Peter Vaughan

Peter Vaughan is an Associate Professor at Nottingham Law School, where he actively supervises intellectual property (IP) work at NLS Legal and teaches accredited IP courses. He joined Nottingham Trent University (NTU) in 2020 after working at a leading international firm of Trade Mark and Patent Attorneys in Cambridge. As Deputy Course Leader for the IP Practitioner Portfolio of Courses, Peter leads modules such as the Professional Certificate in Trade Mark Practice and the Postgraduate Diploma in Commercial Intellectual Property, while also supervising dissertations in IP law.

• Education:
  • B.A. Hons in Law with German, University of Nottingham
  • LLM in International Commercial Law, University of Nottingham

Peter's research focuses on educating SMEs and individuals about the importance of IP rights, strategies for protection, and navigating common pitfalls. His work also explores overlaps between different IP rights and online IP infringement, particularly in domain name disputes. He co-authored The Intellectual Property Map with Professor Jane Jarman to aid creative sector professionals in safeguarding their IP.

Peter contributes to legal education through problem-based learning frameworks and has delivered CPD seminars for professional organizations like CITMA on topics such as mediation and registry oppositions.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Team of the Year (Nottingham Law Society Awards, 2024)
  • Shortlisted for Best New Pro-Bono Activity (2021)

Externally, Peter chairs the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA) Working Group on Domain Names, serves on the CITMA Law and Practice Committee, and participates in the education committee of the MARQUES organization. He also volunteers on the advisory board of the mental health charity Jonathan’s Voice.