Nicholas joined Chambers as a tenant in 2024 following the successful completion of his pupillage. He is developing a practice across the full breadth of intellectual property law including patents, trade marks, copyright, design rights, confidential information, and related contractual and jurisdictional disputes.
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Experience
Patents & SPCs
- Abbott Diabetes Care Inc & Ors v Dexcom Inc & Ors: assisting Daniel Alexander KC, Isabel Jamal and Michael Conway in a patent dispute concerning the design of applicators for on-body continuous glucose monitoring systems.
- Sandoz AG & Ors v Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH [2024] EWHC 796 (Pat): assisting Adrian Speck KC, Henry Ward and Michael Conway in an action concerning a once-daily dosing regimen for rivaroxaban, an anticoagulant drug.
- Don & Low Ltd v Building Product Design Ltd: assisting Maxwell Keay in an action relating to waterproof roofing materials.
- Hill v Touchlight Genetics Ltd: assisting James Whyte with legal research into the proper role of scientific advisors in patent disputes, in preparation for an interim application. This is the leading case on this point ([2024] EWHC 533 (Pat)).
- Orderly Mind Ltd v Queue It ApS: assisting James Whyte with legal research and preparation for an interim hearing in a patent dispute concerning software for virtual queueing.
Nicholas is currently undertaking a secondment at a leading IP firm, where he has assisted in patent matters across various technical fields including telecoms (4G and 5G), turbomachinery, and vaping/heat-not-burn tobacco devices (covering airflow, electronics, consumable design and user interface aspects).
During his secondment, Nicholas has also gained experience in matters before the Unified Patent Court (UPC). He conducted legal research in support of an unconventional claim for injunctive relief, to restrain use of an artificial intelligence-trained system.
He also assisted in the preparation of an appeal to the UPC Court of Appeal, regarding time limits for appealing a decision in default, and advised on potential routes of appeal to the CJEU and/or the ECHR in the event that initial appeals were unsuccessful.
Copyright & Databases
Discovery Corporate Services Ltd & British Telecommunications Plc v Old Benwell Village Social Club and Institute Ltd: instructed as counsel in a default judgment application.
During pupillage and since joining chambers as a tenant, Nicholas has advised and drafted statements of case in copyright infringement and licensing disputes regarding a range of subject matter. This has included architectural drawings, textiles, automotive parts, digital graphics for television programmes, garden decorations and publishing. He has appeared in the High Court in default judgment applications, on behalf of copyright collecting societies, against businesses infringing music copyright
Trade marks & Brands
- Haggart v Iktomi Ltd & Anr: sole counsel representing a minority shareholder seeking declaratory relief as to IP ownership, trade mark invalidation and ancillary relief for breach of a shareholders’ agreement, concerning the well-known Lakota nightclub in Bristol.
- Lotus Group Ltd v Snapcommerce Holdings Inc & Anr: junior counsel to Beth Collett in a trade mark infringement and passing off dispute brought by a provider of travel services and luxury golf holidays (settled shortly before trial).
- Abbott Diabetes Care Inc v Sinocare Inc [2025] EWHC 206 (Ch): assisting Daniel Alexander KC and Ashton Chantrielle in an action concerning the validity and infringement of Abbott’s trade mark for the shape an on-body continuous glucose monitor.
- Thom Browne Inc v adidas AG [2024] EWHC 2990 (Ch): assisting Charlotte May KC and Maxwell Keay in a trial of the infringement and validity of adidas’ UK portfolio of trade marks for three stripes on clothing.
- Ladbrokes Betting and Gaming Ltd v Blockchain Game Partners: assisting Ashton Chantrielle in an application for disclosure guidance and resisting an unless order, in a trade mark dispute concerning the word ‘GALA’ in relation to gaming.
- easyGroup Limited v Beauty Perfectionists Limited & Ors [2024] EWHC 1441 (Ch): assisting Maxwell Keay with legal research in a trade mark dispute concerning the defendants’ use of the sign ‘easyCOSMETIC’ in relation to cosmetic products.
- Thatchers Cider Company Ltd v Aldi Stores Ltd [2024] EWHC 88 (IPEC): assisting Martin Howe KC and Beth Collett in a trial of the infringement of rights in Thatchers’ cloudy lemon cider by an imitation product sold in a discount supermarket.
During pupillage and since joining chambers as a tenant, Nicholas has also advised and drafted statements of case in trade mark and passing off disputes across a range of sectors, including academia, fine wines, travel, accountancy, fashion and healthcare.
Design Rights
During pupillage, Nicholas has assisted in the preparation of advice and statements of case in disputes involving registered and unregistered design rights.
Trade Secrets & Confidentiality
Since joining chambers as a tenant, Nicholas has undertaken a secondment at a leading IP firm, where he advised on contractual obligations of confidence and remedies for a well-known manufacturer of sexual health products.
During pupillage, Nicholas assisted in the drafting of a statement of case in a claim for breach of confidence, relating to the unauthorised extraction and use of a database containing personal data, by the proposed claimant’s former business partner.
Media, Sport & Entertainment
- Tyburn Film Productions Ltd v Lucasfilm & Ors [2024] EWHC 2312 (Ch): assisting Tom Moody-Stuart KC in the preparation of an appeal concerning unjust enrichment, in relation to a contractual restriction on the ability to digitally “resurrect” the deceased actor Peter Cushing OBE in the Star Wars prequel, Rogue One.
Since joining chambers as a tenant, Nicholas has advised and settled pleadings for the producers of a popular children’s entertainment programme airing on Netflix and Amazon Prime, in a character merchandising dispute. During pupillage he drafted a statement of case responding to an allegation that the format of a reality television programme had been copied.
FRAND & Competition Law
- Panasonic Holdings Corporation v Xiaomi Technology UK Ltd & Ors [2024] EWHC 1733 (Pat) – assisting Isabel Jamal (junior counsel to Andrew Scott KC, Blackstone Chambers) in an application for declaratory relief of interim FRAND licences.
- Education & awards
2023: Postgraduate Diploma in Bar Practice (Bar Course) – Inns of Court College of Advocacy (Distinction, 2nd in year).
2022: Graduate Diploma in Law – City, University of London (Distinction).
2021: MA & MEng, Engineering – Trinity Hall, Cambridge (Distinction).
Awards
Lincoln’s Inn: Lord Denning Bar Course Scholarship (2022), Lord Brougham GDL Scholarship (2021).
Trinity Hall, University of Cambridge: Bateman Scholarship (2021), David Moore Prize in Engineering (2019), Academic Scholarship (2019).
Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge: Institute of Nuclear Engineers Jeffrey Lewins Prize (2020).
- Other Information
Professional Memberships
Lincoln’s Inn
- Hobbies & Interests
Running, climbing, live music, theatre.
Contact Nicholas Harris'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.