Nick McDonald is a Partner and UK Head of IP Legal Services with Marks & Clerk. He has significant experience building and leading successful legal services teams in IP firms, with a particular focus on complex, multi-jurisdictional intellectual property disputes. Nick advises clients across all IP rights, combining litigation expertise with strategic counsel and licensing capabilities.

His client base includes major pharmaceutical companies, biotech innovators, high tech companies, and manufacturing leaders. Nick has deep expertise in patent litigation, trade mark enforcement, copyright and design rights disputes, and trade secret disputes. He regularly collaborates with leading IP firms across the US, Asia, and Europe to deliver coordinated, global solutions for clients.

Beyond contentious work, Nick also has significant experience in IP licensing, due diligence, advocacy and mediation. His commercial insight and technical precision make him a trusted adviser to clients navigating high-stakes and high-value IP challenges.

He is a regular speaker at leading IP conferences, including INTA, AIPPI, and the Pharma & Biotech Litigation Conference. 

Nick holds an MA (Hons) in History from the University of Cambridge, a Diploma in Intellectual Property Law from Bristol University, and qualified as a Solicitor in England & Wales in 2004. 

Nick holds higher rights in both criminal and civil advocacy and is a qualified mediator.

Recognition

• “Nick is an outstanding litigator with an impressive practice, presence and mentality.” - IAM Patent 1000
• "Nick is simply outstanding and a really nice guy." - IP Stars
• “Nick is a highly experienced and skilled intellectual property solicitor, with expertise in both contentious and non-contentious matters.” - Legal 500
• Recommended Individual - Juve Patent (2025)
• Patent Star - IP Stars (2025)
• Trade Mark Star  - IP Stars (2025)

Example cases

• Silence Therapeutics Ltd v Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc HP-2017-000040
• Stretchline Intellectual Properties Ltd v H&M Hennes & Mauritz Ltd [2017] EWCA Civ 199 (30 March 2017)Abanka DD v Abanca Corporacion Bancaria SA
• FibroGen Inc v Akebia Therapeutics Inc [2021] EWCA Civ 1279
• Battlekart Europe SA v Chaos Karts Ltd [2025]
• ToolGen, Inc v Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated & others HP-2025-000013