IFA rebrands after Virgin trademark wrangle

Surrey-based Churchouse Financial Planning is undergoing a re-brand after settling a trademark issue with Richard Branson's Virgin Money.

From 1 January 2012, chartered financial planners Churchouse will be called Chapters Financial Ltd.

Churchouse had objected to an application by Virgin Money to acquire the trademark ‘Church House' from the Intellectual Property Office.

This followed Virgin Money's acquisition in early 2010 of Church House Trust Plc, a private bank based in Somerset.

Churchouse objected because it owned the trademark ‘Churchouse'.

After discussions lasting almost 18 months, the companies settled in the summer of 2011.

Keith Churchouse said: "Discussions [with Virgin] were perfectly amicable from start to finish and we are very happy with the outcome and the re-brand to Chapters Financial."