Birkett Long expands intellectual property team
Birkett Long’s intellectual property department continues to grow from strength to strength with the qualification of Michael Pokrachynskyi as a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney.
This milestone reinforces the firm’s commitment to offering clients unparalleled expertise in IP law, combining deep technical knowledge in patents and trade marks with the broad experience of a firm that has served clients for over 200 years.
Michael has successfully passed all exams related to the Professional Certificate in Trade Mark Practice, marking the completion of his qualification.
In his role within the IP department, he provides comprehensive support to a wider team on matters concerning both contentious and non-contentious intellectual property issues. His expertise encompasses national and international trade marks, design registrations, and disputes involving copyright, company/domain names, and unregistered rights.
With a background that combines creative and scientific disciplines, Michael’s journey into law was preceded by years of experience in the music sector and a degree in GIS engineering. He views law – particularly intellectual property – as a bridge connecting his past experiences with future aspirations, allowing him to leverage his analytical mindset and creativity in addressing complex tasks and client interactions. This aspect of his role is the most rewarding to him.
Fluent in English, Ukrainian, and Russian, Michael is well-equipped to work with a diverse range of clients across geographical, linguistic, and cultural boundaries. His commercial background further enhances his ability to understand businesses in greater detail, enabling him to balance their legal risks effectively.
From 2021 to 2023, he volunteered with the Anti-Counterfeiting Group, collaborating with government and law enforcement agencies to assist brands in maintaining their brand images and combatting illegal counterfeiting activities in the UK.
Jonathan Perlmutter, partner and head of intellectual property said: “It’s a great personal pleasure for me to have seen Michael through to qualification as a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney. We continue to strengthen and deepen our team in all areas of intellectual property law and practice, consolidating our unique position in the region with a comprehensive IP team that comprises fully qualified European and UK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys within the context of a full-service law firm; this is what we mean by IP in Context. Michael’s aptitude in languages further supports our international practice, which currently sees us active in approximately 170 different countries.”
Birkett Long congratulates Michael on qualifying and wishes him every success in his career at the firm.