Hill Dickinson Bolsters Manchester Commercial Team with Intellectual Property Partner Sarah Simpson

Hill Dickinson has strengthened its Manchester office by appointing Sarah Simpson as a partner in its Commercial team, focusing on intellectual property (IP). Simpson brings a wealth of experience advising clients on the protection, exploitation, and enforcement of IP rights, with a particular emphasis on brand protection and managing complex international trademark portfolios.

Her expertise covers the full lifecycle of IP rights, including advising on multi-million-pound acquisition and image rights transactions. Simpson regularly handles opposition, cancellation, infringement, and anti-counterfeiting matters. Additionally, she supports clients with a broad range of commercial agreements such as licensing, sponsorship, influencer, co-existence, and settlement agreements.

Beyond intellectual property, Simpson’s practice extends to data protection, privacy, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance. She serves clients across diverse sectors including fashion, luxury, retail, entertainment, sport, technology, and consumer goods. Her client base ranges from early-stage businesses to established international brands.

Simpson’s appointment aligns with Hill Dickinson’s ongoing investment in its Manchester office, following the firm’s recent relocation to the city’s landmark St Michael’s development. Manchester serves as a key strategic hub for the firm, experiencing strong demand from a growing number of innovative and high-growth businesses seeking specialist commercial and IP advice.

Commenting on her move, Sarah Simpson said, “Hill Dickinson’s culture and commercial ambition were a real draw for me. Along with wider investment across the firm, the move to St Michael’s signals a firm that is committed to growth and providing an exceptional environment for both clients and people. Manchester has an incredibly dynamic and innovative business community, and I’m excited to be joining a firm with such a strong platform and culture to help clients protect and maximise the value of their intellectual property as they grow and scale.”

James Lonsdale, Head of Commercial at Hill Dickinson, welcomed Simpson’s addition, stating, “Sarah is a fantastic addition to our team in Manchester and nationally. She brings a wealth of experience across a broad range of intellectual property matters, alongside a strong commercial mindset that aligns perfectly with how we support our clients. Her appointment further strengthens our IP capability at a time of increasing demand and reflects our ambitions for continued growth in the region following our move to St Michael’s.”

Fiona Parry, Head of the Business Services Group at Hill Dickinson, also highlighted the significance of the appointment: “Sarah’s appointment is another important step in the continued growth of our Business Services Group. Her expertise enhances our national IP offering and supports our focus on building strength in key markets such as Manchester, where we are seeing significant opportunities driven by the region’s strengths in innovative industries. As we continue to expand, bringing in high-calibre talent like Sarah ensures we are well positioned to support our clients’ evolving needs.”

This strategic hire underscores Hill Dickinson’s commitment to expanding its intellectual property practice and commercial services in Manchester, catering to a vibrant business ecosystem that demands sophisticated IP and commercial legal support.