Adrian is an information technology specialist who has market-leading experience advising clients on technology, e-commerce and digital transformation transactions. Adrian's practice spans a range of sectors including technology, financial services, life sciences and government. He regularly leads and negotiates high profile IT procurement, outsourcing, cloud and complex systems development and integration projects on both the customer and supplier side, and also advises emerging companies on the contracting arrangements and protecting and exploiting IP. Having spent considerable time seconded to various clients such as a global IT services provider, a telecommunications company and an international digital services organisation, Adrian always delivers practical and business-focussed solutions to deliver technology projects in the most effective and efficient way. Recent projects Adrian has led include: A digital transformation project in the financial services sector including the complex multi-vendor integration and implementation of a new customer system and PSD 2 platform. Advising a public sector, genomic medicine body on its commercialising strategy and implementation of world-leading sequencing, data and technology arrangements. The transformation of a global life sciences company’s IT, network and online systems, including a multi-million pound IT outsourcing transaction. A multi-jurisdictional business process outsourcing for a leading technology company delivering a business separation and F&A outsourcing in the FMCG sector. Advising a IT, outsourcing and consultancy multinational on structuring and launching new software and IT-solutions. Preparing an e-vehicle charging station supplier on its launch of its products and SaaS technology solutions in the UK. Advising a Premier League football club on its technology arrangements across its business operations from content and digital media management platforms to payment processing systems.
Bristows LLP
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Alex is passionate about the Life Sciences sector and advises about regulatory issues all day every day. Alex’s advice is informed by a BSc in Human Genetics and in-house experience including as GC of a biopharmaceutical company and brings 25 years’ experience advising clients in the sector. In addition to a wide array of contentious (judicial review) matters, he enjoys working with clients to devise and implement regulatory strategies throughout the product life cycle of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Alex has advised a number of clients in relation to challenging issues including genomics, cell and gene therapies, 3D printing, healthcare Apps, companion diagnostics, borderline products and combination products. Alex has been involved in the development of a number of regulatory frameworks and guidelines. Legal 500 describes Alex as "a straight-talking, commercially astute technology specialist who is always willing to take a view" and who delivers "out-of-the-box solutions".
Alex is an experienced litigator specialising in contentious media and data protection matters. He primarily acts for media and technology companies in relation to content, with a particular emphasis on defamation, privacy and data protection disputes. Alex joined Bristows as a partner in December 2019. He is an experienced litigator specialising in contentious media and data protection matters. He primarily acts for media and technology companies in relation to content, with a particular emphasis on defamation, privacy and data protection disputes. Alex has advised various media publishers and internet service providers in relation to claims brought in libel, privacy, data protection and breach of confidence, including: Advising leading global internet companies on various cutting edge defamation, privacy and data protection matters, including the first “Right to Be Forgotten” claims to be determined at trial in the High Court. Acting for a number of mainstream media entities, including representing a leading international broadcaster and online content provider on a breach of confidence claim following its reporting on information contained in a mass data leak.
Andy is joint head of patent litigation at Bristows. Andy's advice covers the full range of intellectual property rights, with a particular emphasis on patents, trade marks, registered designs and trade secrets. Andy has experience in representing high profile clients in IP disputes, including complex mechanical and FMCG products, pharmaceuticals, mobile phones, automotives, electronics and medical devices. He has conducted several successful mediations of IP disputes and regularly provides freedom to operate and validity opinions. Frequently, he is asked by clients to coordinate cross-border litigation. He also has experience of making discovery applications to UK courts pursuant to letters of request/letters rogatory issued by foreign courts. Andy's cases include the Unwired Planet/Conversant case in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court on SEP/FRAND licensing [2020] UKSC 37 on behalf of ZTE. Other clients include Siemens, Samsung, Kennametal and Heineken. Andy is frequently asked to comment and lecture on IP issues and is a regular speaker at international conferences on strategic considerations for European and international patent litigation. He regularly provides comments to the national press on intellectual property issues. He is on the Lexis Nexis IP & IT Editorial Board. Recent cases include: Unwired Planet v Samsung (acting for Samsung). Heineken v Anheuser–Busch (acting for Heineken). Wobben v Siemens (acting for Siemens, also on appeal). Sandvik v Kennametal (acting for Kennametal). Conversant v ZTE (acting for ZTE in patent trials concerning standard essential patents, anti-suit injunction hearing, and hearings up to the Supreme Court on jurisdiction issues concerning FRAND licensing). Jushi v OCV (acting for Jushi in leading Court of Appeal case relating to overlapping ranges). Alcon Pharmaceuticals v Pharmathen (acting for Alcon in preliminary injunction proceedings). Allergan v Ipsen (acting for Ipsen in case involving Swiss-type and EPC 2000 claims). BAE v Thales (acting for Thales). Kenilworth v Blackberry and Microsoft (acting for Kenilworth). Siemens v Seagate (acting for Siemens in Northern Irish proceedings).
Andy trained with Bristows and qualified into the Brands, Designs & Copyright group in 2012. Andy advises across the full range of “soft” IP rights, with advertising and trade mark law being his principal practice areas. Andy deals with both contentious and non-contentious matters. He assists clients with company name disputes, domain name disputes and IP litigation in the High Court and below, while on the non-contentious side he advises on trade mark filing strategy and compliance of advertising copy with UK advertising regulations. He has advised major brands on compliance with ambush marketing legislation for global sports events and has substantial experience in ensuring compliance of promotional mechanics and terms and conditions with UK advertising regulations. He also advises intermediary service providers such as search engines and social media sites regarding their liability for third party content accessed via their service. In addition to his experience in private practice, Andy has completed secondments with several international clients where he advised on online brand protection and filed and defended UK Advertising Standards Authority complaints. He is co-editor of “International Advertising Law: A practical global guide” published by Globe Law & Business.
Angela is a dispute resolution specialist with particular expertise in advising on complex disputes arising out of IT, outsourcing and IP contracts. Angela is a Partner in the firm’s Commercial and Technology Disputes team. She is highly experienced in handling disputes arising from commercial contracts, often involving technical subject matter, and regularly acts for global companies operating in the technology, life sciences and aviation/aerospace sectors. She has particular expertise in disputes arising from IT and outsourcing projects and services, IP licences and the misuse of confidential information, as well as claims arising from the design, manufacture and/or supply of products.Angela is well regarded for her clear and pragmatic strategic advice when disputes first arise. She assists her clients in identifying and managing risks early and making the most of their contractual or commercial positions. Where formal action cannot be avoided she represents clients at all levels of the English courts, in arbitration proceedings and in expert determinations. Much of Angela’s work has an international element and requires a co-ordinated approach across multiple jurisdictions.
Anna is an experienced commercial litigator specialising in disputes relating to software and technology projects. Anna specialises in dispute resolution, including litigation and international arbitration. She has particular expertise in contractual disputes, IT projects, outsourcing and services, copyright, software licensing and confidentiality. Her work often includes multiple jurisdictions and close coordination with foreign lawyers.Anna’s practice has focused on the IT sector since 1997. She regularly advises clients about large-scale IT projects, including the management of risk in ongoing projects, termination and exit. Anna has acted in some of the largest and most complex IT cases including De Beers v Atos Origin, and is well regarded for her commercial approach. She also acts for clients in disputes arising out of the licensing of software and the misuse of confidential or proprietary information.Anna is a Fellow of the Society of Computers and Law and a member of its Advisory Board. She is also the Vice Chair of Programs for the Cyber Security, Data Privacy and Technology Committee of the IADC. Experience: Advising a major financial institution in respect of various disputes arising from transformation projects to create common platforms across its diverse businesses. Acting for a middleware vendor to manage a portfolio of disputes relating to the misuse of its products and the failure of its value added resellers to account for royalties. Defending various software companies against claims for breach of confidence and copyright infringement, including high stakes applications for injunctions. Acting for government departments in respect of disputes arising from the implementation of IT projects, including specific governance issues relating to software methodologies, delay and shortcomings in project planning as well as scope and quality issues. Assisting a software vendor to manage its customer relationships in the context of a major dispute about the quality of its software, including the termination of various customer contracts and demands for repayment of licence and implementation fees. Defending a client in a long-running breach of confidence claim in which a competitor sought to use the proceedings to drive our client out of business.
Brian specialises in intellectual property dispute resolution with a focus on patent litigation in the life sciences sector. Brian has more than 20 years’ experience of litigating patents for successful pharmaceutical products – predominantly for originators. He has also handled patent cases for other sectors including electronics and consumer goods. Brian is presently engaged in several projects relating to the global defence of the intellectual property for some of the world's best–selling pharmaceutical products. This involves the co–ordination of legal teams across the world to ensure that the optimal strategy is pursued at both global and local levels. He is also involved in several intellectual property cases in the English Courts across a broad range of industry sectors. Brian’s practice includes resolving disputes relating to biological medicines as well as small molecule drugs in disease areas including oncology, respiratory, and immunology. Brian is the co–author of an annual review of UK patent cases which is published annually in the CIPA Journal. He also teaches patent law on the Oxford University Diploma on Intellectual Property Law and Practice. He is the co-editor of the Kluwer Patent Blog. In 2018 and 2019, Brian was chosen by Who’s Who Legal as the Life Sciences Patent Litigation lawyer of the year and the Patents lawyer of the year.
Chris is an experienced commercial IT lawyer who was one of the first specialist IT outsourcing lawyers in the UK and one of the first to recognise the significance of AI and robotics for the future development of technology and the law. Chris has worked in the IT sector since qualification in 1991. He was one of the first wave of specialist IT outsourcing lawyers in the UK, having worked for both IBM UK and Shaw Pittman in this role from the mid-1990s/early 2000s. He has advised suppliers and customers alike in relation to large scale, national and international IT infrastructure and business process outsourcing transactions. This has included many examples of data centre, application development and maintenance, telecoms networks and desktop service deals, either together or as separate ‘tower’ transactions. With regards BPO transactions, Chris has advised clients involved in F&A, HR and logistics and for other, more general IT commercial deals, has also advised clients in relation to systems integration, agile software development, hardware purchase, website development and hosting, e-commerce and AI and robotics agreements. He is a regular speaker on all of the above topics and was recently the co-chair of the Technology Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA), with whom he continues to collaborate.
Christopher has over 35 years' experience in technology law, both in academia and legal practice. Christopher Millard is Professor of Privacy and Information Law and head of the Cloud Legal Project in the Centre for Commercial Law Studies at Queen Mary University of London. He has over 35 years' experience in technology law, both in academia and legal practice. In recent years, his research has related mainly to contractual and regulatory issues in cloud computing, the internet of things, machine learning, blockchain, and robotics. His first book, Legal Protection of Computer Programs and Data (1985), was one of the first international comparative law works in the field and he has since published widely on legal and regulatory issues relating to information technology, data protection, e-commerce, and internet law. Christopher is Editor and Co-Author of Cloud Computing Law (Oxford University Press, 2nd edition 2021) and is a founding Editor of both the International Journal of Law and Information Technology and of International Data Privacy Law. He is a Fellow and former Chair of the Society for Computers & Law, a past-President of the International Federation of Computer Law Associations, and a past-Chair of the Technology Law Committee of the International Bar Association.
Claire specialises in commercial and intellectual property transactions, most notably in the life sciences, technology, media and consumer product sectors.Claire advises on a wide variety of commercial and IP transactions (the large majority of which are cross-border) and on corporate and investment deals where IP is an important asset. Before becoming a lawyer, Claire spent a number of years working for Abbott Laboratories' medical device business. Since being at Bristows, Claire has also spent time seconded to the in-house legal team of a leading global pharmaceutical company. She is also a member of the UK Bio Industry Association’s Intellectual Property Advisory Committee.Examples of her recent experience include advising: pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device and digital health companies on joint ventures, R&D collaborations, strategic partnerships and licensing deals (with commercial and academic partners) to bring novel treatments and devices to market leading pharmaceutical companies on acquisitions and disposals of rights in medicinal products and the sale of manufacturing and packaging facilities multinational companies on key COVID-19 projects, including collaborations relating to a multijurisdictional clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine, and setting up and operating a COVID-19 testing facility SMEs and international organisations on development, services, manufacturing, supply and distribution agreements for a wide range of pharmaceutical, industrial and consumer products a fast-growing start-up on the IP and commercial arrangements relating to the creation, protection and exploitation of a new children’s character.
David is a corporate lawyer who advises on a wide range of matters including mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity financings, spin-outs from universities and research institutions, international capital markets and corporate restructurings. David has broad experience working with clients across a range of industries, with a particular focus on transactions in the life sciences and technology sectors. This sector focus has resulted in David regularly advising investors, universities, research institutions and spin-out companies on the equity financing aspects of technology transfer and representing these same clients on subsequent financing rounds. The majority of David’s work has a cross-border or international element. David joined Bristows in 2009 having previously trained and worked in the London office of a leading US law firm. David is a CEDR accredited mediator.
Dominic specialises in contentious intellectual property matters, with an emphasis on patent litigation. Reflecting his technical background, Dominic focuses primarily in life sciences disputes, particularly in relation to pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Dominic has handled cases across the range of tribunals in the UK and the EPO and has coordinated litigation across Europe and the world. In the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector, Dominic has worked on all aspects of the drug life cycle, from freedom to operate analyses and early-stage risk assessment of generic competition to complex end-stage litigation, SPCs and anti-trust issues. His extensive experience of cross-border litigation has involved acting for both rights holders and defendants, giving him the broadest possible outlook on strategy and a comprehensive tactical playbook. Dominic has also handled patent litigation for several household names in the consumer products sector on cases ranging from beer containers to shaving products. Dominic writes regularly on reported patent cases in the UK and at the EPO and is a regular conference speaker and presenter. He is a member of CIPA, EPLAW and AIPPI and holds office as the Honorary Secretary of AIPPI UK.
Edwin is a senior associate in Bristows’ competition team. He advises businesses in the technology, pharmaceutical and consumer goods sectors. He has significant litigation experience, having worked on several high-profile cases relating to standard essential patents and FRAND, including Unwired Planet v Huawei, Conversant v Huawei & ZTE and Philips v Vestel. Edwin has also helped to advise a global consumer electronics company which was investigated by the European Commission for resale price maintenance; and a global pharmaceutical company in a dispute relating to post-patent-expiry royalties. Edwin has written for publications such as European Competition Law Review and The Licensing Journal, and regularly contributes to Bristows’ blog on the competition/IP interface, The CLIP Board.
Gareth is a partner and head of the Bristows employment team. He joined Bristows in November 2021. Gareth’s practice covers all aspects of employment law, including Tribunal and High Court litigation. The primary focus of Gareth’s work is on non-contentious employment matters: employment contracts and bonus arrangements; senior executive appointments and terminations; international assignments; complex investigations; reorganisations and redundancies; the people issues arising from outsourcing arrangements and corporate transactions; and international HR projects. Gareth also specialises in immigration law and leads the Bristows’ global mobility practice. He supports businesses with the movement of their workforce around the world and the recruitment and retention of international talent. Gareth’s dual employment and immigration expertise gives his practice a natural international focus. He advises clients across a variety of sectors but has particular experience of acting for businesses within the financial services, technology and life sciences sectors. Gareth’s clients include large multi-national companies. However, he also has a real passion for working with innovative, rapid growth companies, helping them to set up, and grow, in new territories. Gareth’s recent work includes: supporting a fintech business on the roll-out of new contracts to senior managers and certified persons prior to the award of its banking licence; advising a global technology business on the employment aspects of an acquisition across 15 jurisdictions; designing an investigations training course for an international technology business and delivering it across multiple jurisdictions; advising a financial institution on the resolution of a sensitive and high-value whistleblowing claim; advising a number of clients on workforce planning strategies and the implications of the new immigration system following the end of EU free movement into the UK. Gareth speaks publicly on a broad range of employment and immigration topics and regularly hosts thought leadership discussions on evolving employment laws and practices. He has considerable experience of designing and delivering bespoke in-house training programmes for clients. Gareth has spent time in-house at a leading insurance broker and a financial services regulator.
Gemma is an experienced patent specialist with a focus on advising clients in the chemical and life sciences sector in relation to patent disputes and strategy. She has experience before the English Patent Courts and in the worldwide coordination of patent portfolios.Gemma is an experienced and trusted advisor for some of the world’s leading life sciences and chemical companies. She has more than ten years’ experience advising clients in patent litigation matters before the English Courts and providing strategic advice in relation to complex, multi-jurisdictional patent portfolios. He advice is technically excellent but also takes into account the wider commercial implications. Gemma’s focus is on the life sciences and chemical sectors and her 1st in biochemistry provides her with a sound understanding of such disputes. Her experience involves small molecule pharmaceuticals, molecular diagnostics, biologics, antibodies, antibody technology and industrial chemical processes. Gemma has experience of litigating patents before the English Courts (including obtaining preliminary injunctions) and extensive experience of cross-border litigation within Europe and elsewhere in the world, including India and China. Gemma also coordinates worldwide litigation, working closely with multi-disciplinary teams in the defence and enforcement of patent portfolios. Gemma has developed innovative and successful strategies, often combining patent and regulatory law, to assist pharmaceutical companies in the enforcement of their rights. Gemma has considerable experience in domestic and international arbitrations (including ad hoc arbitration and before the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce). Gemma specialises in arbitration involving technical subject matter and many of her arbitration cases involve very substantial damages claims. Gemma is an experienced presenter and panel member. She is a co-editor of the EPO reports Bristows produces for the CIPA Journal, co-authored the UK chapter of AIPLA’s International Patent Litigation guide and writes on UK and EPO case law for a number of IP blogs.
Providing clear, practical and commercial advice, Gemma is an experienced member of the real estate team, with a broad practice across all aspects of commercial property work but with a particular focus on acquisitions/disposal, asset management and corporate occupier work. Gemma has represented a diverse range of clients – working with institutional investors and funds, charitable bodies as well as corporate occupiers ranging from small start-ups acquiring their first leased premises to HQ relocations for large multinational organisations. She has particular exposure advising US companies entering the UK market. Gemma routinely works with our corporate and tax departments to ensure clients receive a complete service and has published a number of articles in Estates Gazette. Highlights of 2018 include: Acting for a multinational tech company in consolidating its employees into single London premises which involved advising on the early exit of surplus premises and re-gearing the terms of, and expanding, its primary office space Acting for several US tech companies expanding into the UK market Advising a Chinese tech company on its UK real estate interests, including a pre-let of a bespoke multi-use HQ facility.
Greg is a specialist lawyer in the film and television sector, having spent ten years working in-house for two major Hollywood studios in London and Los Angeles. He also spent nine months on secondment at one of the UK’s biggest terrestrial TV broadcasters. Greg’s experience covers the full cycle of production and distribution of motion pictures and television content, from acquiring and developing IP, to licensing, marketing and distributing finished content across all media. In addition, Greg’s work includes providing business and legal affairs advice to senior stakeholders in relation to commercial IP and IT transactions for media companies and their co-promotion partners and associated suppliers, including brands, social media influencers, digital agencies, creative services and event management vendors. As a lawyer licensed in both England and California, Greg is qualified to advise on contractual matters and regulatory regimes for marketing and advertising campaigns in both the UK and the United States.
Greg is an experienced IP lawyer with a particular focus on patent litigation in the life sciences sector. Greg's extensive scientific background gives him a valuable understanding of technical issues that can underlie IP matters, particularly in the life sciences field. He has advised and represented clients on small molecule pharmaceuticals, biologics (originators and biosimilars), medical devices (hardware and software), as well as in the cosmetics, chemicals, technology, shipping and online publishing sectors. Greg has represented clients in many cases before both the English High Court (including Patents Court) and Court of Appeal. In addition, Greg has extensive experience of strategic multinational litigation in multiple jurisdictions, including at the EPO, through global pharmaceutical product coordination projects for many clients. He has also spent time on secondment to the IP litigation department of a leading IP law firm in the Netherlands as well as the UK legal department of a global healthcare IT company, working on non-contentious IP/IT, regulatory and commercial matters. Greg is a regular contributor to the monthly EPO reports which Bristows produce for the CIPA Journal and writes on UK cases for a number of IP blogs. He is also the editor of our On the Pulse life sciences microsite and one of the editors of our Biotech Review publication which explores key issues and developments in the biotech space, and co-authored the UK chapter of the AIPLA’s International Patent Litigation guide. Example cases: Novartis v Focus, Actavis & Teva – Patents Court and Court of Appeal patent litigation concerning transdermal dosage regime patent for rivastigmine (Exelon®), including global coordination of parallel litigation and EPO opposition Parainen Pearl Shipping v Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Skipsrederi – case on exhaustion of patent rights in a pneumatic cement discharge system for a ship, including a pan-European jurisdiction challenge Orion v SS for Health and Social Care & Ever Neuro – judicial review challenge to decision of MHRA to grant generic marketing authorisation for dexmedetomidine hydrochloride, involving question of whether pre-accession Czech MA was compatible with Directive 2001/83/EC and thus the first MA for the purposes of calculating the term of data exclusivity. Celltrion v Biogen, Roche & Genentech – clearing the way revocation action in the Patents Court in relation to biosimilar rituximab product (MabThera®) Merck Serono v AbbVie – clearing the way revocation action in the Patents Court in relation to biosimilar adalimumab product (Humira®) ConvaTec v Smith & Nephew – long-running case in the Patents Court and Court of Appeal concerning patents and claims to misuse of confidential information in relation to gel-forming wound dressings (Durafiber®), and subsequent damages claim under a cross-undertaking Allergan v Ipsen – patent litigation in the Patents Court on second medical use patents to botulinum toxin (Dysport®) Servier v National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) – successful judicial review of NICE decision not to recommend a client’s osteoporosis treatment (Protelos®).
Hannah advises on all areas of data protection and privacy law, helping multinational and UK organisations navigate the changing landscape of EU and UK data protection law including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and ePrivacy. Hannah's practice covers a wide range of EU and UK data protection and privacy issues, including ‘accountability’, data transfers, Binding Corporate Rules, adtech, data subjects rights, Artificial Intelligence and direct marketing. Her practice also includes a significant amount of contentious work, advising clients on managing personal data breaches and enforcement by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and other EU data protection authorities, including the CNIL and Irish Data Protection Commission. Hannah is also increasingly advising in the growing area of data protection litigation, assisting with cases before the UK courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union. In 2014 Hannah spent three months on secondment working in the Privacy team of a US law firm in Seattle, where she gained a valuable insight into data privacy law from a US perspective.
Iain has extensive experience of mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, debt and equity financings, joint ventures and private equity transactions. His clients include UK and international corporates, institutional investors and technology growth companies. Iain’s practice covers a range of industries and he has particular experience in technology and life sciences sectors. His clients include listed companies WPP plc, who he has advised for many years on M&A and investment transactions, IP Group plc, the leading UK life sciences investor, Capgemini and DeepMatter Group plc as well as many fast growing UK and international businesses including Oxehealth, Abingdon Health and Blue Diamond. Many of the deals Iain works on are cross-border and recent experience includes leading the Bristows team advising on the acquisition of German based Infochem by DeepMatter, and its associated secondary offering, US based Accel-KKR’s investment in SaaS group Safeguard and the sale of Vantage Power to US listed group Allison Transmission.
Ian is a Partner at Bristows and head of the trade mark portfolios group. Ian advises on all aspects of trade marks and designs including clearance searches, registration, opposition proceedings and portfolio management. He has particular expertise in representing clients before the United Kingdom and the European Union trade marks and design offices, as well as managing international trade mark and design portfolios. Ian represents iconic brands and household names such as BAFTA, the Financial Times, Fat Face and Rocco Forte Hotels as well as market leaders in computer software, medical and dental goods and in the financial sector.
James specialises in contentious IP matters. He has a breadth of experience in advising on patent disputes in the telecommunication, electronics, aeronautics and oil and gas fields. Other areas of James' practice include the interplay between IP and competition law and copyright infringement with an IT-focused subject matter. James is experienced in dealing with cross-border litigation in Europe, North America and Asia. He is closely involved with preparations for the UPC and led a team in our well publicised UPC Moot designed to stress test the UPC procedures in a real-time framework. James' doctorate in optoelectronics and general background in physics provides him with a firm understanding of highly technical issues. He is experienced in working with a diverse range of technical subject matter from 3G mobile telecommunications and optical data storage to immunoassay techniques and pharmaceuticals. James has advised on a number of high profile IP disputes, including acting for Aerotel in the Court of Appeal's ruling on patentability of business methods and software patents and for Philips in a successful patent claim in the field of human computer interaction and computer vision. James is a qualified Solicitor-Advocate with full rights of audience before all of the UK’s civil courts. He is a member of AIPPI and CIPA.
Jamie specialises in data protection and privacy law. Jamie’s practice includes advising clients on a wide range of privacy and data protection issues, including on the adoption of privacy strategies, assessing privacy risks in the context of new lines of business and the adoption of new technologies, notification and consent issues, individual rights requests, annonymisation, and data processing and transfer agreements. He has particular expertise advising clients on ad-tech compliance issues, in terms of navigating ePrivacy and GDPR requirements in the context of data collection, online tracking and profiling. Jamie also has experience in drafting Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs), both for processors and controllers, and in helping clients to navigate the complex BCR application and review process. Jamie also helps clients respond to data breach incidents, and defend regulatory enforcement action across Europe. He has also worked on high profile data protection litigation in the English High Court.
Jennifer deals with all trade mark issues. She has many years’ experience in dealing with UK, International and European Union Trade Marks and in managing international portfolios. Her advice covers all aspects of trade mark matters including negotiation and settlement of trade mark disputes, clearance searches, filing strategy, domain name disputes, prosecution and maintenance, as well as the defence and exploitation of marks. As well as over 16 years’ private practice experience, Jennifer has also worked in-house in a multinational defence technology company where she managed and advised on the group’s international trade mark portfolio, including in-house brand creation and clearance. Jennifer represents clients in a broad range of sectors, including publishing, defence, consumer products, finance, online gaming, bars and restaurants, cruise and travel, real estate and hotels.
Jeremy is an IP specialist and has advised on many contentious matters. He has a particular focus on trade marks, design and copyright as well as confidential information. He has advised on a number of high profile disputes before the High Court, Court of Appeal, Court of Justice, EUIPO and General Court. He has even led the advocacy before the Court of Justice. Jeremy has acted in some of the leading cases that have developed intellectual property law such as: L’Oreal v eBay which concerned the liability of online e-commerce platforms and was the first case to consider injunctions against non-infringing intermediaries Cadbury v Nestle which concerned the registrability of the shape of a four fingered KitKat chocolate bar Glaxo v Sandoz concerning the colour and shape of an asthma inhaler for passing off Jeremy also has extensive registered design, unregistered design and copyright litigation experience for a diverse range of products ranging from luxury jewellery and fashion, plastic containers, artworks, pharmaceutical products and consumer goods. Jeremy is a specialist in advising on strategies to combat IP infringement in the digital world and has advised on a number of cases regarding online infringement. As a consequence, Jeremy also has a particular interest in cross border injunctions and jurisdiction for ~EU trade marks and designs as well as copyright. As part of his breach of confidential information practice, Jeremy has considerable experience in arbitration. Jeremy specialises in arbitration involving technical subject matter and his cases have ranged from chemical compounds used in deodorants to chemical processes. Many of his arbitration cases involve substantial damages claims
Senior Associate in the tax team, Julia has over eight years’ experience advising on a range of property and corporate tax matters. Having passed the Chartered Tax Advisor exams in 2012, Julia is now an active member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation and sits on the CIoTs New Tax Professionals Committee. Julia has advised UK and overseas corporates, pension funds, real estate investment trusts, sovereign wealth funds and partnerships on a varied range of tax issues. Specialist areas include advising on M&A deals and other corporate/commercial transactions, often with a cross-border element. Real estate transaction taxes form a significant part of her practice and in this field Julia has advised institutional landlords, tenants and property developers on SDLT, the construction industry scheme, direct taxes and VAT (including work on student accommodation and residential developments). Julia also frequently acts for entrepreneurs and start-ups and has developed a particular specialism in SEIS and EIS qualifying fundraisings. Julia also provides advice on employee incentives and tax efficient exits in the SME sector.
Justin is Of Counsel and co-head of Bristows’ employment law team. His focus is primarily on advising customers and suppliers in both the public and private sector on the TUPE and employment related aspects of large outsourcing projects. In addition to outsourcing work Justin spends a significant amount of his time advising a wide range of clients on all aspects of employment law and human resources strategy in relation to mergers and acquisitions, disposals, group re-organisations, workplace closures and redundancies. Justin’s practice covers most facets of the employment relationship and includes HR counselling and advisory work. Much of his work is for international employers. Prior to joining Bristows Justin was a senior associate in the London office of a leading US law firm. Justin regularly speaks at client and external seminars. He is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association and Industrial Law Society.
Liz is a highly experienced and well regarded IP specialist with a focus on counselling clients in the Life Sciences sector on national and international patent strategy and litigation. With over 20 years’ experience, Liz is a sought after adviser for Pharmaceutical, Biotech and Medical Devices companies alike and has represented companies in the Life Sciences industry in patent matters in the English Courts all the way up to the Supreme Court. Her extensive experience of coordinating cross-border litigation within Europe and beyond means that her strategic advice is particularly valued making her a trusted commercial adviser to her many clients. Liz is a qualified solicitor advocate, a qualification she has used successfully to obtain an interim injunction on short notice in the High Court. Liz's background in Natural Sciences provides her with an excellent understanding of the technical and commercial issues facing those operating in the life sciences industry. Liz regularly advises clients on the implications of the proposed Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court and played an integral part in representing the alleged infringer in the much publicised Bristows UPC real-time mock action. Liz’s work is regularly published in industry journals and she is also a member of EPLAW, EPLIT, and CIPA, sitting on the CIPA Life Sciences Committee. She is frequently asked to comment and lecture on legal issues affecting the Life Sciences Sector and she is a regular speaker at international conferences on strategic considerations for European and International patent litigation. Liz is a tutor on the Oxford University Diploma in Intellectual Property law and Practice course, teaching patent litigation.
Lizzie is an employment law and immigration law specialist with an expertise in cross-border and international matters. She advises on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment issues. Contentious experience includes acting for employers on complex, sensitive and high value discrimination and whistle-blowing cases as well as unfair dismissal and breach of contract claims. Lizzie is experienced in advising on reorganisations including redundancies (individual and collective), changing terms and conditions of employment and outsourcings; TUPE; disputes involving allegations of discrimination, bullying and whistle blowing; negotiating senior exits; secondments and international assignments. She also has experience of dealing with cross-border disputes arising from the relocation/transfer of staff. Lizzie regularly assists clients with all aspects of sponsor licence compliance, prevention of illegal working and visa applications for international employees and their dependants under the points-based system and other immigration categories. With expertise in both employment and immigration law, Lizzie is well placed to assist and advise clients on all aspects of the relationship with staff including recruitment, relocation, retention of talent and termination. Lizzie is the co-editor and author of the England and Wales chapter of “Employment Law in Europe” (Bloomsbury Professional). Lizzie joined Bristows as an Of Counsel in September 2021 and is part of the employment team. Prior to this, she spent 14 years at a leading city firm during which time she undertook secondments with a global insurer and a UK regulator.
Louise advises on a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, including mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financings (including IPOs and secondary public offers) and joint ventures. Louise is particularly experienced in domestic and international M&A, equity financings and other corporate transactions for clients in technology and IP-rich businesses. Louise acts for both domestic and international clients from growth companies to financial institutions, global multinationals, venture capital and private equity investors. She advises clients across a range of industries, with particular emphasis on technology, media & marcoms, and life sciences. Louise is head of Bristows’ multi-discipline fintech practice in which role she acts for both UK and international clients across the sector from start-ups developing technology to investors and corporates investing in this rapidly expanding area. The fintech practice covers a wide range of fintech payment services, regtech, insurtech, digital transformation, A1, robotics and distributed ledger technology. Louise also has experience advising on a broad range of corporate insolvency matters including: providing strategic and advisory support for company boards; advising on directors’ duties; and restructuring transactions, administrations and liquidations. On insolvency related matters Louise acts for individual directors, company boards and insolvency practitioners.
Marc is a technology specialist with over 25 years’ experience gained in private practice, as well as inhouse at Equifax and on secondments at Microsoft. He advises clients in the technology, financial services and life sciences sectors on data protection, cyber risk and digital matters. Marc helps clients to evaluate and manage data protection and cyber risk in cross-border compliance programs, in technology projects involving the development of machine learning/artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, cloud applications, in life sciences and medical device projects covering healthcare apps, remote diagnostics, clinical trials and investigations and genomic research, and in the financial services sector across the lifecycle of product development and FinTech applications. Marc also advises on cyber security incidents, and regulatory investigations and disputes involving data protection, misuse of private information and breaches of confidentiality, and has experience of devising voluntary redress schemes for individuals affected by such misuse or breaches. Marc advises on both UK and EU law, covering GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, the proposed ePrivacy Regulation, the Network and Information Systems Regulations, the Freedom of Information Act and Environmental Information Regulations, Investigatory Powers legislation and the data protection and security aspects of financial services legislation and regulation (such as PSD2 and the SYSC rules in the FCA Handbook). Marc has a good working knowledge of German and Swedish.
Marek is a partner in the Corporate Practice. He advises companies and investors who are active in IP-rich sectors; in particular the life sciences, technology and consumer products sectors. Marek has a broad transactional practice that includes debt and equity financings, M&A, spin-outs, joint ventures, restructurings and complex commercial agreements. Marek’s clients include several of the world’s largest biopharmaceutical and technology companies, as well as fast-growing companies and specialist investors.
Mark has over 25 years’ experience handling complex contract and tort disputes at all levels of the English courts and in ad hoc and institutional arbitrations. Mark’s clients include corporations operating in industry sectors including life sciences/pharma, information technology and digital media. He is highly experienced in both court litigation and arbitration, and has particular skill in managing and resolving commercial disputes before they reach court or an arbitral tribunal. Mark’s disputes expertise in the life sciences sector runs across a variety of sector-specific contracts relating to IP-rich assets and highly technical subject matter, ranging from licences and collaboration agreements to supply and distribution contracts. He also experienced in product liability and misuse of confidential information disputes. His clients include several household name pharmaceutical companies. In the IT and digital media space, Mark has been engaged in resolving disagreements around IT contracts, computer gaming and social media platforms. The types of contentious issues Mark handles arise from breach of commercial and corporate transaction contracts, judicial review, misuse of confidential information and other torts, product liability, company and shareholder disputes. His cases often involve cross-border complexities, including issues of jurisdiction, applicable law, asset freezing and enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards. Mark runs Bristows' Groupe Juridique Francophone, which provides a full range of legal services to French and Francophone companies with commercial interests in the UK. He speaks fluent French and Italian. He is a member of The Association for International Arbitration.
Mark is a technology specialist with over 20 years’ experience. He advises companies on technology issues such as cloud computing, machine learning, apps and facial recognition. Much of Mark's experience was gained in-house at IBM where he held various roles, including Global Data Privacy Counsel. Mark has particular expertise in data privacy. He advises multinational companies on implementing General Data Protection Regulation compliant programs, Privacy Shield and Binding Corporate Rules. Mark has been involved in many of the most high profile and highest value data privacy litigation in the world and regularly advises companies in relation to incident response and defending regulatory enforcement actions all over the world.
Matt is a partner in the Corporate group. He has over 30 years’ experience in advising on all aspects of corporate law in particular domestic and international M&A, equity financings and venture capital, joint ventures, IPO’s and other securities issues. Matt is recognised for his extensive experience in corporate transactions for clients across all industries but in particular technology and IP-rich industries. He frequently advises on mid-market transactions, whether acting for large corporates, management teams, investors, or early stage companies.He has acted on VC and PE investment transactions for over 25 years, ranging from large buy outs to early stage financings, in technology businesses, clean tech, digital media, life sciences, and sports and media, whether acting for the company or the investor. Recent examples include acting for lithium sulphur battery technology OXIS Energy on successive financing rounds raising over £30m, and for a listed Nordic entity investing in a UK-based clean tech startup.
Matthew is the head of Bristows’ Commercial IP group and advises on transactions involving the development, exploitation and transfer of intellectual property rights.His scientific background is of particular assistance when negotiating and advising on transactions involving new technologies. He has advised on a number of successful global licensing programmes for the exploitation of new technologies and has also advised in relation to international patent pooling arrangements.He works across many sectors but has particular experience in the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medtech, electronics, software, telecoms, petrochemical, cleantech and other industrial sectors. Matthew's experience in negotiating commercial contracts for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medtech clients includes technology licensing agreements, R&D collaboration agreements, drug development and licensing agreements, clinical trial agreements and option agreements for licences. He also advises pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients on the commercial and intellectual property law aspects of manufacturing, distribution, co-promotion and marketing agreements.The negotiation of agreements to resolve disputes involving intellectual property rights forms a significant part of Matthew’s practice. This has included global settlements to end litigation across multiple jurisdictions involving complex intellectual property, licensing and financial arrangements.He advises on the intellectual property aspects of setting up joint ventures and other collaborations including in relation to the ownership and licensing of intellectual property and improvements. Matthew has particular experience advising on intellectual property issues relating to technical standards including FRAND terms for licensing standard essential patents.Matthew was involved in setting up the IP Transactions Course at the UCL Faculty of Laws, University College London and lectures on the course.
Miranda is a corporate tax specialist with over 30 years’ experience.Miranda advises clients from early stage tech and life sciences companies to multi-national corporations operating in the pharma, tech and consumer products industries on the whole gamut of tax issues that they face in carrying on their businesses. Specialist areas include advising businesses, both UK-based and overseas, on the structure and negotiation of M&A deals and other forms of corporate/commercial transaction such as joint ventures, financings, capital raisings, reorganisations, real estate deals and IT and IP contracts/licensing arrangements. Advising on employee tax issues, share incentives, investment reliefs for growing companies, VAT and the taxation of innovation also forms a significant part of her practice. Miranda advises on the full range of tax issues affecting clients in the charities and not-for-profit sector, and, in recent years, negotiating with, and litigating against, HMRC has also become a feature of her work.
Myles is Joint Head of the patent litigation department. He specialises in intellectual property matters with an emphasis on litigation. While his practice covers the full range of intellectual property rights it has focused in recent years upon high-tech patent litigation for multinational companies – his clients include Samsung, Google, Pratt & Whitney and ZTE. Myles is also part of Bristows' competition department with experience of handling competition disputes before the UK courts and the European Commission. His work within this department has given him considerable experience in the interface between IPRs and anti-trust issues, particularly in the telecoms sector where he has acted in a number of leading UK cases including Samsung v Apple, IPCom v Nokia / HTC, Unwired Planet v Samsung and Conversant v ZTE. This experience has meant Myles is at the front of the developing legal area of FRAND dispute resolution. Myles' post-doctoral level engineering training particularly suits him to the more technically demanding cases within his patent practice. Recent cases within this practice have focused on the computing, telecoms and computer gaming sectors. Myles also, however, acts for a number of industrial clients notably in the aerospace and robotic technology sectors. Myles is a qualified Solicitor-Advocate with full rights of audience before all the UK's civil courts. He is a member of AIPPI and a Board Director of EPLAW. His practice has an international nature, with the vast majority of cases in the last 10 years including the co-ordination of parallel cases in jurisdictions throughout the EU and the US. He has closely followed the development of the pan-European Unified Patent Court (UPC) throughout its gestation, attending and speaking at two of EPLAW’s Venice Patent Judges Congresses in the last five years.
Naomi specialises in contentious intellectual property matters. Whilst she advises on a wide range of issues and subject matters, her practice has a particular focus on patent litigation. Naomi’s technical background in physics puts her in particular demand for cases in the technology, telecommunications and engineering sectors, where her detailed understanding of complex technology puts her in a strong position. Her litigation experience encompasses full High Court actions as well as appeals to the Court of Appeal and complex interim applications both at first instance and in the Court of Appeal. Much of Naomi’s work involves cases that are multi-jurisdictional and have an emphasis on strategic and technical co-ordination. Naomi has experience working with a broad range of technical subject matters. She has advised on numerous disputes in relation to mobile technology, spanning a wide range of standardised technologies from the 2G, 3G and 4G systems as well as implementation patents covering aspects of the various operating systems. As a result, Naomi has a wealth of experience dealing with issues that arise specifically in SEP litigation and FRAND disputes, as well as the complex confidentiality aspects of these cases. Naomi has assisted Samsung in its disputes against Apple and Unwired Planet, as well as Google in the Unwired Planet litigation and IPCom in its cases against Nokia, HTC and Vodafone. This has allowed Naomi to approach these cases from the perspective of the implementer but also from the patentee side. Outside of the field of telecommunications, Naomi assisted Petroleum Geo-Services in its dispute against Electromagnetic Geoservices involving hydrocarbon surveying techniques and Philips Lighting in a dispute with Megaman relating to various patents in its LED licensing portfolio and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy in its global dispute against GE concerning wind turbine technology. Naomi was also part of the team that assisted Fidelis in its trade mark and passing off dispute against Fidelity.
Nellie joined Bristows as a partner in July 2021 and is part of the brands, designs & copyright team. Nellie has specialised in intellectual property since 2000. Her experience covers all aspects of trade marks and designs (both contentious and non-contentious), with particular expertise in brand protection and exploitation, the management of both local and international trade mark and design portfolios, global brand launches and restructuring, and advertising and marketing regulation and clearance. Nellie also has experience in dealing with anti-counterfeiting actions and preparing commercial agreements relating to the development and exploitation of IP. Nellie acts for a broad client base including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and major brand owners in the consumer products, hospitality and leisure, food and drink, technology and media sectors. She has also gained valuable industry experience through in-house secondments to Diageo plc, Sara Lee and McDonald’s Europe as IP Counsel, primarily assisting with and managing the respective global and/or European trade mark portfolios.
Pat has specialised in EU law and competition law since the 1980s, handling landmark cases at EU and national level and helping clients from all over the world with their competition law needs. Recognised as a leading adviser on the legal and policy issues that come up when competition law and intellectual property law meet, many of Pat’s clients are in technology rich sectors. Pat works with clients on transactions and complex agreements (including settlement, R&D, licensing and joint venture agreements) in all sectors, with a focus on high tech and pharma/life sciences. Given the confidentiality concerns that are prevalent in innovative industries, Pat has substantial experience of advising on competition law in arbitrations, as well as before the competition authorities in Brussels and London and in Court proceedings at national and EU level. Pat advises regularly on the competition law responsibilities of dominant companies – particularly where IP is concerned. She and her team help with competition compliance and "dawn raids", supporting clients through such dawn raids and their aftermath. Pat was appointed Deputy High Court Judge in September 2018, and will serve in the Chancery Division of the High Court of England and Wales for six years. This part time appointment enables Pat to continue as a Partner, leading the team and working with clients. Pat is a member of the Competition Law Association; the UK Association of European Lawyers; and the Competition Section of the Law Society. She is on the editorial board of both the Journal of Intellectual Property Law and Practice and Competition Law Insight. Pat lectures and writes widely on topical issues. She also teaches the competition law module on the University of Oxford Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice course.
Paul is an industry-acknowledged leader in all aspects of brands law. He specialises in the entirety of the work - from brand and design creation to brand enforcement and exploitation. In terms of exploitation and use of brands, he advises not only on IP rights but day-to-day use of brands in market. This includes advertising, specific product regulatory regimes and relevant consumer law.As well as being a well-renowned litigator, Paul's litigious practice is one of dispute resolution, in which the commercial avoidance and settlement of disputes is every bit as important as victories in the courts. Paul is a member of the International Trademark Association.Paul has lectured and taught widely on brands and dispute resolution.Paul’s cases have defined the law of brands: creating the law of intermediary liability (L’Oreal v eBay), registrability of non-traditional trade marks (KitKat), genuine use of UK and EU trade marks (Walton v Verweij) and “targeting” of UK/EU trade (BDO v BDO Unibank).
Paul is a Partner in the Intellectual Property department specialising in advertising and marketing law and brand protection matters generally. He joined Bristows in 2009.Paul is a Partner in the Intellectual Property department specialising in advertising and marketing law and brand protection matters generally. He joined Bristows in 2009.Though his experience covers the full range of intellectual property issues (both contentious and non-contentious), Paul's work focuses on advertising regulation, content licensing, and trade mark and copyright infringement. His experience includes advising on: global IP protection, multi-platform advertising clearance, social media campaigns, global brand restructuring, passing off disputes, brand launches, and the preparation and defence of ASA, PhonepayPlus, Trading Standards and CMA investigations. Paul's wide range of clients includes major brand owners, car manufacturers, retailers, airlines, financial service providers and media companies. Paul regularly speaks on brand protection and advertising law matters and has been widely published, including in the leading advertising industry guide - Ad Law - published by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising. He was recently appointed as the UK editor of INTA's Trade Dress portal.
Rachel is a patent litigator with over ten years’ experience in advising clients across a broad range of subject matters, from pharmaceuticals and medical devices to areas as diverse as mobile apps, glass fibres and beer dispensing technology. She has a particular interest in the chemical and life sciences sector due to her background in chemistry. Rachel has experience of obtaining interim injunctions, advising on complex damages matters and supporting EPO oppositions, as well as providing strategic patent opinions. In addition to her practice in English patent litigation, Rachel has extensive experience in the co-ordination of IP litigation relating to global pharmaceutical products. This involves managing litigation in a range of jurisdictions and she therefore regularly works closely with lawyers elsewhere in Europe and the USA. Rachel spent seven months on secondment to the patent litigation team of a US biopharmaceutical company where she gained a first-hand appreciation of life as “the client” and a valuable insight into how best to provide good client service and useful, commercial advice. Rachel co-ordinates a team of writers at Bristows for the EPLAW patent blog.
Richard specialises in IP disputes with a focus on patent litigation and the technology sector.His practice covers all aspects of IP disputes including enforcement and licensing strategies, FRAND issues and SEPs, freedom to operate, breach of confidence and trade secrets, as well as patent validity and infringement. A significant part of his practice involves the coordination of litigation before the UK Courts with parallel proceedings in other jurisdictions, particularly the USA and in Europe, as well as before international patent offices. As a solicitor advocate, Richard is qualified to appear before all courts in England and Wales.Richard has a background in engineering and his technical patent litigation experience includes the telecommunications, computer hardware and software, engineering, human computer interaction and LED lighting sectors. Richard has integrated his technical practice with a significant FRAND practice. He advises on issues arising in disputes relating to international technology standards and patent pools including contract, competition law, enforcement and licensing. Richard has acted in the leading FRAND cases in the UK for Philips, IPCom and Samsung. Richard is a member of AIPPI (Association for Protection of Intellectual Property), EPLAW (European Patent Lawyers Association) and LES (Licensing Executive Society) and is a regular speaker at international conferences on UK patent litigation and FRAND.
Richard is a partner in the commercial IP team where his practice focuses on commercial transactions and advisory work that involves the development, exploitation and protection of IP rights.Richard’s practice focuses on commercial transactions and advisory work that usually involve the development, exploitation and protection of IP rights at their core, across a range of sectors. These include life sciences, technology, media and entertainment, consumer and retail. With over 25 years’ experience, his work has included licensing, distribution, manufacturing and supply agreements, as well as related commercial contracts and advising on the relevant IP aspects in corporate deals. Much of Richard’s work involves cross-border projects. Richard has a scientific background and has also worked on secondment with in-house legal teams, both as an associate and as a partner. Richard joined Bristows in January 2020 as a partner in the commercial IP/IT team.
Robert specialises in patent litigation. He has a PhD in molecular genetics and is particularly active for clients within the life sciences sector. Many of the patent and SPC cases Robert has managed in recent years have required the coordination of parallel proceedings in the UK, EPO and other jurisdictions within Europe and elsewhere in the world. He therefore has in-depth knowledge of European litigation and, alongside appearing for clients in the High Court and Court of Appeal, has attended preliminary injunction and main action proceedings in multiple countries within Europe and overseen inspections of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes in India and Japan. Alongside the assessment of validity and infringement issues, his recent cases have included a damages enquiry, a reference to the Court of Justice of the European Union and the availability of Arrow declaratory relief. Robert regularly advises clients on the Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court and, in more recent times, on the impact of Brexit. He also advises on other IP rights and is one of a small number of lawyers who have acted in matters concerning plant variety rights. In addition to his litigation experience, Robert assists clients with freedom to operate opinions and due diligence on the intellectual property aspects of commercial transactions. Robert is one of the founding editors of Bristows’ Biotech Review publication.
Robert has over 40 years of experience as a legal expert and author in the fields of e-commerce, computer games, media and publishing, data protection, information security and cyber risks.Robert is a Solicitor and Notary Public and a Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional. He has specialised in data protection & information security law since 1983. He is President of the Society of Corporate Compliance & Ethics and the Health Care Compliance Association, a Director, Company Secretary and Trustee of South West Grid for Learning which is part of the UK Safer Internet Centre and runs Report Harmful Content He is a founder member of the UN Global Pulse Expert Group on Governance of Data and of AI, Head of the Examination Board for the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection, Chairman of the Governance Board of the Data Protection Network, a Director and Honorary Solicitor of the City Livery Club and a Director and Council Member of the Notaries Society. Robert is listed in Legal 500 as a Leading Individual for Data Protection where he is described as "astounding" and in Band 1 for Data Protection in Chambers UK 2019 where clients describe him as "absolutely exemplary" and the fact that his knowledge of data protection law is "astounding, and his application equally impressive."
Simon specialises in copyright and design rights, database rights, trade marks, passing off, domain names and breach of confidence. As a litigator he has acted for clients in the High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, Court of Justice of the EU, as well as in the Copyright Tribunal and the IP Enterprise Court, including appearing as a Solicitor Advocate. He also manages international brand portfolios for clients. He is particularly active for clients in the design industry, including some of the country’s leading furniture, textile, fashion and product design companies. For example, he acted for the successful defendant in the important design rights case Neptune (Europe) Ltd v DeVol Kitchens Ltd [2017] EWHC 2172 (Pat). Simon also specialises in online intellectual property issues, such as representing the NLA and six of the national newspapers in the proceedings brought against Meltwater and the PRCA on copyright in newspaper headlines, summaries and internet browsing, which went to the European Court of Justice, the Supreme Court and the Copyright Tribunal. Simon is an Appointed Person, a judicial role hearing trade mark appeals from the UKIPO, is the Honorary Secretary of BLACA (the British Literary and Artistic Copyright Association), a member of INTA’s EU Design Reform Task Force and the INTA Rights of Publicity Committee, a tutor on the Oxford IP Diploma course, the co-author of “Intellectual Property”, a text book published by Palgrave MacMillan, currently in its sixth edition, is an Editorial Advisory Board member of the European Copyright and Design Reports and sits on the Advisory Panel of Intellectual Property Magazine.
Sophie specialises in EU and UK competition law and litigation. Sophie has a particular interest in working with businesses in the technology and pharmaceutical sectors, and in relation to the competition issues that arise in connection with standardised technology. Her practice spans all competition issues, but has a particular focus on litigation and investigations. Sophie has significant experience of competition litigation in the UK courts. She has been involved both in pure competition law actions, acting for both claimants and defendants, and in several substantial pieces of patent litigation in which competition defences have been raised. Sophie has market-leading experience of cases involving FRAND licensing obligations, acting for both implementers and patentees. Alongside this, Sophie’s case load to date has included defending applications for interim injunctive relief, handling mixed stand-alone/follow-on damages claims, raising and defending competition issues arising from the seeking of remedies in IP cases and claims arising from IP licences. Alongside her litigation case-load, Sophie handles competition authority investigations at both EU and national level, including in dawn raid situations. A recent focus has been on CMA investigations into the UK generics sector. Issues on which she has advised in this context include both substantive competition law and procedural issues, such as legal professional privilege, as well as dealing with competition director disqualification cases which are now a focus for the UK competition regulator. Sophie is a member of the Competition Law Association (CLA) Committee. She regularly contributes feedback on competition policy issues, as well as speaking at conferences and writing on competition law issues in journals and blogs. Sophie is a regular contributor to Bristows’ blog on the competition/IP interface, the CLIP Board.
Stephen has 20 years’ experience advising across a broad range of EU and UK competition law matters. Stephen’s practice includes distribution agreements, merger control, cartels and anti-trust investigations, abuse of dominance and competition litigation. Stephen has represented clients before the European Commission and the Competition and Markets Authority in the UK and on appeals both to the European courts in Luxembourg and to the UK Competition Appeals Tribunal. He advised the Société Co-opérative de Production (SCOP), the company operating Eurotunnel’s MyFerryLink business, in its landmark appeal. The case was the first ever jurisdictional challenge under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act to reach the Supreme Court in the UK. Stephen also advised the owners of the Evening Standard and the Independent in the Competition Appeals Tribunal on their successful jurisdictional challenge against the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Support’s attempt to intervene in the sale of a minority stake to overseas investors.More recently, Stephen has been advising Dutch listed home furnishings group Hunter Douglas in respect of the CMA’s Phase 1 and Phase 2 reviews of the completed acquisition of 247 Home Furnishings. Stephen is recognised by his clients as adept at providing pragmatic, commercial advice and his experience spans diverse sectors including life sciences, financial services, retail, manufacturing, telecommunications and technology. He has also has experience of working inside a regulator, having worked at OFCOM, the UK’s communication regulator, earlier in his career. Stephen is fluent in French and is a former Chair of the Law Society’s Competition Section, where he remains a member of the Committee.
Teresa is head of Bristows’ real estate practice and has many years’ experience as a commercial real estate specialist. Teresa’s broad practice involves advisory as well as transactional work relating to all aspects of real estate for UK and international businesses. Her clients span a diverse range of industry sectors including life sciences, businesses involved in innovative technologies and retail. Her focus on understanding her client’s sector and business is key to delivering results. She acts for commercial occupiers and investors as well as on corporate acquisitions and disposals, development projects and portfolio management. A significant proportion of her work relates to matters arising from the landlord and tenant relationship.In addition to her commercial practice she also has considerable experience in advising charities, not-for-profit organisations and learned institutions in relation to their occupational and investment assets. Her clients in this sector include some of the UK’s pre-eminent professional bodies.Teresa is a member and on the committee of the Commercial Real Estate Legal Association (CRELA) and is also a member of the Charity Law Association. She is a regular public speaker to industry groups and a contributor to leading real estate publication, Estates Gazette.
Tim has a broad range of transactional commercial real estate experience acting for clients ranging from institutional investors and blue chip technology companies to high net worth private individuals.Tim has a particular focus on the office, retail and leisure sectors and frequently advises on occupier side transactions. His recent real estate experience includes: Advising a global food hall brand on the acquisition of an anchor tenancy within the re-developed retail areas of London Waterloo train station. Acting for a joint venture vehicle in relation to the disposal of a portfolio of investment properties for a total consideration in excess of £110m. Advising a high net worth individual on the acquisition and development of a multi-let city centre industrial building and conversion to student accommodation use. Acting on behalf of a multinational technology business on the acquisition of a new London HQ with an annual rent in excess of £2.5m.
Toby is a partner in Bristows' IT & digital team. He advises on and negotiates commercial, technology and outsourcing agreements. He has particular expertise in working with clients to help them manage and structure complex deals and is recognised for his work on digital transformation, software and telecoms projects.The primary focus of Toby's work is on technology, communications and outsourcing projects where he has acted on both the client and supplier side in sectors such as financial services, telecommunications, healthcare, manufacturing, insurance and life sciences. Toby also advises on other complex commercial transactions and he has particular expertise on deals involving the use and exploitation of technology and intellectual property.Toby's recent work includes international outsourcing deals (covering North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific operations), innovative “alt-net” fibre broadband rollouts in the UK, and 'digital transformation' projects (covering matters as diverse as procuring software and services to ensuring that new apps enabled by such projects comply with relevant regulatory requirements).Toby has also gained in-depth experience of advising clients on procurement strategies (e.g. supplier selection, pricing models and performance incentive mechanisms) and has spent time in-house with a large IT services company, an international telecommunications provider, and a mobile telecommunications company.Toby is a Trustee of the UK’s Society for Computers and Law and lectures widely on IT, e-commerce, cloud computing, agile software development and outsourcing including at ITechLaw, UCL and QMUL.
Victoria joined Bristows’ media disputes team in February 2021. She regularly advises online intermediaries on high profile privacy and data protection cases. Victoria acted on the first “Right to Be Forgotten” claims to be determined at trial in the High Court. She has also acted for mainstream media entities, including representing a leading international broadcaster and online content provider on a breach of confidence claim following its reporting on information contained in a mass data leak. Victoria also advises clients in all sectors on data protection disputes, including in relation to threatened group actions following alleged data breaches.
Vik is a commercial technology lawyer, advising clients in a diverse range of sectors. Vik specialises in all aspects of commercial technology law and regularly leads complex and strategic technology projects. In particular, Vik advises on outsourcing, software development and licensing, digital transformation, cloud computing, e-commerce, and other arrangements involving the use or exploitation of IP and technology. In addition, Vik has a growing practice in emerging disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence, advising both high-growth and established businesses as they develop, deploy and scale new products and services in the market. Vik acts for clients in a diverse range of sectors, including technology, media, government, healthcare and financial services. Having spent significant time seconded to clients – including a global energy company and the Singapore arm of a major telecoms provider – Vik has a keen understanding of the needs of clients' legal and business teams. Projects Vik has worked on include: a £1 billion global customer operations outsourcing involving cutting-edge robotic process automation technology; an agile software development project for a government department relating to critical national security infrastructure; a core banking platform design, build and implementation project for a world-renowned software vendor; negotiations with NHS Trusts on behalf of a healthtech provider for the provision of cloud-based medical diagnostics platforms; and Genomics England’s procurement of bioinformatics services relating to its 100,000 Genomes Project.
Westley is a dispute resolution lawyer with substantial experience advising clients on their business-critical disputes. Westley has represented clients from a wide range of industries – including technology, life sciences, manufacturing, commodities and financial services – in high-value proceedings before the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court in the UK, as well as in arbitrations under various institutional rules. He also regularly provides clients with early strategic advice with a view to avoiding formal proceedings altogether. The majority of Westley’s work has an international dimension and he regularly advises clients on the associated jurisdictional and conflicts issues. Westley trained and practised at a magic circle firm and was seconded during his training contract to a leading German law firm. Westley speaks German fluently.