A LAW firm, specialising in intellectual property for furniture makers, is rivalling some of the UK's larger practices after a strong case book.

McDaniel, in Newcastle, is ranked alongside London-based Withers and Rogers and Lupton Fawcett, in Leeds, for the number of cases concluded since a 2010 law change.

The company, which employs 18 people, including nine workers in its intellectual property team, completed four cases through the Patents County Court, which deals with intellectual property (IP) claims.

The court was amended three years ago to provide an affordable forum for IP litigation for small and medium-sized enterprises, and McDaniel is seeing an increased demand for IP ownership and rights protection services, particularly in the furniture making industry.

Headed by partner, Niall Head-Rapson, the firm’s IP team has been appointed by a number of companies outside the North-East, including Devonshire Pine, in Bideford, Bradford's Knightsbridge Furniture, and Ideal Furniture, in Manchester, and helps on matters including design infringement and registered trades marks.

Mr Head-Rapson said: “We have worked hard to establish ourselves and have a realistic approach to working with clients.

“The Patents County Court has a cost ceiling and we are the only firm nationally, as far as we are aware, which works within that ceiling.”