He has wide experience in all areas of IP, including patents, trade marks and passing off, copyright, designs and confidential information.
James is particularly well-known for his work in high-tech patent litigation, in fields such as telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, advanced medical devices and engineering. Clients appreciate his strategic focus on their business objectives, whether by litigation or otherwise.
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Experience
Patents & SPCs
- Cloud Cycle v Verifi [2024] EWHC 2001 (Ch): patent for in-transit concrete slump monitoring.
- Abbott v Dexcom [2024] EWHC 36 (Pat): continuous glucose monitoring devices.
- Optis v Apple [2021] EWHC 3121 (Pat), [2023] EWCA Civ 438: mobile telecoms patents.
- InterDigital v Lenovo [2023] EWHC 172 (Pat), [2023] EWCA Civ 105: mobile telecoms patents.
- Shenzhen Carku v NOCO [2022] EWHC 2034 (Pat): patent for car jump starter, including a claim for threats in relation to the Amazon IPR procedure.
- St Gobain v 3M: [2022] EWHC 1018 (Pat), [2022] EWHC 1666 (Pat): patent for abrasive particles.
- Commscope v SOLiD [2022] EWHC 769 (Pat): distributed antenna systems, patent amendment procedure.
- Mitsubishi v Archos [2021] EWHC 1639 (Pat): mobile telecoms patents.
- Evalve v Edwards Lifesciences [2019] EWHC 1158 (Pat), [2020] FSR 4, [2020] EWHC 513 (Pat), [2020] RPC 12, [2020] EWHC 514 (Pat), [2020] RPC 13: medical devices patents, including public interest defence and interim injunction.
- Boehringer v Generics [2019] FSR 21: pre-action disclosure in pharmaceutical patent case.
- Parainen Pearl v KGJS: [2018] EWHC 2628 (Pat), [2019] RPC 8: exhaustion of rights, right to repair and implied licence in relation to sale of a shipwreck.
- Magnesium Elektron v Neo: [2018] FSR 11: patent for manufacture of rare-earth mixed oxides.
- Philips v Asustek: [2017] EWCA Civ 1526, [2019] EWCA Civ 2230, [2020] RPC 1 mobile telecoms patent litigation, including licensing issues.
- Varian v Elekta [2017] EWHC 712 (Pat): patent for a combined MRI and Linear Accelerator.
- NAPP v Dr Reddy’s [2017] RPC 5: patent for a buprenorphine transdermal patch.
Copyright & Databases
- Coward v Phaestos [2013] EWHC 1292 (Ch): dispute over ownership of software for automated hedge fund trading.
- B4U v PRS [2013] EWCA Civ 1236: copyright in songs used in Bollywood musicals.
- Destra v Comada [2013] EWHC 1575 (Pat): trial of the issue of ownership of copyright in software for financial trading.
- Baigent v Random House [2007] EWCA Civ 247, [2006] EWHC 719 (Ch): the Da Vinci Code copyright infringement case.
- BHB v William Hill [2005] EWCA Civ 863: first UK database right claim, concerning horseracing fixtures.
Trade marks & Brands
- Zaha Hadid Ltd v The Zaha Hadid Foundation [2024] EWHC 3325 (Ch): trade mark licence agreement – interpretation and restraint of trade.
- Easygroup v Beauty Perfectionists [2022] FSR 8 and [2024] EWHC 1441 (Ch): online cosmetics retail; issues including infringement and partial revocation.
- Beauty Bay Ltd & Anor v Benefit Cosmetics Ltd [2019] FSR 31: trade mark infringement relating to cosmetics
- Frank Industries v Nike [2018] FSR 24, [2018] FSR 35: trade mark infringement action concerning Nike’s “Nothing beats a LDNR” campaign.
- P&G v Star Global [2016] RPC 19: parallel imports of beauty products.
- IPC Media v Media 10 [2014] EWCA Civ 1439: dispute over concurrent uses of the IDEAL HOME trade mark.
- Total v YouView [2014] EWHC 1963 (Ch): trade mark infringement action concerning set-top boxes.
- Numatic v Qualtex [2010] EWHC 1237 (Ch): passing off claim relating to the shape of the famous “Henry” vacuum cleaner.
Design Rights
- Clinisupplies v Park [2012] EWHC 3453 (Ch): design right in catheter packs – when a design is too general to be protected.
- Numerous claims for design right infringement involving clothing, for and against retailers such as Primark, Principles, Mango and others.
Trade Secrets & Confidentiality
- Celgard v Shenzhen Senior [2020] EWHC 2072 (Ch), [2020] EWCA Civ 1293: confidential processes for battery separator film.
- Hi-Level v Levine [2018] EWHC 1882 (Ch): ex-employee breach of confidence claim.
- Coward v Phaestos [2013] EWHC 1292 (Ch): confidentiality in software for automated hedge fund trading.
IT & Telecoms Disputes
- IPCOM v Xiaomi [2019] EWHC 3074 (Pat): application for interim injunction in respect of standards essential patent.
- Sony v SSH [2016] EWHC 2584 (Pat): patent for Internet networking address translation.
- Unwired Planet v Huawei: complex, multi-trial claim for infringement of mobile telecoms patents.
- IPCOM v HTC [2017] EWCA Civ 90: mobile telecoms patent for random access.
- Rovi v Virgin Media [2015] EWCA Civ 781, [2015] EWCA Civ 1214: patents for cable television technology.
- TCT v Ericsson [2015] FSR 31: mobile telecoms patents.
Jurisdiction & Remedies
- Optis v Apple [2024] EWHC 197 (Ch): Court determination of FRAND terms for mobile standards licensing.
- Saint-Gobain v 3M [2023] EWHC 2769 (Pat): collateral use of disclosure documents, CPR 31.22.
- Easygroup v Beauty Perfectionists [2022] FSR 8: Brexit transitional provisions relating the court’s jurisdiction over EU trade mark actions.
- Coward v Phaestos [2021] EWHC 9 (Ch): disclosure for the purpose of foreign proceedings.
- Celgard v Shenzhen Senior [2020] EWHC 2072 (Ch), [2020] FSR 37, [2020] EWCA Civ 1293, [2021] FSR 1: jurisdiction of English court over claim for misuse of trade secrets in China.
- Shenzhen Carku v NOCO [2020] EWHC 2014 (Pat): interim declaration of non-infringement in a patent case, summary judgment procedure
- Parainen Pearl v KGJS [2017] EWHC 2570 (Pat): jurisdiction of the Court to grant Europe-wide declarations of non-infringement.
- Sony v SSH [2016] WLR 186: post-trial variation of costs budgets in patent litigation.
- Coward v Phaestos [2014] EWCA Civ 1256: effects of offer to settle outside Part 36 CPR.
- Teva v Amgen [2013] EWHC 3711 (Pat): claim for declaration of non-infringement against company other than the owner of the patent.
- Xena v Cantideck [2013] EWPCC 1: damages inquiry for patent infringement.
Arbitration & Mediation
- EDO Corp v Ultra Electronics [2009] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 349: availability of pre-action disclosure in an arbitration claim.
- Education & awards
- BA, MA, Law, St Anne’s College, University of Oxford (1992-95)
- Bachelor of Civil Law, St Anne’s College, University of Oxford (1995-96)
- St Anne’s College Law Prize (1995, 1996)
- Gray’s Inn Scholarship (1997)
- Professional memberships
- Chancery Bar Association
- Intellectual Property Bar Association
- Gray’s Inn
- Irish Qualifications
James has been called to the Irish Bar, but is not presently on the Roll of Practising Barristers; straightforward administrative steps would need to be taken before he can accept instructions as an Irish barrister. Please contact one of the clerks to discuss how we may assist on European work.
- Hobbies & interests
- Watching and playing football and cricket
- Long walks that end in a pub
Contact James Abrahams KC'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.