Patent and Trademark Firm Expands to Bristol, Eyeing South West Growth
Intellectual property specialist Hindles has officially opened a new office in Bristol, marking a strategic move to tap into what it describes as the "significant opportunities" present in the South West of England. The firm, which already maintains offices in Edinburgh and Liverpool, views the region as an "absolute powerhouse of innovation."
Positioning at the Heart of Deep-Tech Ecosystem
The Bristol base will be led by Chris Cottingham, a director and UK and European patent attorney at Hindles. He emphasised that this expansion places the firm "at the heart of the UK’s premier deep-tech ecosystem outside the Golden Triangle of Cambridge, Oxford and London."
"Bristol and the wider South West region are an absolute powerhouse of innovation, fuelled by world-class universities and R&D, startups, and globally renowned companies across a series of strategically important sectors," stated Mr Cottingham. "It’s a perfect home for our third UK office."
He specifically highlighted the city and region's rapidly growing credentials in artificial intelligence, noting "significant opportunities to support some of the most exciting players here."
Surge in Local Patent Filings and Innovation Drivers
Mr Cottingham pointed to the South West's excelling deep-tech innovation, driven by new startup and spinout companies alongside emerging incubators like the recently launched OMX deep-tech lab facility. This activity has led to a notable increase in local patent filings.
"This is leading to a significant increase in local patent filings," he explained. "The number of international patent applications from Bristol-based applicants has doubled in the last decade, compared with only a modest five per cent increase in international patent applications UK-wide."
Firm's Background and Regional Clientele
Founded in 2004, Hindles advises a diverse range of organisations on establishing and protecting their intellectual property. Their clientele includes startups, scale-ups, spinouts, universities, listed companies, and global corporations.
Existing clients based or operating in the South West region include Par-Pak Europe and Holfeld Plastics, who recently divested from US parent company Novolex, as well as the Cornwall-headquartered Topan Group.
Beyond its UK offices, Hindles also maintains a presence in Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East through a network of international associates.
Commitment to High-Quality IP Advice
Alistair Hindle, the firm's founding director and a chartered and European patent and trade mark attorney, added: "Hindles has always been about high quality, commercially-focused IP advice, underpinned by a team of legal experts and sector specialists dedicated to protecting our clients’ core technologies."
"We are already advising firms in Bristol and the surrounding region and it’s great to have Chris in place to guide our next phase of growth across the South West," he concluded.
