Schofield Sweeney represents Easy Bathrooms in successful high-profile IP case

Yorkshire-based commercial law firm Schofield Sweeney has acted in the successful defence of a significant trade mark and passing off claim, brought against its client Cubico (UK) Limited, trading as Easy Bathrooms, by the owners of easyJet.

Founded in Yorkshire in 2013, Easy Bathrooms has grown from a single showroom into one of the UK’s largest bathroom and tile retailers, operating more than 150 showrooms nationwide.

On 1 July 2026, the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) delivered its judgment in the case of easyGroup Limited v Cubico (UK) Limited t/a Easy Bathrooms [2026] EWHC 1645 (IPEC). The claimant, easyGroup, had brought claims of passing off and trade mark infringement, and challenged the validity of Cubico and Easy Bathroom’s UK registered trade marks.

In the proceedings, easyGroup contended that its marks, which include the easyJet Mark, easyGroup Mark, and easyHotel Mark,  formed an “easy Family of Marks”. However, Her Honour Judge Melissa Clarke dismissed easyGroup’s claims in full, confirming that Easy Bathrooms’ key trade marks remain valid and allowing the retailer to continue trading under its established name.

The successful defence was guided by James Staton, Partner in the Dispute Resolution team at Schofield Sweeney, and his colleague Emily Brown. Denise McFarland, Barrister and Joint Head of Chambers at Three New Square Intellectual Property, acted as counsel for the Defendant.

Schofield Sweeney has a long-standing relationship with Cubico, having worked with the business since 2016. James Staton has advised the company on this specific issue since 2018, when easyGroup made its initial complaint of trade mark infringement, which was successfully refuted at the time. Alongside intellectual property dispute resolution, Schofield Sweeney provides comprehensive legal support to Cubico across employment, corporate, and property matters.

James Staton, Partner at Schofield Sweeney, commented: “We are incredibly proud to have supported Easy Bathrooms in securing this decisive victory. Having advised Cubico since the first complaint was raised in 2018, it is highly rewarding to see the Court dismiss these claims in full. This judgment protects our client’s hard-earned brand identity and allows them to continue their impressive national growth trajectory without this challenge hanging over them. It was a pleasure to work alongside Denise McFarland and the wider team to deliver this excellent result.”

Craig Waddington, Founder and Chairman of Easy Bathrooms, said: “We’re delighted with the Court’s decision. Throughout these proceedings our focus never changed, we carried on growing the business, opening new showrooms and supporting customers across the UK. Being named National Bathroom Retailer of the Year for the second consecutive year during that period says everything about where our energy has been.

“We’ve always respected the importance of intellectual property rights and the role they play in protecting businesses. Equally, we’ve always believed that Easy Bathrooms earned its reputation through the quality of its people, the experience we give our customers and the strength of the business we’ve built. We can now look to the future and carry on doing what we’ve always done: helping customers create beautiful bathrooms.”

 

Image caption: © Sam Toolsie 2021 Moral Rights Asserted; This work may not be reproduced without the permission of Sam Toolsie.