LONDON — Lawyers for perfumer Jo Malone have mounted a defense in the U.K. High Court to a lawsuit filed by the Estée Lauder Cos. , refuting allegations of trademark infringement, passing off and breach of contract.

As reported in March, Lauder initiated legal proceedings against Malone, founder of the Jo Malone brand; her fragrance house Jo Loves Ltd.; Jo Loves (Wholesale Ltd.), and ITX UK Ltd. (formerly Zara UK Ltd.) for using her name on products unrelated to the Jo Malone London brand.

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Lauder purchased Malone’s eponymous fragrance business in 1999 and she left the company in 2006. Following a five-year non-compete clause, Malone started the Jo Loves fragrance brand in 2011.

That brand has a store on Elizabeth Street in London, and Malone continues to work as a fragrance consultant for brands, individuals and companies, including Zara .…