Charlotte is a strong team leader, with an inclusive style that makes every member of the team feel respected and appreciated. With a background in biochemistry, she has an eye for detail without losing a clear strategic overview and is particularly good at devising litigation strategies commensurate with clients’ commercial objectives.
Charlotte was described as a “female QC trailblazer” in Managing Intellectual Property’s 50 Most Influential People in IP 2019. Together with Lindsay Lane QC, Charlotte was part of the first all-female team to lead in a patent trial at the High Court, successfully acting for the Defendants in Conversant v Apple.
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Experience
Patents & SPCs
- Sandoz v Searle [2017] EWHC 987 (Pat); [2018] EWCA Civ 49: interpretation of Art 3(a) SPC Regulation. CJEU reference pending.
- Teva v Merck [2017] EWHC 539 (Pat): validity of SPC under Art 3(a) and Art 3(c) SPC Regulation.
- Accord v Medac [2016] EWHC 24 (Pat): validity of formulation patent.
- Unwired Planet v Huawei & Ors [2015] EWHC 3366 (Pat): validity and infringement of mobile phone standard essential patent.
- Warner Lambert v Actavis [2015] EWHC 2548 (Pat): infringement of second medical use claim.
Copyright & Databases
- Abot Hameiri Communication v Banujay Group [2017]: TV Format Dispute.
- ITV v TVCatchup [2015] EWCA Civ 204: scope of s.73CDPA.
- FAPL v QC Leisure [2012] EWCA Civ 1708: communication to the public; screening football matches in pubs using foreign decoder cards.
Trade marks & Brands
- Cartier v BT [2018] UKSC 28: costs of blocking injunctions.
- Walton International v Verweij Fashion [2018] EWHC 1608 (Ch): infringement; non-use; bad faith; earlier rights; counterclaim in passing off; honest concurrent use; abuse of process.
- FIL Ltd v Fidelis Underwriting Ltd [2018] EWHC 1097 (Pat): infringement; non-use; descriptiveness; bad faith; services with insufficient clarity or precision
- Thomas Pink v Victoria’s Secret [2014] EWHC 2631: infringement; non-use; acquired distinctiveness; passing off.
Design Rights
- Christine Kendall Couture Ltd v Alexander McQueen [2017]: allegations of design right infringement in respect of wedding dress design.
IT & Telecoms Disputes
- Unwired Planet v Huawei & Ors [2015] EWHC 3366 (Pat): validity and infringement of mobile phone standard essential patent.
Internet Law & Cybersecurity
- Cartier International v BT [2018] UKSC 28; Cartier International v British Sky Broadcasting [2014] EWHC 3354 (Ch); [2016] EWCA Civ 658: blocking injunctions that require ISPs to restrain access to websites that sell counterfeit goods.
Jurisdiction & Remedies
- Cartier International v BT [2018] UKSC 28; Cartier International v British Sky Broadcasting [2014] EWHC 3354 (Ch); [2016] EWCA Civ 658: whether court had jurisdiction to grant blocking injunctions.
- Walton International v Verweij Fashion [2018] EWHC 1608 (Ch): whether notice of discontinuance an abuse of process.
- Celltrion Inc v Biogen Idec Inc [2016] EWHC 188 (Pat): listing patent trial within 12 mths of issue of claim even before CMC.
- Thomas Pink v Victoria’s Secret [2104] EWHC 3258 (Ch): costs recovery in respect of budgeted costs.
Media, Sport & Entertainment
Charlotte has a portfolio of loyal media clients. She regularly advises on TV format disputes.
Arbitration & Mediation
Charlotte has represented clients in a number of confidential mediations. They have all resulted in a mediated settlement.
- Education & awards
- Biochemistry, Brasenose College Oxford (2:1)
- Diploma in Law, City University (with Commendation)
- Professional memberships
- Bar Council Wellbeing Committee Member
- ChBA Wellbeing and CSR Committee Member
- ITMA Copyright and Designs Committee Member
- Chair of Chambers’ Equality, Diversity and Wellbeing committee
- ChBA, ITMA
- Other relevant information
- Mediator
- Hobbies & interests
- Running
- tennis
- dancing
- eating out
Contact Charlotte May QC's clerks
Whilst barristers have a designated practice management team, all the clerks have the capacity and knowledge to assist in cases involving all counsel.