IT & Engineering

Michael has developed expertise in a number of fields, including helping clients weaponise their intellectual property against competitors and defend against the aggressive actions taken by others. Michael has advised on multiple contentious patent matters, including both EPO oppositions and issues of infringement. In a notable recent case, Michael successfully defended a client against an opposition by their major competitor which has secured and strengthened our client’s patent, now considered to be worth multiple millions.

Michael has advised on over 150 patent applications for the US corporate Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS) in the field of oil and gas reservoir surveying. He has also achieved particular expertise in the high-tech field of cryogenics, having worked on over 40 recent patent applications for Oxford Instruments and regularly advised on high value strategic matters.

Michael also has extensive experience relating to designs, having filed over 190 registered design applications. His largest client in this field is Limited Brands (owner of the high street brands Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works); however Michael also assists a number of UK start-ups in this regard. He also regularly advising on matters of design infringement and for instance has instigated around 100 takedown notices for infringing sports equipment products worldwide. Such actions have helped his clients to secure and maintain commercial agreements with their distributors in the face of disruptive efforts undertaken by third parties.

Partner

University of Cambridge, MA, PhD Natural Sciences; Advanced Physics & Materials Science 1992-1998