Will is an intellectual property lawyer with a focus on the litigation and licensing of patents.
He has advised major corporations and other entities with his core focus being in the TMT and other technology sectors. He has litigated patents covering telecoms, electronics, semiconductors, software, pharmaceuticals, drug delivery mechanisms, biotechnology and mechanical engineering.
Will has led high profile litigation in the Patents Court, Intellectual Property Enterprise Court and Court of Appeal, as well as various arbitration procedures. His high-profile cases in recent years include the Rovi (TiVo) v Virgin Media patent litigation regarding electronic program guides (EPGs), network communications and internet applications, and his other work for TMT clients relates to software, gaming, memory devices, mobile phones, mobile web browsers, PVR/STBs, interactive television and user interfaces. His client work has ranged from preliminary injunction analysis to full trials on infringement and validity issues. He has advised clients regarding standards essential patents, SSOs and FRAND issues, has led a major arbitration over “reasonableness” of major telecoms patent licence fees, and has been appointed to reserve membership of the European Union Group of Experts on Licensing and Valuation of Standard Essential Patents.
He has advised clients in multi-jurisdictional disputes with parallel proceedings in the USA and/or the key other European jurisdictions, as well as non-contentious aspects of IP.
Chambers & Partners 2016 says Will is “a formidable patent litigator valued for his technical expertise and his driven approach to clients”, and he has been hailed by the Legal 500 as “outstanding”. Will is listed as an ‘IP Star’ by Managing Intellectual Property, which describes him as “a very thoughtful litigator” who is “strong on strategy and a worthy adversary”. He is also listed as an expert by Who’s Who Legal, and recommended by the IAM Patent 1000 guide.
Following five years of partnership at a major City firm from 2005, he was a partner of the firm from 2010 until 2018 and now holds the position of Senior Counsel.
Outside his work at Marks & Clerk, his interests include family life, triathlon, golf, tennis and the Cure Parkinson’s Trust charity.
Educational Qualifications
Higher Rights of Audience (Civil Proceedings) (2003)
Diploma in Intellectual Property Law, Bristol University (1995)
Qualified as a Solicitor in England & Wales (1994)
MA in Engineering, Cambridge University (BA 1987-1990)
Example Cases
Rovi v Virgin Media / Tivo
Gemstar-TV Guide v Virgin Media
Philips v Nintendo
SanDisk v Kingston
Eckoh v Semafone
Hynix Semiconductor v Rambus
Texas Instruments v Hyundai Electronics
Grimme v Scott
Buehler v FP Spomax
Ferag v Mueller Martini
Weatherford v BJ Oil Services
Bayer v Octopharma
Biogen v Medeva
GlaxoSmithKline v Wyeth
Pfizer v GlaxoSmithKline