Tom specialises in complex intellectual property litigation, licence disputes and strategic counselling.
He has an international practice, with extensive experience in devising multi-jurisdictional patent litigation strategies and co-ordinating legal teams across Europe, Asia and North America.
With an academic background in chemistry and biochemistry Tom is well suited to handle complex life science disputes and has advised clients in a variety of disputes concerning biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical devices. However, Tom also acts for clients spanning a wide range of industry sectors and technologies, including the determination of FRAND rates for standards essential patents. Tom also has extensive experience in resolving contractual intellectual property licence disputes, including through arbitration.
In addition to considerable experience before the English courts, Tom is representing clients in several of the first cases brought in the UPC.
Tom advises on the full range of intellectual properties rights, including trade mark oppositions and infringement proceedings, confidential information, copyright and passing off.
Tom spent several months seconded to a leading German firm specialising in patent litigation.
Tom joined Powell Gilbert in 2010 and became a partner in 2020.
Key cases
- ICC arbitration on behalf of a listed technology company concerning breach of its trade secrets
- LCIA arbitration against a listed biopharmaceutical company over payment obligations in respect of patent sublicensing revenue
- Glenmark v AstraZeneca (dapagliflozin)
- Ericsson v ASUSTeK (UPC – video codecs / FRAND)
- Ocado v AutoStore (UPC – robotics)
- Luye v UCB (transdermal patches)
- AutoStore v Ocado (robotics)
- Warner-Lambert v Actavis & Others (pregabalin / damages inquiry)
- Confidential patent licence dispute concerning payment of post patent-expiry royalties
- Napp v Dr Reddy’s & Sandoz (buprenorphine transdermal patches / cross undertaking damages inquiry)
- Helms-Man v Amazon (power adaptors)
- Ansell v Reckitt Benckiser (synthetic polyisoprene products)
- Leonardo MW v Elbit Systems (missile defence systems)
- Unwired Planet v Huawei & Others (telecoms / FRAND)
- R (Vitra, Cassina, Knoll) v Secretary of State for Business (judicial review – copyright)
- Cambridge University v Punter of England (enforceability of trademark settlement agreement)
- Wobben Properties v Siemens & Others (wind turbines)
- Good Technology v Airwatch (mobile management technology)
- HTC v Gemalto (microcontrollers)
- HTC v Apple (smartphones)
- LG v Sony (Blu-ray technology / FRAND)
- W.L. Gore & Associates v Geox (footwear)
- Abbott v Evysio (coronary stents)
