Shoosmiths is pleased to announce the appointment of France Delord as a partner in its Intellectual Property team in London.
Published: 8 April 2026
France joins from Taylor Wessing, where she built a strong reputation advising major international brands on complex, cross-border IP matters. Dual qualified in UK and French law, France brings extensive experience in managing large, international trade mark portfolios and commercially driven IP strategies, from the prosecution of trade mark registrations to infringement actions.
France’s arrival further bolsters Shoosmiths’ leading trade mark and brand practice and strengthens the firm’s capabilities across its key sectors, including Consumer & Retail, Automotive and Technology. France is particularly well known for managing large-scale international trade mark portfolios across multiple jurisdictions.
Robin Webb, Head of Commercial at Shoosmiths, said: “We are thrilled to welcome France to the firm and our growing IP team. Her cross-border and deep sector expertise, strong relationships and collaborative approach will support us as we help our clients navigate increasingly complex international IP landscapes. Her appointment also reflects our commitment to investing in the firm’s client offering and the delivery of our 2030 growth ambition.”
Andrew Brennan, Head of Intellectual Property at Shoosmiths, said: “France’s appointment, following our strategic recruitment of a specialist brands team from Locke Lord last year led by Dominic Farnsworth and Leigh Smith, marks another important step in the evolution of our brands offerings in the UK and across Europe. The team already provides a full range of brand services to some of the world’s most recognisable technology and consumer brands, and France further strengthens our ability to deliver this work at scale, reflecting our ambition to be the go‑to adviser for sophisticated brand owners.”
France Delord said: “I am delighted to be joining Shoosmiths at such an exciting time in its journey. The firm’s focus on innovation, and its use of technology and data to deliver efficient, high‑quality outcomes for clients, closely aligns with my own approach. I am looking forward to working with colleagues across Shoosmiths to help national and international clients manage and protect their brands effectively.”
France has been recognised as an ‘IP Star’ by Managing Intellectual Property every year since 2023 and featured in Who’s Who Legal: IP 2023. She has also been recognised for championing innovation in legal service delivery for brands, including leveraging AI platforms, and for leading initiatives in diversity and inclusion.
France’s addition continues strong growth momentum in London, with the firm adding 18 lateral partners since April 2025 as it continues to deliver on its dynamic 2030 strategy. These additions, which include banking and finance lawyers John Dawson and Graham Knight, technology lawyer Sarah Reynolds, real estate finance lawyer James Salford and real estate development lawyer Jasvinder Sahotay, deepen capabilities across Shoosmiths’ three core practices in Corporate, Litigation and Real Estate and underline the firm’s strength in key sectors.