Francesca Allport

I qualified in April 2022 and have a multitude of experience in both commercial and IP disputes. 

Wedlake Bell LLP (Solicitor) May 2022 – Present
Shortly after qualification I joined the IPCOMM team at Wedlake Bell where I deal with commercial and IP disputes. Thus far I have worked on both large and small IP disputes consisting of the following:
- Trade Mark dispute in relation to designer clients brand logo being produced on another companies clothing. This matter was eventually settled.
- Trade Mark disputes in relation to a construction companies registered rights being infringed on various third party websites. In two of these matters claims were issued one resulting in default judgement being made against the Defendant and another being settled favourably for the Claimant prior to the CMC.
- Acting for an artist in relation to defending a trade mark infringement claim in which he created a website using the claimants trade marks. In this instance as we had no funding I drafted the defence for the client as well as attending calls with a partner and the client and liaising with the other side in relation to an interim injunction.
Since joining Wedlake Bell I have also worked on various commercial disputes such as the following:
- Breach of Contract specifically performance in relation to the client purchasing a piece of equipment that does not work as intended to. This is currently at CMC stage and thus far I have attending calls with counsel and the client as well as attending an investigative test trial of the equipment, and helped draft correspondence to the court and defendant. I have also worked alongside a senior associate in relation to the Disclosure Review Document.
- Misrepresentation claim in relation to the purchase of a designer necklace from an auction house which ended up being fake. In this matter I have drafted instructions to counsel as well
as attended a call with counsel and the client in relation to the instructions, drafting a witness statement and draft order.
Key Responsibilities:
- Drafting letters to the other party including letters before action, letters in response to a letter before action, without prejudice correspondence
- Advising clients as to next steps in legal proceedings, options they may have and the best course of action to be taken
- Legal research in relation to advice given to clients
- Engaging in without prejudice conversations/negotiations
- Drafting particulars of claim, defence and counterclaim, orders and applications to the court
- Drafting and completing the Nominet complaints process in relation to Domain Name disputes
- Reviewing contracts in relation to IP specifically for corporate due diligence reports
- Acting for clients and drafting response to a letters before action in relation to alleged breaches of data protection and GDPR.
Facebook/Meta (Secondee) September 2021 – May 2022
Whilst seconded to Facebook (now Meta), I worked as part of the Content Litigation Team in the MENA region. During my time there, working with three other secondees, I had the highest case load working on over 70 different matters during my secondment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Preparing e-disclosure exercises in relation to content litigation disputes
- Liaising with and answering questions posed by instructed solicitors as well as collating the evidence from various teams within Facebook to prepare documentation to be filed at the court when needed.
- Attending weekly meetings to discuss what matters were being dealt with within the region
- Working with general counsel in relation to preparing responses for instructed solicitors
Deloitte Legal (Analyst) February 2021 – May 2022
My time at Deloitte legal was predominantly on secondment to Facebook as set out above. However, I did qualify at Deloitte Legal having completed the Equivalent Means qualification route. As part of the
qualification across both Kemp Little and Deloitte I worked on IP matters both contentious and non-contentious, commercial disputes and non-contentious commercial matters.
Kemp Little LLP (Paralegal) December 2016 – February 2021
During my time at Kemp Little I was a part of the IP & IT Disputes Team. I also did an in firm secondment to the Commercial Team as well as a client secondment to Thomson Reuters. During my time at Kemp Little I was able to grow my experience and gain responsibility becoming the go to paralegal for all work
Key Responsibilities:
- Dealing directly with the court in relation to contacting them for information or attending the court to file applications, bundles or update bundles
- Preparing bundles in relation to Commercial and IP Disputes
- Worked under the Disclosure Pilot preparing the entire disclosure bundle consisting of 13 lever arche files in relation to a trade mark infringement claim. I had to review all the documents and determine what issue they went towards as well as compiling evidence across the EU in relation to proof of use.
- Worked alongside a Senior Associate and Partner and successfully brought a claim in relation to a copyright action acting for Charlotte Tilbury against Aldi.
- Sought out and prepared over 100 letter before actions in relation to design right infringement of a designer product
- Was a part of the team that created an AI product to search the internet for design infringement products
- Drafted letters to the other side specifically in relation to a mediation, which I attended and drafted the settlement agreement with the help of counsel.
- Worked with a team in relation to an Arbitration as part of a Commercial Dispute where I had the responsibility of taking a note of each day during the 5 day arbitration and reviewing the transcripts after each day for relevant information which could be put into the next days arguments.
Thomson Reuters (Secondee) September 2020 – January 2021
During my secondment at Thomson Reuters I reported directly to General Counsel. As part of my secondment I was tasked with working as part of a team to create a more efficient NDA process and singlehandedly presented the finished product to all account managers. Also during this secondment I was part of a team that completed a deal worth 20 million.
Key Responsibilities:
- Liaising directly with account managers in relation to company deals
- Drafting NDA's and Terms and Conditions in relation to the purchase of products and services
- Telephone calls with account managers and clients in relation to negotiating agreed terms.
Blue Trinity Legal (Paralegal) November 2015 – December 2016
Blue Trinity Legal is a high street firm consisting of a Director, and three solicitors. During my time there I reported directly to the Director in relation to Taxi and Private Hire matters dealing with the criminal offense of touting as well as appeals against taxi and private hire licence revocation. I also worked on
appeals to the tribunal in relation to patients being sectioned under the mental health act where I reported directly to the head of the team.
Key Responsibilities:
- Interviewing clients in order to obtain information for their witness statements
- Drafting witness statements, instructions to counsel and particulars of claim
- Advising clients of the court process and further advisement upon appeal
- Attending mental health hospitals and interviewing clients in relation to the their appeal
- Taking attendance notes of meetings with clients as well as notes in relation to a review of their doctors file
- Attending tribunals and taking a note of what happened
Blue Trinity Legal (Intern) October 2015 – November 2015
During my one month internship I shadowed the Director in relation to Taxi and Private Hire Matters as well as sitting in on interviews with clients and attending a court hearing in relation to a touting matter.
Mishcon de Reya (Legal Assistant/Intern) June 2015 – August 2015
During my time at Mishcon de Reya I was part of the Fraud Litigation team where I was tasked with reviewing files, determining whether the matter should be open or closed and obtaining sign off from the relevant Partner.

Education
University of Delaware, History Major (USA) August 2010 – June 2014
London Metropolitan University, GDL September 2015 – June 2016
University of Law, LPC and September 2016 – July 2018
MsC Law, Business and Management
University of Law, PSC Completed September 2021