Ross Nicol

Expertise

Ross is a partner in our Commercial Group, focussing on intellectual property, information technology and general commercial matters. Ross brings over 20 years of experience advising upon these areas for clients in the public and private sectors and is recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners for Intellectual Property and Information Technology matters. He is also recognised by IAM Patent 1000, World Trade Mark Review and Managing IP: IP Stars. He spent time on secondment to global a pharmaceutical company and sat for several years on the Advisory Board of the Scottish Lifesciences Association. Ross is currently a Board Member of the Tron Theatre in Glasgow.

Ross has extensive experience of advising upon complex commercial issues, with a particular focus on supply and distribution arrangements, outsourced services agreements and IP contracts relating to the creation and commercialisation of IP rights including patent, trade mark and software licensing, research and development arrangements, confidentiality agreements and franchise agreements. Ross also advises upon consumer law, data protection and advertising compliance issues. 

• Advising extensively upon franchising, including advising TRG upon its franchising arrangements at UK airport concessions, often franchising-in third party international brands, such as Shake Shack and Jones the Grocer. Ross has also advised a number of well-known UK retail brands, including Marks and Spencer and The Card Factory upon international franchising models and agreements.
• Major UK Retailer plc: running the managed legal service dealing with all "business as usual" commercial contracts matters, covering supply of goods and services, logistics, franchising and IT matters (including extensive advice on IT procurement and software licensing).
• Ross is the lead partner for The Restaurant Group, whose brands include Wagamama and Barburrito. He provides advice on intellectual property and franchising matters, as well as the group's core supply, IT and logistics arrangements. He advised the company upon aspects of its recent divestment of its leisure group to Big Table Group.
• Advising a number of the UK's leading drinks brands upon brand acquisitions and associated supply and distribution arrangements.
• Advising leading UK retailers upon managed legal service arrangements, dealing with all "business as usual" commercial contracts matters, covering supply of goods and services, logistics, franchising and IT matters (including extensive advice on IT procurement and software licensing).Advising Scottish and UK public sector bodies upon a variety of intellectual property and information technology agreements.