About Us

TIERNEY IP is a legal practice based in the European Union which specialises in helping businesses  and individuals to clear, protect, maintain and monetise  brands; trademarks; designs; image/personality rights; literary, music and artistic works. We also advise businesses on the protection of trade secrets and their obligations under European Union data protection law.

​TIERNEY IP is managed by Niall Tierney, an Intellectual Property lawyer with over 20 years of experience gained while working for top law firms and industry in Ireland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

​TIERNEY IP is commercially focused, responsive, streamlined and efficient. Its services are delivered with extensive multi-jurisdictional and cross-industry experience and expertise.

What we do

  • We clear corporate and business names for use and provide ‘Freedom to Operate’ advice in your chosen fields and territorial markets.
  • ​We advise and assist clients in clearing brands and designs prior to market launch.
  • ​We provide advice on suitability of brands, logos, slogans, advertising jingles and other signs for registration as trade marks.
  • We provide advice on suitability of designs for registration.
  • ​We file and prosecute trade mark and design applications before relevant Intellectual Property offices.
  • We provide advice and assistance on exploitation of trade marks and designs through licensing and franchising to other parties.
  • We provide advice and assistance in the transfer of trade marks and designs to other parties.
  • We provide advice on the use of trade marks and designs as security for investment and/or loan capital for your business.
  • We help protect and enforce your trade marks and designs from third party infringement.
  • We manage and audit trade mark and design portfolios.
  • We provide Due Diligence in transactions involving trade marks and designs.
  • We draft and prosecute Domain name disputes before the World Intellectual Property Organization.
  • We advise and assist personalities in protecting their image and other characteristics of their identity.
  • We advise on the protection, monetisation, and protection of literary, musical and artistic works under Copyright law.
  • We advise and assist businesses to protect commercially sensitive information and how to prevent unauthorised use by third parties.
  • We advise businesses in how to meet and comply with their requirements under European data protection law.

Why choose TIERNEY IP?

At TIERNEY IP we always have our clients at the core of what we do.

TIERNEY IP’s mission is not simply to just deliver legal services, but also to acquire and maintain a full understanding and appreciation of what a client’s business is about. All new clients are provided with an initial complimentary consultation so that we have a full understanding of what brand protection objectives you have and how we may help you to achieve and maintain them.

TIERNEY IP is a firm believer in the old Latin saying – “A posse ad esse” (From Possibility to Reality) and applying it to the development of our clients’ Intellectual Property rights. From inception, we assist clients in bringing their IP goals to reality.

TIERNEY IP is an efficiently run Intellectual Property law practice which deliberately keeps its operating costs and overheads low. Our fees and the way we charge clients are therefore highly competitive. We endeavour to make clients aware of the cost of a matter before we undertake work.

TIERNEY IP actively encourages clients to work with us on the basis of our ‘Alternative Fee’ (non ‘hourly rate’) arrangements. We are more than prepared to tailor our fee arrangements to specific client needs. If you would like more information about our ‘Alternative Fee’ arrangements, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Our Managing Director

Niall Tierney, B.A., B.L., RTMA

Our Managing Director is an Intellectual Property lawyer with over 20 years private practice and in-house experience gained in Ireland, the United Kingdom and Switzerland.

Niall qualified as an Irish Barrister-at-Law in July 1993 and subsequently as a Registered Trade Mark Attorney in 1994. He spent five years at a leading Intellectual Property law practice in Dublin and then moved to London in 1998 where worked in senior roles for leading ‘magic and silver circle’ law firms. During his time in the United Kingdom, Niall qualified as an English Solicitor and subsequently a United Kingdom Registered Trade Mark Attorney. In Switzerland, Niall worked as an in-house Trade Mark advisor to one of the world’s largest broadcasting and media companies.

Niall has extensive multi-jurisdictional legal experience in the clearance, protection, enforcement and exploitation of Soft IP rights, such as brands, trade marks, logos and designs. His other areas of expertise include Domain Name enforcement and ECD Notice and Takedowns; Trade Secrets and Confidential Information; Image Rights and Passing off. Niall also provides advice on the incorporation and management of Intellectual Property Holding companies located within Ireland.

Niall has acted for and advised clients across a spectrum of sectors, including FMCG; fashion; luxury goods; information technology; broadcasting/entertainment and pharmaceuticals.

Niall has written widely and spoken frequently on a variety of Intellectual Property topics. During his time in London, he was a mentor for Syracuse University College of Law and also lectured on a freelance basis for BPP School of Law in Design Law and Practice and Confidential Information & Trade Secrets.

Notably, Niall was ranked by ‘Legal 500’ (2005) as being among “highly rated individuals with a strong reputation”. Niall also received favourable mention in ‘Legal 500’ in 2006 as having “boosted” the Trade Marks department of the magic circle law firm, Clifford Chance.

Niall was also awarded “Best Intellectual Property Law Practitioner” for Ireland in 2016 by ‘Business Worldwide Magazine’.

In ‘WTR 1000’ 2018, Niall was described as being able to “cure any brand headache” and “having complete command of Irish case law”. 

Niall has played an active role in the leading Intellectual Property professional associations.

Niall is authorised to act on behalf of clients before the Irish Patents Office, the European Union Intellectual Property Office, United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office and the World Intellectual Property Organization.

You can find additional information about Niall on his LinkedIn® profile.

Contact

Our office is based in the European Union Member State of IRELAND. 

TIERNEY IP
Galway Technology Centre
Mervue Business Park
Galway City
Co Galway
H91 YW30
IRELAND

Phone: +353-1-2544116
Fax: +353-1-6335201

The above address is not authorised to accept service on behalf of TIERNEY IP.  TIERNEY IP will also not accept service by email of any kind without prior specific written approval.

Galway, Ireland is based within the GMT time zone.