Morley’s wins trademark case against rival fried chicken chain

Morley’s then cited eight grounds of appeal, which were dismissed by the Court of Appeal last month.

Morley’s, founded in Sydenham in 1985, has grown into a cult London brand and now operates more than 100 restaurants across the UK. It is known for its fried chicken and burgers and has featured in music videos by Stormzy and Krept, and the sign from its first branch was recently acquired by the Museum of London.

Shan Selvendran, managing director of Morley’s, said: “As a family-owned business, there has been a tremendous amount of hard work over many years that has gone into making Morley’s what it is today.

“We’re so grateful to our loyal customers who come back time and again for our food, our service and our sense of community.  People have a real attachment to who we are, and so it was essential we took action when that brand was threatened. I’m delighted with the outcome and with the specialist support of my legal team throughout this process.”

Peter Hornsey, partner and joint national head of commercial litigation at Ward Hadaway, which represented Morley’s, said: “This outcome reinforces that the courts will protect your brand if you have the necessary trade mark protection in place. For those considering sailing close to the wind, it also demonstrates that what you might think is ‘close’ is often ‘too far’.

“The iconic status of Morley’s makes the protection of its brand all the more important and we’re thrilled with this outcome for Shan and his family.”

The original Morley’s chicken shop sign will go on display in the new site of the London Museum in Smithfields in 2026.  It will form part of the museum’s Hanging Out display, which will celebrate the places where London’s communities come together.