Intellectual Property

Anti-counterfeiting

Expert anti-counterfeiting legal advice and support. 

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Specialist anti-counterfeiting lawyers

When counterfeit goods enter the market, they can significantly damage a brand’s reputation and revenue, in addition to harming  the customers themselves. To tackle these intellectual property rights infringements successfully and promptly, a carefully devised anti-counterfeiting strategy is required to target areas which are likely to make the biggest impact.

The earlier in the process rogue manufacturers and traders are identified, the more success there will be in preventing the sale of counterfeit goods in the UK. Our anti-counterfeiting solicitors specialise in enforcing intellectual property rights through legal and regulatory mechanisms.

Our services

Our specialist anti-counterfeiting solicitors provide support in:

  • Developing and implementing effective anti-counterfeiting measures to tackle the importation and sale of counterfeit goods in the UK and overseas.
  • Conducting investigations into counterfeit goods and gathering evidence for enforcement actions.
  • Filing take-down notices with Amazon, eBay, and other online trading platforms both manually and electronically.
  • Preparing and filing customs notices (known as Applications for Action) to register a brand owner’s intellectual property rights with customs authorities in the UK, empowering customs to detain and seize counterfeit goods.
  • Issuing court proceedings against counterfeiters to obtain search and seizure orders and interim injunctions.
  • Conducting criminal proceedings and civil litigation in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court and High Court.
  • Liaising with Trading Standards officers throughout the UK to identify and seize counterfeit goods.
  • Drafting s.9 witness statements to support prosecutions brought by Trading Standards.
  • Training Trading Standards and customs authorities on how to identify counterfeit products.
  • Liaising with enforcement bodies such as the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit and the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency.
  • Obtaining court orders requiring ISPs to block access to websites selling counterfeit goods.
  • Conducting private criminal proceedings against counterfeiters.
  • Recovering proceeds of crime linked to counterfeiting activities.

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Why choose Foot Anstey?

It is essential to take a comprehensive approach to anti-counterfeiting actions and use all available tools to combat counterfeit goods effectively. This includes collaborating with the police and Trading Standards to seize illicit products, working with customs authorities to prevent counterfeit imports, issuing cease and desist letters, taking civil enforcement actions, and using software solutions to remove infringing listings from online marketplaces and social media platforms.

We provide a global solution through our network of associate law firms, who possess significant expertise in handling anti-counterfeiting measures worldwide. In addition, we partner with technology firms to enhance enforcement strategies. When tackling counterfeit goods, you can rely on our high-quality legal services, delivered by anti-counterfeiting solicitors with extensive experience in handling intellectual property rights enforcement. Our IP team provides clear, strategic advice to help clients mitigate risk and protect their brands efficiently.

In situations where intellectual property rights are challenged or legal action is required, our anti-counterfeiting solicitors are highly experienced in handling complex disputes. We confidently advise on private prosecutions, civil actions, and whether to involve customs authorities and Trading Standards, ensuring the best strategic approach for each business.

Our people

Our anti-counterfeiting specialists will understand your commercial objectives and provide cost-effective legal advice to help you enforce intellectual property rights and implement anti-counterfeiting measures efficiently. We aim to minimise exposure to litigation by addressing counterfeiting issues in the most effective and strategic way possible.

Our team consists of creative problem-solvers who provide flexible solutions tailored to clients’ needs. This may include in-house legal support for brand protection functions or outsourced legal services for senior management. With extensive experience beyond the UK, we also collaborate with partner law firms in the US, Europe, Australia, and South Africa.

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What do our clients say?

“Foot Anstey is an exceptional firm. The team is proficient, effective, responsive, technically competent, adaptable with high problem solving and communication skills. Foot Anstey has superior capabilities to manage cross border IP matters for large transnational clients.”

Legal 500 2025

“(Foot Anstey) are excellent at running cases efficiently and effectively. They always respond quickly to our instructions.”

Legal 500 2025

“We sometimes deal with complex IP matters and Foot Anstey’s team always delivers for us. They have a strong team which brings a range of skills to the table.”

Chambers UK 2025

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