Gateley expands legal portfolio with acquisition of IP firm

Gateley, the professional services group, has acquired Groom Wilkes & Wright LLP (GWW) for a maximum consideration of up to £9 million.

Founded more than 20 years ago, GWW is a boutique IP firm specialising in every aspect of trademark and design law, representing clients across all sectors from start-ups to several of the biggest brand-owning companies globally.

For the year ended 5 April 2025, GWW delivered revenue of £4.7 million, with a profit before tax of £1.4 million.

Led by senior partners Trevor Wright and Katy Adams, GWW will operate within Gateley's Business Services Platform and will continue to trade under the name Groom Wilkes & Wright.

The Platform combines the considerable commercial expertise of IP and dispute resolution lawyers within Gateley Legal along with trademark and patent attorneys Adamson Jones and life sciences patent attorneys Symbiosis IP, both acquired by the Group in 2022.

Part of the Group's Platform strategy is to build an industry relevant trademark attorney and patent services offering via a mix of acquisitive and organic growth, and by adding new trademark and patent specialisms and geographical areas.

Alongside Adamson Jones and Symbiosis IP, the Acquisition of GWW further enhances the development of complementary business services with an IP and brands focus.

All members of the GWW management team will remain with the business, including senior partner Trevor Wright, who has been in the trademark industry for over forty years and was a founder member of the business in 2004.

Commenting on the acquisition, Rod Waldie (pictured), CEO of Gateley, said: "I am delighted to welcome Groom Wilkes & Wright to the Group.

“This strategic acquisition will extend our reach in trademark work across our consultancy and legal services teams who operate in this field.

“The Acquisition forms part of our acquisitive and organic growth plan to develop a distinct and innovative intangible asset offering that further builds on the extensive expertise we have in the market and where we are already seeing huge potential for further growth." 

Trevor Wright, senior partner and founder of GWW, said: "I'm thrilled that my colleagues and I are joining Gateley today. 

“Since our first meeting I have been impressed by their strategic vision of building deep expertise in a broad range of trademark and wider IP professional services, and by the progress they have made to date in delivering that strategy.   

“We share the same core values of a commitment to excellence in client service, delivered as a team. 

“I am very grateful to my colleagues for all their hard work and dedication to this point.  Gateley will be a fantastic new home for them and for the GWW business."