Law firm supports Bristol charity with pro bono legal work

Law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has provided its services pro-bono to Life Cycle, a Bristol-based charity that works to transform lives and the environment by broadening people’s access to cycling.

James Love, a partner in WBD’s intellectual property team, assisted Life Cycle through the IP registration process to help the charity register its brand assets with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). Associate Sally Cooper from WBD’s charities team provided further assistance for a change of name, supporting Life Cycle’s move to drop ‘UK’ from its title.

The charity runs a series of initiatives, including a Bike Recycling Scheme in partnership with HM Prisons. Established in 2010, the scheme has won awards from the Prison Reform Trust and has been nominated at the National Lottery Awards.

Love said: “When Life Cycle reached out to the Pro Bono Network for help, we immediately agreed to support them. The work the charity does in and around Bristol is vital to our community and the environment. We strongly believe that successful businesses have a responsibility to support their local communities and so we’re delighted to have been able to share our business skills and legal expertise to support Life Cycle.”

Fiona O’Kane, partner and WBD’s Bristol office head, said: “Pro bono work is core to our Responsible Business philosophy and demonstrates WBD’s strong commitment to social inclusion and mobility through our relationship with our local communities. I’m delighted we were able to provide Life Cycle with the advice needed to safeguard the future of their brand, which is integral to their fundraising efforts and community projects.”

Life Cycle’s chief executive officer, Ed Norton, added: “Life Cycle relies on public goodwill to attract donations to support our work. James and the team at Womble Bond Dickinson filed an application with the IPO on the charity’s behalf to trade mark key components of our brand from commercial competition. The cost of professional fees has always been a blocker on resolving this, so we are immensely grateful for their support.”