Dispute Resolution - Intellectual Property

David is a highly experienced litigator and one of only a small number of IP lawyers in the UK who have taken both patent and trade mark cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

He has acted in a number of high profile and often ground-breaking cases before both the UK and European Courts including successfully representing Sky in the first passing off case to reach the UK's highest court (the Supreme Court) in over 25 years (Starbucks v. Sky) and acting for Nintendo in securing the first ever blocking injunction against ISPs in reliance on technological protection measures under the UK's copyright legislation. Additional high profile actions include: HTC v Gemalto; Sky v Microsoft; Napp v Sandoz; ratiopharm v Alza; Sky v Skype; Marks & Spencer and others v One in a Million; Lupin v. Gilead; Ann Taylor v. Holzer; Sony Computer Entertainment v Pacific Game Technology; Racing UK v Satellite Information Services; Arrow Generics v Merck; Cairnstores v Astra Zeneca; and Servier v Lupin.

In the patent sphere, David advises on infringement, validity and ownership disputes, the scope of protection of Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs) and disputes over standard essential patents (SEPs) including their licensing on FRAND terms (principally for implementers). He also has considerable experience advising on "clearing the way" strategies in relation to pharmaceutical patents. Recent representations include acting for Lupin in its successful application to revoke Gilead's SPC for the HIV treatment Truvada® following hearings before the Grand Chamber of the Court of Justice of the EU and the Court of Appeal in London.

In the area of brand and design protection, David has extensive experience advising on brand and design portfolio management with particular expertise acting in administrative proceedings before the UKIPO and the EUIPO and their respective appellate tribunals, including appearing successfully in numerous cases before the General Court of the EU. 

David is one of only eight UK IP lawyers listed in the Legal 500 "Hall of Fame", is ranked as a leading individual in Chambers (IP, life sciences and patent litigation), IAM Patent 1000 (patents and life sciences), Who's Who Legal (patents, life sciences and trade marks) and is recognised as one of World Trademark Review's "Global Leaders".  Recent commentary from the directories includes: "tough as nails... a 'natural litigator' who is 'experienced and aggressive" (World Trademark Review); "a real client's lawyer, always very tenacious in looking after their interests…He is good to work with and gets the best out of his team." and "has impeccable judgement on strategic matters" (Chambers); "outstanding experience in this arena makes him a force of nature in the courtroom" (IAM Patent 100).

David was recognised as the UK Practitioner of the Year at the 2020 Annual Managing IP EMEA Awards.

Queen Mary, University of London (Masters in Intellectual Property Law); University of Manchester (Law)