Andrew Bowler

Patent Litigation, IP

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).

St Paul’s School, Barnes University of Manchester (1995 BA Geography) University of Bristol (Diploma in IP Law and Practice 2002)