Expertise
Les advises on all aspects of corporate rights-based disputes and is a specialist in intellectual property law and defamation, including patents, trade marks, designs, copyright, breach of confidence, libel, malicious falsehood, comparative advertising, IT-related and other contracts of a technical nature.
Les has acted for clients in the life sciences, food & drug, manufacturing, oil & gas, software, retail and publishing sectors.
As an Advocate, he has appeared in both the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Key Experience and Clients
- Jane Norman v Select (Retail), community design infringement (2007)
- Offshore Hydrocarbon Mapping plc v Lehman Brothers International, successful corporate-libel claim (2007)
- Freeclaim IDC v Thompsons Solicitors [2006] EWCH 3519 (QB), successful corporate-libel defence
- Electromagnetic Geoservices AS v Offshore Hydrocarbon Mapping plc, successful patent infringement defence (2007)
- Special Effects Limited v L'Oreal SA [2006] RPC 33, trade mark registry practice
- Baker v Maynard [2006] EWHC 1342 (QB), successful libel claim
- Slimma plc v Matalan HC05CO1960 (2006), successful copyright infringement claim
- Brighton v Jones [2005] FSR 16, successful defence of joint-ownership of copyright claim
- Complaint against Iain Duncan Smith (Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards 2004), acting for Mr Duncan Smith
- ICN Photonics v Dr Patterson [2003] EWCA Civ 343, striking out libel claim and settling relating trade libel claims relating to an anti-wrinkle laser device
- R v University of Oxford; ex parte Galligan (2002) ELR 494, judicial review proceedings and establishing allegations were groundless in subsequent inquiry
- MCA v Charly, copyright infringement, joint tortfeasors and directors' liabilities (2002-pupil)
- Spice Girls Ltd v Aprilia World service BV [2000] EMLR 478, breach of contract and misrepresentation (pupil)
- United Wire v Screen Repair Services (1998) Times Law Reports, patent infringement and defence of 'repair'
Professional Memberships
CIPA, ITMA.
Career History
| 2007 |
Partner, Mishcon de Reya |
| 2001 |
Barrister, Pinsent Masons |
| 2000 |
Pupil-barrister - 3 Verulam Buildings, 5 Raymond Buildings & 5 New Square |
| 1997 |
Solicitor, Withers |
| 1996 |
Solicitor, Lochners (now Laytons) |
| 1995 |
Solicitor, Baker & McKenzie (Sydney) |
| 1993 |
Legal Officer, NSW Parliamentary Counsel's Office |
| 1993 |
Admitted NSW; 1996 (England); 1997 (Ireland); Called to the Bar 1994 (NSW) and 1999 (Middle Temple) |
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BSc (First Class Honours - Physiology) University of Melbourne; LLB University of Sydney; MPhil (Pharmacology) Queens' College Cambridge; Certificate in Intellectual Property Law QMW, University of London. |
Articles and Publications
- No grounds? Fighting groundless threats of infringement Copyright World July 2005
- Joint authorship and infringement by 'altered copying' European Intellectual Property Review 2004 (10), pp472-475
- Stones in his pockets: How a tragicomedy became a legal farce Entertainment Law Review 2004 (15), no. 7, pp228-231
- Freelancers and copyright in the information society Managing Intellectual Property 2005
- Attack of the Killer Tomatoes? Regulation of GM food Legal Week 2 September 1999, p14
- Patently obvious? The EU Biotech directive considered Pharmaceutical Visions (Winter 97/98), pp 75-79
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