Year of call: 1999

Described in the directories as “a knowledgeable and deeply impressive adviser on the full spectrum of IP disputes” and “widely considered to be one of the rising stars of the IP Bar”, Mark practices in all areas of intellectual property law, with particularly strong expertise in major patent litigation. He has considerable experience in appearing as the sole advocate both at first instance and in the Court of Appeal, as well as in the EPO.

Mark has an outstanding reputation in the patents field, having acted in a number of high profile actions including the Generics (UK) v. H. Lundbeck litigation in the House of Lords (escitalopram). Recent pharmaceutical and biotech cases include Eli Lilly v. HGS (Neutrokine-α), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals v Genentech (VEGF Trap-EYE®/Lucentis®), Ranbaxy v. AstraZeneca (Swiss-form claims/esomeprazole), and Convatec v. Smith & Nephew (Durafiber® wound care products). Mark has represented Nokia in the Interdigital, IPCom and HTC litigations, recently successfully defending Nokia’s interests in a judgment handed down in early 2012. He has also appeared in both high tech and mechanical patent actions, including appearing alone in the leading Court of Appeal case on indirect infringement of Grimme Landmaschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG v Derek Scott. 

Other areas of practice include media and entertainment, where Mark has represented broadcasters, record companies, picture libraries and well-known personalities in copyright and privacy claims, as well as having experience in musical copyright actions concerning substantial hits. His media clients include Northern & Shell, the Premier League Football Association, the Ian Fleming Estate, the BBC, ITV Network, Phonographic Performance, and various record companies and well known personalities.

Trade mark, passing off, copyright, design rights and complex copyright/breach of confidence actions (often involving commercial information such as client lists or technical software disputes), constitute other common areas of his practice. Mark also has experience in professional negligence cases concerning patent and IP professionals, the most recent being Kerr v. Lawrence Shaw & Associates. In addition to litigation, Mark acts for clients in arbitration and mediation proceedings. Further, he is experienced in obtaining search and freezing orders, including those required in urgent 'John Doe' situations. Mark’s experience is reflected in a correspondingly wide range of clients from multinational corporations to individual inventors.