Arthur Artinian is a partner in the firm's London office and a member of the global IP Procurement, IP Litigation, and Technology Transactions practice groups.
Arthur is an internationally recognised intellectual property lawyer, and advises on complex cross-border intellectual property counselling, prosecution, litigation, enforcement, and transactional matters. He has been fortunate to work with many iconic brands on their strategic projects across multiple jurisdictions. Clients rely on his experience in contentious and non-contentious trade mark, copyright, design, e-commerce, advertising, licensing, commercial, distribution, and data privacy matters, and his team manage a number of significant IP portfolios.
Arthur works with clients on global brand and design protection, clearance, enforcement and anti-counterfeiting strategies; product launches, marketing initiatives and promotions; sponsorship, franchising, distribution and licensing projects; and internet, new media, data privacy and consumer law matters. He is qualified in the UK, Ireland, Belgium, and Australia, and has worked in multiple jurisdictions in Europe, Asia Pacific and the U.S. Arthur has acted for a diverse range of international clients in the consumer electronics, retail, food and beverage, fashion, luxury goods, media, technology, publishing, financial services, energy, sports, travel, and hotels and leisure sectors.
Arthur has worked closely with the creative industries throughout his career. He advises a number of iconic fashion houses, design, publishing, art and architecture firms, including houses of a leading global luxury group, on worldwide IP strategy, brand and design enforcement, licensing, marketing, and collaboration projects. His clients include leading names from the UK, Italy, France, Spain, the U.S., Asia, and Australia.
Arthur represents a range of clients in contentious IP matters in the UK, Europe, and internationally. His experience includes a combination of domestic, regional, and global litigation, enforcement and arbitration matters, and he is often called upon to lead representation in cross-border and multi-jurisdictional disputes. Arthur has acted as lead and co-counsel in trade mark, design, copyright, patent, passing off and unfair competition proceedings before the UKIPO and EUIPO, the UK High Court, the UK Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, the EU General Court, the Court of Justice of the European Union, and in proceedings involving courts, administrative bodies, and IP offices in Continental Europe, the U.S., Middle East, South America, China, Japan, and Australia.
Arthur has particular experience in the field of international sponsorship and has acted for sponsors, stakeholders, and major event organisers. He advised the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the International Olympic Committee on the IP, sponsorship, advertising, and consumer law aspects of the London 2012 Games. He is acknowledged for his experience in major event-related IP and marketing issues including with respect to the Olympic Games and World Cup, and advises on a range of sponsorship, marketing, and rights deals involving valuable marketing properties.
Arthur is recognised as a leading lawyer in numerous publications and awards, including Chambers, The Legal 500, World Trade Mark Review, World IP Review Leaders, Who's Who Legal, and Client Choice. He is an active member of the International Trade Mark Association, Marques, AIPPI, and other international IP organisations. He is a member of the Marques Council and sits on the Marques Brands and Marketing Committee. He is an active member of the International Trademark Association (INTA) and sits on the INTA Designs Committee. He has served for many years on the Council of AIPPI UK and is a member of the AIPPI Designs Committee. Arthur has also served on the editorial and advisory boards of Intellectual Property Magazine and The Trademark Lawyer.
Chambers UK 2022 says: “Arthur Artinian is the gold standard of lawyers in the fashion, architecture and creative business worlds. He is well regarded in the luxury brands space.”
The Legal 500 2022 says: “Arthur Artinian is a one of the few who straddle being technically excellent, best in class, client focused and a true delight to work with in all circumstances. He is a star.”
The Legal 500 2020 says: “The 'pragmatic, creative and business-oriented' intellectual property practice at K&L Gates LLP is strong across a range of brand management, copyright, design and trade mark matters and is regularly instructed by a range of high-profile clients. 'Outstanding lawyer' Arthur Artinian heads up the practice and has particular expertise in the fashion, luxury goods, design, architecture, consumer electronics, food and beverage industries. 'Arthur Artinian and his team are outstanding lawyers, all with high levels of expertise and outstanding case management skills.' 'K&L Gates are definitely one of the top 'go-to' firms for IP expertise'.
The Legal 500 2019 says: “K&L Gates is regularly called on to advise on cross-border IP and brand management matters; the ‘outstanding’ team is ‘extremely pragmatic, swift and have great sense for what a deal needs’. The practice is particularly known for advising international clients in the fashion, design and technology sectors. Arthur Artinian ‘understands problems swiftly and thoroughly, reacts and acts expeditiously and on point’.
The Legal 500 2017 says: “K&L Gates is singled out for its ‘well-reasoned and comprehensive advice’. The team is particularly strong in handling cross-border brand and technology transactions, trade mark protection and enforcement. Practice head Arthur Artinian (‘a top-quality adviser with great business awareness’) advised Belkin International on global IP management and enforcement actions covering a portfolio of more than 2000 trade marks and designs, and represented TripAdvisor in a dispute relating to its logo together with a number of trade mark infringement and opposition actions. He also acts for a number of fashion and luxury goods clients on design infringement and anti-counterfeiting issues.”
The Legal 500 2016 says “The ‘supremely responsive and helpful’ Arthur Artinian heads the ‘excellent’ IP department at K&L Gates LLP and advised General Mills on the $765m sale of its Green Giant brand. Artinian also assists Belkin International with the management of its global portfolio of over 2,000 brands and designs.”
Arthur is recognised by World Trademark Review (WTMR), The World's Leading Trademark Professionals as a recommended expert. He is highly recommended in the IP transactions category and holds a Gold ranking for prosecution and strategy.
The WTMR 1000 Guide 2022 says: “Arthur is unrivalled in his aptitude representing clients in the fashion and design industries. He combines expert technical skills with a thorough understanding of how the industries work. The quality of his advice is second to none.”
The WTMR 1000 Guide 2020 says: Arthur Artinian of K&L Gates is “a well-rounded IP lawyer with vast contentious and non-contentious experience, gained all over the world”. “People rave about his efficient and clear advice.” For technology-rich and architectural matters of all hues, there are few more globally minded or better connected.
The WTMR 1000 Guide 2019 says: “Arthur Artinian is a rising star of the international IP community. He understands the business of brands, is well versed in technology and social media issues, bills in a fair and equitable way and has outstanding international experience. “You cannot find fault in his work – he delivers flawless results at all times and in accordance with clients’ fast-paced requirements.” Using K&L Gates’s London office as a base, he designs and implements global solutions to brand-related problems of all stripes.”
The WTMR 1000 Guide 2018 says: “Arthur Artinian is quick, sharp and gives excellent commercial advice without digressing into extensive theoretical explanations. His service is impeccable – he is always one step ahead of the game and is incredibly efficient.” He impressively leverages the global platform of K&L Gates to guide clients such as Belkin International, TripAdvisor and Tateossian on the worldwide protection and management of their IP rights. If a client gets caught up in an infringement tussle, he has the enforcement expertise to take care of the situation.”
Arthur has been listed as a leading practitioner in World IP Review Leaders Guide since 2015. World IP Review Leaders 2018 says: “Arthur provides a truly global, pragmatic and commercial approach to his practice. He boasts terrific practical experience.”
In 2021, Arthur was awarded Law Firm Partner of the Year at the Luxury Law Awards. According to the judging panel, “Arthur has built a reputation in luxury and fashion law which is second to none. With a client list spanning iconic fashion houses, design, art, architecture and consumer brands, he has embedded himself in his clients’ businesses and is seen as a business advisor who operates front and centre of their global strategic decisions.”
Prior to joining the firm in 2015, Arthur was a senior associate in the London office of an international law firm and an associate in the Sydney office of a leading Australian law firm. In 2008, he was seconded to a leading airline, where he supported the IP and marketing teams on a range of projects, including the re-launch of the airline's loyalty programme. Prior to qualifying as a lawyer, Arthur gained valuable experience in marketing, communications and public relations roles in retail and consumer goods companies in Australia, Japan and the U.S., and as part of his university studies, completed an internship at the United Nations in New York.
- Recognised by Chambers Global for Intellectual Property in the UK, 2024
- Recognised by Chambers UK guide for Intellectual Property in London, 2024
- Listed in the World's Leading Trademark Professionals by World Trademark Review 1000, 2024
- Recognised by The Legal 500 United Kingdom edition as a Recommended Lawyer for Commercial contracts; Retail and consumer; and Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design in London, 2024
- International Trade Mark Association
- AIPPI
- Marques
- British Artistic and Literary Copyright Association
- Anti-Counterfeiting Group
Arthur regularly presents at events and conferences on IP, advertising and consumer law and delivers client training in these areas.
Arthur has published on a range of IP and advertising and marketing issues, including in World Trade Mark Law Report, Intellectual Property Magazine and Managing IP. He has also published in a range of marketing and sports industry publications and is a regular contributor to the highly regarded K&L Gates IP Blog. Notable publications include:
- "International Trademark Licensing," Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory, 12 August 2021
- "The Business and Law of Fashion and Retail," International Issues, Carolina Academic Press, August 2020
- “EUROPEAN UNION: Brompton Bicycle—Rolling Toward Copyright Protection,” International Trademark Association, 22 July 2020
- “Court Confirms Additional Tools for Trade Mark Owners to Protect their Brand Where They Operate a Selective Distribution System in the EU,” February 2019
- “Brexit: What are the Consequences for Us?,” Ragtrader, 5 September 2016
- “Brexit Blowout,” Ragtrader, September 2016
- “Reach for the Crisis Plan,” Strategic Risk, June 2015
- “The Year of Living Dangerously,” Strategic Risk, June 2015
- “Groundless threats of IP infringement: UK v Australia,” IP Magazine, April 2015
- “Dodging the ambush: a year of major events ahead,” IP Magazine, January 2014
- “Fashion Law: A Guide for Designers, Fashion Executives and Attorneys,” Bloomsbury, 2014 (2nd Edition)
- “ICO guidance for businesses involved in direct marketing,” E-commerce Law and Policy, October 2013
- “Advertising and promotions on Facebook: changes for business,” Managing IP, September 2013
- “Get your head in the Games,” IP Magazine, June 2012
- “Copyright: Is a working committee on fair use better than the permitted uses and exceptions to copyright protection under UK law?”, AIPPI, May 2012
- “The Legal challenges behind the tablet revolution,” E-commerce Law and Policy, March 2011
- Quoted, “What Does a Case Over the Protectability of a Bike Design Have to Do With Fashion?” The Fashion Law, 17 June 2020
- Quoted, “EU chides China and others for IP breaches — again,” Financial Times, 18 June 2020
- Quoted, "Meme-theft: how legal should engage with social media marketing to handle repost crises," World Trademark Review, 12 December 2019