Addleshaws scores games success

Addleshaw Booth & Co's rapid response unit for the Manchester Commonwealth Games took daily action to combat companies using the games' logo as an illegal marketing tool, it has emerged.

The leading northern firm took action against organisations including national newspapers, supermarkets, night-clubs and banks that falsely claimed association with the event to boost their business.

Only official sponsors of the games, of which Addleshaws was one through its innovative fees-for-sponsorship deal, could use the event for self-promotion and display its logo - 'The Spirit of Friendship'.

Partner James Whitaker, head of the ten-lawyer unit, said: 'We really had to try and achieve a balance between allowing support for the games and stopping those using it for their own ends.'

Mr Whitaker said anyone using association with the games without permission received a telephone call and then a letter before action, although 'there was no need to launch proceedings in any cases'.

The unit also dealt with issues such as ticket touting and counterfeit programmes.

Addleshaws solicitor Ann Danson competed for England in the long jump, finishing 11th.

Her 5.88m jump was 50cm below her personal best.

Gold was won with a jump of 6.70, silver 6.58m and bronze 6.49m.

Another firm celebrating games-related success is Manchester-based Rowlands, which sponsored English 0.22-inch prone rifle marksmen Mike Babb, who won a gold in the pairs and silver in the individual event.

The sponsorship restrictions meant the firm could only provide him with branded umbrellas for use in the shooting areas.

Andrew Towler