U.K. firm Mishcon de Reya has set up a Netherlands-based European trademark practice as part of its preparations for a potential no-deal Brexit scenario.

The new company will allow the firm to continue applying for trademarks and designs within the EU at the Office for Intellectual Property, in the event that deal talks collapse.

The practice, called Mishcon de Reya IP B.V., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the U.K. law firm, and is registered to the Dutch city of Breda.

Mishcon's website states the new offering has been set up "as part of our Brexit preparations and to address the potential outcome of a no-deal Brexit", and will "allow us to ensure continued representation in relation to EU Trade Mark (EUTM) and Design matters before the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)".

According to company filings, the practice was set up by two Mishcon IP partners, Jeremy Hertzog and David Rose, earlier this year. A person with knowledge of the situation said the office is currently staffed by two Mishcon attorneys.

The office shares its address with a Dutch trademark attorney firm, Bakker & Verkuijl, which helped advise Mishcon on the administrative aspects of the company listing.

Other law firms have made similar contingency plans to mitigate the consequences of Brexit. Earlier this year, Quinn Emanuel partners in the Brussels office claimed they were in the process of taking up Belgian citizenship in order to continue practising law.

In March, Herbert Smith Freehills re-registered as an Australian firm to ensure no post-Brexit issues arose over its Seoul office.

Several law firms have won mandates advising the U.K. government on Brexit-related issues in recent months.

In September, Legal Week revealed that Linklaters has been paid £1.5 million so far this year to provide training to civil servants on post-Brexit trade negotiation.

Earlier in the month, the Department for Transport awarded transatlantic firm Womble Bond Dickinson a mandate to provide legal advice regarding the EU withdrawal.