Princess Diana’s designer in court victory

Elizabeth Emanuel, co- designer of Princess Diana’s Wedding

Dress, has won her court case in the Manchester County Court against Cheshire-based funeral plan provider Mike Cooper who had been introduced as a potential investor.

The lengthy case, which started in the summer of 2010, centred around her company Art of Being and her Little Black Dress collection, which was presented during London Fashion Week in 2010, and whether a formal agreement had been reached between the two parties with regards investment into the label.

The fashion designer, represented by Baxter Caulfield Solicitors contested the court case with the help of a London-based barrister Mr Guy Tritton, who specialises in intellectual property issues in order to secure the rights to her company.

Speaking after the case Ms. Emanuel said, “I am relieved that this awful situation has finally been resolved and that justice had been done. I already lost my name once and I wasn’t going to let go of it the second time without a fight.

“I now look forward to developing my company Art of Being as a vehicle for my brand and capitalising on the years of work I have put into my company. The whole court process has been very draining but I now feel confident that the prospects for my company Art of Being are looking rosy”.

In the late 90’s, Emanuel lost the rights to her name after her partnership with Hamlet International, went into administration and the trademark was sold onto another company. Emanuel took the matter to the European Court of Justice to win back her name, but the court turned down her appeal.