Our People

• University of Limerick (BA)

• International Trademark Association
• The Intellectual Property Lawyers Organisation
• Licensing Executives Society International
• International Bar Association
• Marques

Richard is a Partner in the Commercial Litigation Group and conducts a wide range of commercial litigation. Since 2005 Richard has headed Mason Hayes & Curran’s dedicated, cross-departmental Intellectual Property Unit.  This development has allowed us to provide seamless IP advices across contentious and non-contentious matters and to harness the experience of the firm in this practice area.  As a litigator Richard personally carries out an extensive practice encompassing many aspects of contentious intellectual property law, including brand and trademark protection, copyright issues, patent infringement and revocation, software, media and entertainment issues. Our clients include multinational household names and prominent interests in the entertainment industry. 

Richard has for many years represented the firm at the annual conferences of INTA and Marques, as well as being a current member of the Licensing Executive Society. Richard has also published an article in the EIPR (European Intellectual Property Review) and has presented at the annual Marques (Association of European Trademark Owners) Conference.           

Areas of Expertise:

• Intellectual Property Litigation
• Commercial Litigation

Representative Matters:

• Prosecuting Irish and Community Trade Mark infringement proceedings, for example successfully restraining the introduction of infringing own brand products, preventing unapproved licensing activities centered on a major sporting event and preventing former Agent from continuing to use former Principal’s marks.
• Litigating alleged breaches of software licensing agreements and infringements of copyright in software.
• Defending and prosecuting claims for patent infringement and prosecuting patent revocation proceedings.
• Prosecuting proceedings to amend the Irish Trademark Register.
• Advising large European manufacturers regarding their registered and unregistered design rights and the enforceability of same in the Republic of Ireland.
• Acting for multinational corporations including Cable & Wireless, Brightpoint, Quest Software, Bertelsman, Cheapflights (cheapflights.com) or their Irish subsidiaries in interlocutory injunction applications and other disputes concerning alleged breach of copyright.
• Advising Ryder Cup Limited in protecting and enforcing its intellectual property rights in Ireland and prosecuting infringement proceedings when required.
• Advised LIDL on all aspects of intellectual property to include acting on their behalf in injunctive proceedings brought in relation to an alleged trademark infringement.
• Advising Travelsavers on all matters relating to the protection of their trademark and website and acting on their behalf in proceedings.
• Advised Portakabin Limited in relation to protecting its intellectual property rights in Ireland.
• Acting for Pfizer in obtaining a Search and Seizure order from an Irish court in support of proceedings before the (UK) Royal Courts of Justice, a first in this jurisdiction;
• Acting for Boost Energy Drinks, an English company, in defense of community trade mark infringement proceedings taken by Red Bull;
• Advising Mercedes-Benz in relation to trade mark infringement in Ireland;
• Advising XS Direct, an Irish insurer, in relation to alleged breach of its software copyright;
• Conducting Commercial Court proceedings on behalf of an institutional investor seeking recovery of seven figure sum invested in complex derivative financial products;
• Defending insurer’s decisions to decline cover in a number of unrelated cases, both at arbitration and before the Commercial Court;
• Seeking to set aside property transactions on grounds of conflict of interest and breach of fiduciary duties.
• Defending a range of Irish law firms in a number of cases of alleged professional negligence
  arising out of complex corporate, financial and banking transactions, usually before the
  Commercial Court;

Recommendations:

World Trademark Review, 2012
Richard is recommended in his field of Intellectual Property - Enforcement and Litigation.  Heading the group is Richard Wolfe, a commercial litigator who is “highly respected for his outstanding courtroom performances”.

World Trademark Review, 2011
Richard is recommended in his field of Intellectual Property. "Richard A Woulfe is head of the cross-departmental IP group. Known for his contentious work, he takes the lead in IP litigation, specialising in trademark infringement disputes for household names."

Chambers Europe - Europe's Leading Business Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, 2011.
Richard is recommended as a Leader in his Field of ‘Intellectual Property’ category. Litigator Richard Woulfe is credited as being “hard-working, thorough and creative.”

Chambers Europe - Europe's Leading Business Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, 2010.
Richard is recommended as a Leader in his Field of ‘Intellectual Property’ category. Richard is “an extremely dedicated lawyer who inspires great confidence in his clients”.

Chambers Europe - Europe's Leading Business Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, 2009.
Richard is recommended as a Leader in his Field of ‘Intellectual Property’ category. Richard is referred to “as expert on trade mark and passing-off litigation”.

Legal 500 – 2011.
Richard is recommended in the area of ‘Intellectual Property’. ‘Under Richard Woulfe, Mason Hayes & Curran’s practice has grown significantly in recent years.’  He is also recommended in the area of ‘Employment’.

Legal 500 – 2010.
Richard is recommended as a Leader in his field in ‘Intellectual Property’. ‘Mason Hayes & Curran’s practice continues to flourish under the leadership of Richard Woulfe, praised for his ‘excellent knowledge’ and for giving ‘clear, concise and practical advice’.

Legal 500 – 2009.
Mason Hayes & Curran’s “IP practice continues to develop and flourish under the leadership of the ‘committed and responsive’ Richard Woulfe.”’

Which Lawyer? Practical Law Company, 2010.
Richard is recommended as a lawyer in the area of ‘Intellectual property’.

Which Lawyer? Practical Law Company, 2009.
Richard is recommended as a lawyer in the area of ‘Intellectual property’.