Firms settle trademark dispute

Nottingham firm Paragon Law has forced West Bromwich and Peterborough firm Paragon Solicitors to change its name and pay legal costs after a trade mark dispute.

Paragon Solicitors has now changed its name to H&V Solicitors and paid £20,000 to Paragon Law in costs. The Paragon Law name is a trademark.

Paragon Law contended that the use of the name ‘Paragon’ could have confused potential clients because both firms ­practise immigration law.

Paragon Law managing director Thalej Vasishta said: ‘At the time Paragon Law was set up it was important to us that our name was protected [by trademark] and that no other firm rode on our coattails by adopting our name.’

John Buckby, solicitor at Berryman who acted for Paragon Law, said that H&V settled just before a High Court hearing in early October.

H&V Solicitors senior partner Vikram Singh said his firm was unaware of Paragon Law when it opened in April 2006 and H&V had ‘amicably conceded’ early on to change its name. However, he said there was a dispute over costs which was settled at the ‘eleventh hour’. He added that immigration only formed a ‘very small percentage’ of H&V’s ­business.