David graduated with a degree in Electronic Engineering and
practiced as an engineer for a number of years before being
recruited into the Intellectual Property group of a leading IP
practice to provide technical support in patent infringement
actions. David re-qualified as a solicitor and later joined a
firm of patent agents where, in addition to acting in patent
litigation matters, he gained experience of the filing of patent
applications and proceedings before the European Patent
Office. David returned to solicitors’ practice and after
spending some years with a niche IP practice and joined Field
Fisher Waterhouse LLP as a partner in May 2004.
Since qualifying as a solicitor in 1992 David has practised
IP law
exclusively. His practice has expanded from patents to cover the
full range of IP rights including trade marks, designs and
copyright. David has conducted some leading cases in the IP field
with notable success including: United Wire v Screen Repair
Services - a House of Lords case that established new law on
whether a ‘repair’ can constitute patent infringement; and
Menashe v William Hill – a Court of Appeal case on
infringement of a UK patent by an internet system that crossed
national boundaries. Recent cases include acting successfully for
the defendant in GE Healthcare v PerkinElmer, which was
one of biggest patent cases in the UK in 2005.
In addition to conducting contentious matters, David advises on
non-contentious matters including IP due diligence and IP licensing
agreements, a subject on which he regularly lectures at Cranfield
University.
David is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and
Technology (IET) and a former Council member; Honorary Secretary of
the Research & Development Society; Associate of the Chartered
Institute of Patent Agents; Licensing Executives Society (LES) and
The International Association for the Protection of Industrial
Property (AIPPI).