

But maybe don't use this story in your “Why Kirkland?” application answer.

– Idin

FEATURED REPORT 📰

🌀 Why China’s filing UK trade marks (fast)

What’s going on here?

The UK trade mark system is being flooded with new trade mark applications, mostly linked to Chinese companies.

The data shows filings have jumped 20% in just two years.

What is a trade mark?

A trade mark is a sign that helps people tell one company’s products or services apart from another’s. It can be a word or a logo — like the Nike swoosh or the Coca-Cola font.

Registering a trade mark gives the owner exclusive rights to use it for certain goods or services. It lets them take legal action against others who use marks that are too similar.

In the UK, trade marks are handled by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). This is the government body that manages patents and trade marks.

Businesses apply to the IPO for protection, and the office keeps a public database of these rights that anyone can search (you can have a go searching it).

Why has there been a surge in trade mark numbers?

Trade mark filings in the UK have climbed sharply since 2016 (they spiked around 2020, but still remain high).

The IPO points to three main reasons for this:

1. 🇨🇳 A wave of applications from China: Chinese businesses have rapidly expanded their filings, now making up over 20% of all UK trade mark applications.

2. 🇪🇺 The UK’s exit from the EU: Since Brexit, companies that once registered EU-wide marks had to file separately in the UK.

3. 🦠 The COVID-19 pandemic: The boom in online businesses and new brands during lockdowns led to a spike in trade mark activity.

Of these three reasons, applications from China are the main reason the UK trade mark system is under some strain.

In 2024, Chinese businesses made 29,832 applications — over 20% of the total. That is more than all other non-UK countries combined.

By contrast, US businesses filed just 8,239 applications, and most other countries were in the hundreds.

Why are there so many trade mark applications from China?

Surprisingly, the answer lies in the United States.

In April 2025, President Trump announced new tariffs on Chinese imports to the US. He imposed a 34% tariff and also scrapped a rule that had allowed small packages under $800 to enter without tax.

Essentially, these changes made it more expensive for Chinese companies to sell in America. Their goods became less competitive there, so Chinese companies started shifting focus to other markets — like the UK. As part of this shift, many began filing trade marks here to protect their brands.

But not all of these filings seem tied to real business. Catherine Wolfe, a partner at Boult Wade Tennant (an IP law firm), says the scale of applications “implies a disconnect between the filing practice and the trading practice.” In other words, some marks are being filed that probably don’t have any legitimate business purposes.

This is easy to do because the UK IPO doesn’t require applicants to prove they are using a trade mark, or even plan to use it.

Why would companies want trade marks they’re not using?

There are a few reasons why a company might file trade marks it doesn’t plan to use:

• ❌ Blocking rivals: Owning the trade mark stops competitors from registering something similar.

• 💷 Making money later: You can stockpile trade marks to be sold or licensed to other businesses that want to use similar names or images in the future.

• 💪 Looking stronger to investors: A large portfolio of trade marks can make a company appear bigger, more innovative, and more secure (even if many of the marks are never used).

Why is this a problem?

China has faced this issue before itself. In fact, in 2019 it changed its trade mark laws to make “bad faith registrations” harder. But as Chinese companies expand abroad, the same practice is now reaching the UK.

Right now, the UK IPO normally takes three months to approve a trade mark. But when thousands of extra applications come in, waiting times grow longer.

It gets worse if there’s a dispute. If another company challenges a registration, the IPO can take up to 18 months to decide. That means businesses facing challenges from these bulk filings may be stuck in limbo for a long time before they can secure their own trade marks.

The knock-on effect of this is that the UK becomes a harder place to do business. If trade mark protection takes too long or feels unreliable, companies will struggle to operate with confidence — or may even choose to set up elsewhere.

How can you use this in your applications?

By discussing this story, you can show you understand how global politics can trickle down into local legal systems.

• US raises tariffs on Chinese goods

• → Chinese exports become more expensive

• → Products lose competitiveness in the American market

• → Chinese companies look to other markets (like the UK)

• → Surge in UK trade mark filings

• → UK IPO resources stretched

• → Longer wait times and more disputes over suspicious applications

But beyond that, you’ll want to show you can spot the impact on law firms and businesses.

💼 For businesses:

🏢 For law firms:

TOGETHER WITH CLIFFORD CHANCE* 🤝

How can you land a role at Clifford Chance?

Here’s your chance to find out.

On 12 November, Clifford Chance is opening the doors of its Canary Wharf office for a free Insight Day.

You’ll spend the day:

• Getting the inside scoop on the firm’s application process

• Meeting trainees and lawyers at different stages of their careers

• Trying out workshops that show what working on high-profile deals is like

• Exploring the networks, culture, and opportunities that make Clifford Chance stand out

If you’re serious about applying for SPARK or a training contract, this kind of experience could set you apart.

🗓 Deadline: 29 October 2025
📍 London, Canary Wharf
💸 Free to attend

Note: You’ll need to fill in an application form and sit the Watson Glaser test — so, give yourself enough time to apply before the deadline.

* This is sponsored content

IN OTHER NEWS 🗞

• ⚖️ A new “Hillsborough Law” will stop public bodies from outspending victims’ families in public inquiries. The change comes after cases like the Post Office Horizon scandal, where public bodies spent millions on top lawyers while victims struggled with little or no legal support. The bill will stop public authorities from hiring huge legal teams unless it’s truly necessary and proportionate.

• 🤖 Simmons & Simmons is launching the UK’s first AI law internship in April 2026. Eight students will join the firm’s London AI team for two weeks, working on projects around AI law, governance, and tech transformation. The firm says this is the only programme of its kind and aims to attract top legal tech talent before rivals. Applications open on 15 October for law and STEM students in their final years or postgraduates.

• 🇵🇹 Bird & Bird has opened a new office in Lisbon. The office will be led by IP lawyer Ana Rita Paínho and corporate partner Sofia Carreiro. The move comes just months after Fieldfisher’s Lisbon launch and reflects growing demand in Portugal’s tech and innovation sector. Together with its Madrid base, Bird & Bird now has 22 offices across Europe.

AROUND THE WEB 🌐

• 🎹 Fun: Play a tune with this keyboard on your keyboard

• 💍 Oops: A couple finds out that their wedding crasher was just a guy at the wrong wedding

• 📖 Interesting: A collection of words that don’t translate (like Insouciant, Zeitgeist or Mana)

STUFF THAT MIGHT HELP YOU 👌

• 📹️ Free application help: If you're applying to commercial law firms, check out my YouTube channel for actionable tips and an insight into the lifestyle of a commercial lawyer in London.