Gary Johnston - Mathys & Squire LLP

Gary is a Partner in trade mark team. He has over 25 years’ experience as a trade mark attorney advising clients in relation to the adoption, protection and exploitation of brand names and designs both here in the UK and globally. Prior to joining Mathys & Squire, he spent 18 years at a well-known Manchester based firm of trade mark attorneys, where he was also MD for 11 years. Gary is consistently ranked in WTR 1000, a directory of the world’s leading trade mark professionals, in which he is described as being “an experienced, commercial and pragmatic lawyer who is highly knowledgeable about IP.” Gary is also ranked as a ‘Trade Mark Star’ in the latest edition of Managing IP’s IP STARS directory.

Expertise

Gary works closely with IP specialists and other professionals, both in the UK and overseas, in order to provide his clients with a global IP solution. He has a wealth of experience, having acted for regional, national and multinational trade mark owners in relation to the protection, management, maintenance and exploitation of their national and global trade mark portfolios and associated intellectual property rights. Gary’s specific experience includes the filing and prosecution of applications for national and international trade mark and design registration before the UK Intellectual Property Office (designs and trade marks) and EUIPO (trade marks and designs) in the EU. He handles related oppositions and appeals.

Academic

Gary has an honours degree in law from the University of Central Lancashire and entered the trade marks profession in 1990. He is a qualified trade mark attorney.

Memberships & organisations

Gary is a member of the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA).

Sectors

Manufacturing, engineering & automotive

Awards

“Gary Johnston has oodles of experience and is sensible and commercial.”

The Legal 500 (2025)

“Gary Johnston has enormous experience and sound common sense.”

The Legal 500 (2024)

“Gary is an experienced, commercial and pragmatic lawyer who is highly knowledgeable about IP.”

WTR 1000 (2023)

Johnston is a “good strategist and clear thinker who keeps his eye trained on commercial realities.”

“He’s hugely knowledgeable, proactive and great fun to work with.”

“Prosecution and anti-counterfeiting sage Johnston has a global sphere of influence.”

WTR 1000 (2021)

Gary Johnston “sees the big picture and is able to plan and execute sensibly and reliably.”

WTR 1000 (2020)

“Mathys & Squire’s trademark portal allows us to review and manage all of our trade marks, across all of our territories. For a company like ours, with a large number of trade marks, having a tool like that is really important.”

UP Global Sourcing

“I have worked with the trade mark team at Mathys & Squire since I became Head of Legal at UKFast. The team are pragmatic and knowledgeable, and partner, Gary Johnston is absolutely excellent. The team always show great understanding of our organisation and our commercial aims, and we work closely with them to protect our trade marks and brand.”

UKFast

“Mathys & Squire took over the maintenance of our UK and international trade mark portfolio in 2008. Gary Johnston is our primary contact and has become invaluable. Not only is he very knowledgeable, quick to respond, and gives good reliable advice, but he always appreciates things from the client’s point of view.”

Interfloor

“The ‘excellent’ Mathys & Squire LLP works predominantly on brand protection and portfolio management with clients that include British Gas and Public Health England. Gary co-heads the team and recently advised De’Longhi on the trade mark strategy for its Kenwood trade mark portfolio.”

The Legal 500

Latest articles by Gary Johnston

Mathys & Squire’s German team have moved office in Munich

Mathys & Squire recommended in 2025 edition of WTR 1000

Mathys & Squire teams recommended in The Legal 500 2025 directory for their “unparalleled knowledge and experience in all areas of intellectual property”

Mathys & Squire Partners ranked in the 2024 guide of Managing IP’s IP STARS