SimmonsCooper Strikes Back in English High Court Against Lucasfilm

SimmonsCooper Strikes Back in English High Court Against Lucasfilm

U.S. Law Firm's European Affiliate Wins High-Profile IP Case

EAST ALTON, Ill., Aug. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The English High Court may be a long way from East Alton, Ill., but the SimmonsCooper law firm continues to make its mark in the legal industry, most recently winning a high-profile intellectual property suit with its London affiliate, SimmonsCooperAndrew LLP, against George Lucas and Lucasfilm of Star Wars fame.

In the English High Court case of Lucasfilm v Ainsworth, SimmonsCooperAndrew represented the prop designer who made the Stormtrooper helmets and armour for the 1977 Star Wars film. Lucasfilm was attempting to prevent Ainsworth from selling replicas of the helmets, but the High Court recently dismissed the majority of Lucas' claims.

"Our firm has a storied history of taking on corporate giants," said Paul Lesko, head of intellectual property for SimmonsCooper's U.S. practice. "Because of this ruling, Mr. Ainsworth will be able to rightfully sell his product throughout most of the world. It's not only a victory for him. It's a victory for prop designers throughout the film industry."

"We took on the infamous Death Star and lived to tell about it," said Chris Messina, SimmonsCooper's president of International Litigation. "The goal of our business and intellectual property practices always has been to give entrepreneurs and small businesses a voice to protect their legal rights. To see that success play out on the international stage like this is truly gratifying."

Three years ago, SimmonsCooper decided to expand beyond its well established asbestos litigation practice into intellectual property and business-to-business litigation. Moving away from traditional fee structures, the firm strategically chose to offer legal representation on a contingency basis, affording individuals and smaller businesses the ability to take legal action against companies with deeper pockets.

SimmonsCooper then began to form international relationships with other like-minded firms, such as SimmonsCooperAndrew.

"As more U.S. businesses expand globally, working with affiliate firms in other countries expands our ability to help those businesses resolve legal disputes regardless of location," Messina said.

ABOUT SIMMONSCOOPER

SimmonsCooper LLC, based in East Alton, Illinois, is one of the country's leading asbestos litigation firms, with strong practices also in pharmaceutical litigation, toxic torts, business-to-business, and international product liability and torts. In addition to its work throughout the United States, SimmonsCooper works with international law firms throughout the world, including Europe, Africa and Asia. Visit http://www.simmonscooper.com/.

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Source: SimmonsCooper LLC

CONTACT: Jennifer Hoernis of SimmonsCooper LLC, +1-618-259-2222,
ext. 123

Web site: http://www.simmonscooper.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information on Lucasfilm v Ainsworth, visit http://www.scandrew.com/publications.php

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