Gary Johnston

Partner

UK Trade Mark and Design Attorney

LLB, CTMA

Gary co-heads Mathys & Squire’s trade mark team. He has over 25 years’ experience as a trade mark attorney advising clients in relation to the adoption, protection and exploitation of brand names and designs both here in the UK and globally. Prior to joining Mathys & Squire, he spent 18 years at a well-known Manchester based firm of trade mark attorneys, where he was also MD for 11 years. Gary is consistently ranked in WTR 1000, a directory of the world’s leading trade mark professionals, in which he is described as being “an experienced, commercial and pragmatic lawyer who is highly knowledgeable about IP.”  Gary is also ranked as a ‘Trade Mark Star’ in the latest edition of  Managing IP’s IP STARS  directory.

Expertise

Academic

Memberships & organisations

Awards

“Gary Johnston has enormous experience and sound common sense.”

The Legal 500 (2024)

“Gary is an experienced, commercial and pragmatic lawyer who is highly knowledgeable about IP.”

WTR 1000 (2023)

Johnston is a “good strategist and clear thinker who keeps his eye trained on commercial realities.”

“He’s hugely knowledgeable, proactive and great fun to work with.”

“Prosecution and anti-counterfeiting sage Johnston has a global sphere of influence.”

WTR 1000 (2021)

Gary Johnston “sees the big picture and is able to plan and execute sensibly and reliably.”

WTR 1000 (2020)

“Mathys & Squire’s trademark portal allows us to review and manage all of our trade marks, across all of our territories. For a company like ours, with a large number of trade marks, having a tool like that is really important.”

UP Global Sourcing

“I have worked with the trade mark team at Mathys & Squire since I became Head of Legal at UKFast. The team are pragmatic and knowledgeable, and partner, Gary Johnston is absolutely excellent. The team always show great understanding of our organisation and our commercial aims, and we work closely with them to protect our trade marks and brand.”

UKFast

“Mathys & Squire took over the maintenance of our UK and international trade mark portfolio in 2008. Gary Johnston is our primary contact and has become invaluable. Not only is he very knowledgeable, quick to respond, and gives good reliable advice, but he always appreciates things from the client’s point of view.”

Interfloor

 

“The ‘excellent’ Mathys & Squire LLP works predominantly on brand protection and portfolio management with clients that include British Gas and Public Health England. Gary co-heads the team and recently advised De’Longhi on the trade mark strategy for its Kenwood trade mark portfolio.”

The Legal 500