With an exceptional reputation for client care, Charlotte is a leading silk in IP and media & entertainment.
Charlotte is a strong team leader, with an inclusive style that makes every member of the team feel respected and appreciated. 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. She has significant experience in both multi-party and multi-jurisdictional disputes.
Charlotte is a polymath. With a background in biochemistry, she is well-known for her work in high value pharmaceutical, biotech and medical devices disputes, but also has a wealth of experience in other technologies, including mobile phones. She also has significant experience in SPC cases. She is equally well regarded for her soft IP and media work, appearing in some of the leading trade mark and copyright cases over the course of her career.
Charlotte was appointed a Deputy High Court Judge in October 2021. She is also an accredited mediator, with an effective manner that helps lead warring parties to resolution. She has successfully mediated disputes in all areas of IP and is rapidly building a reputation as one of the leading mediators in this field.
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Experience
Patents & SPCs
- Advanz Pharma Services (UK) Ltd v Millenium Pharmaceuticals, Inc: patents for formulation and dosing regimen of vedolizumab, an antibody treatment for inflammatory bowel disease; lead counsel for claimant; trial listed for April 2027.
- Meril UK Ltd v Edwards Lifesciences Corp & Anr: patents for transcatheter heart valves; alleged infringement and invalidity; lead counsel for defendants; trial listed for Jan 2027.
- Formycon AG & Ors v Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc & Anr [2025] EWHC 2527 (Pat): formulation patent for aflibercept, an antibody treating age related macular degeneration; validity and infringement by equivalence; lead counsel for multi-party claimants.
- Koninklijke Philips NV v Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp Ltd & Ors: Nov-Dec 2023; technical trial concerning infringement of alleged SEP concerning a method of CQI reporting; lead counsel for claimant; settlement after trial but before judgment.
- Astellas Pharma Inc v Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd [2023] EWHC 2571 (Pat): formulation patent for mirabegron for treating overactive bladder syndrome; validity and infringement; lead counsel for multi-party defendants.
- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd v Grünenthal GmbH [2023] EWHC 1836 (Pat): formulation patent for testosterone undecanoate for treatment of hypogonadism; whether claim plausible across its scope; patent invalid; lead counsel for claimant.
- Neurim Pharmaceuticals (1991) Ltd v Teva UK Ltd [2022] EWHC 1641 (Pat): alleged patent infringement; application for interim injunction; adequacy of damages; balance of convenience; change of circumstances; indemnity costs; injunction refused; lead counsel for defendant.
- Neurim Pharmaceuticals (1991) Ltd v Teva UK Ltd [2022] EWHC 954 (Pat): alleged patent infringement; application for interim injunction; adequacy of damages; balance of convenience; injunction refused; lead counsel for defendant.
- Novartis AG v Teva UK Ltd & Ors [2022] EWCA Civ 775, [2022] EWHC 959: whether court has jurisdiction to grant interim injunctive relief in respect of patent application; application for interim injunction; lead counsel for claimant.
- Optis v Apple [2022] EWHC 561 (Pat): infringement and validity of patent relating to operation of mobile phones; whether patents standard essential; lead counsel for defendant.
- Dr Reddy’s v Warner Lambert [2021] EWHC 2182 (Ch): damages inquiry in respect of cross-undertaking in damages; counterfactual assumptions; case management; lead counsel for defendant.
- Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd v Flexicare Medical Ltd [2020] EWHC 3282 (Pat): infringement and validity of patent relating to breathing tubes; lead counsel for defendants.
- Teva UK Limited v Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA [2020] EWHC 1311 (Pat): application to strike out a claim for quia timet patent infringement; application refused; lead counsel for defendants.
- Master Data Centre v Comptroller General of Patents [2020] EWHC 572 (Pat); [2020] EWCA Civ 475 (sub nom Genentech Inc v Comptroller General of Patents); application to rectify expiry date of SPC; application refused; counsel for claimant.
- Conversant v Apple [2019] EWHC 3266 (Pat): alleged patent infringement and validity of a user interface for a smart phone; patent invalid for obviousness; lead counsel for defendant.
Copyright & Databases
- Paddington & Co Ltd & Ors v Avalon Television Ltd [2025 – ongoing]: alleged copyright and trade mark infringement of Spitting Image puppet; lead counsel for defendant.
- Roadget Business Pte Ltd v Whaleco UK Ltd [2024 – ongoing]: alleged copyright infringement by Temu of images also on Shein platform; multiple interim procedural hearings including Feb 2024 (variation of injunction), May 2025 (whether PRC law justifies restricting disclosure to provision of documents in China only, April 2026 [2026] EWHC 919 (Ch) (waiver of privilege); trial May 2026 (judgment outstanding); lead counsel for defendant.
- 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
- The Polo/Lauren Company, L.P. & Ors v Superdry plc & Anr (2025-2026): alleged trade mark infringement and passing off relating to the sale of second hand clothing and upcycled goods; lead counsel for defendant; case settled.
- Thom Browne Inc & Anr v adidas & Ors [2025] EWCA Civ 1340; [2024] EWHC 2990 (Ch): validity of position marks; alleged trade mark infringement and passing off; lead counsel for defendant.
- Zuru (Singapore) PTE Ltd & Ors v Zuru Group Ltd v Ors (2024-2025): alleged trade mark infringement and passing off; case settled shortly before trial.
- Ladbrokes Betting & Gaming Ltd & Anr v Blockchain Game Partners, Inc & Anr (2023-2025): alleged infringement of GALA trade marks; blockchain technology; blockchain gaming; case settled shortly before trial.
- Volvo v Volta O/027/24: opposition based on earlier mark.
- Swatch AG v Apple Inc [2021] EWHC 719 (Ch): bad faith; intention; parody; appeal from registry.
- Official charts TM O/105/22: descriptiveness; distinctiveness; registry opposition.
- Cartier v BT [2018] UKSC 28: costs of blocking injunctions; lead counsel for defendants.
- 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.
Design Rights
- Chiaro Technology Ltd v Mayborn (UK) Ltd [2023]: alleged infringement and invalidity of registered designs relating to breast pumps.
- Christine Kendall Couture Ltd v Alexander McQueen [2017]: allegations of design right infringement in respect of wedding dress design; lead counsel for defendant.
IT & Telecoms Disputes
- Koninklijke Philips NV v Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp Ltd & Ors: Nov-Dec 2023; technical trial concerning infringement of alleged SEP concerning a method of CQI reporting; lead counsel for claimant; settlement after trial but before judgment.
- Optis v Apple [2022] EWHC 561 (Pat): infringement and validity of patent relating to operation of mobile phones; whether patents standard essential; lead counsel for defendant.
- Conversant v Apple [2019] EWHC 3266 (Pat): alleged patent infringement and validity of a user interface for a smart phone; patent invalid for obviousness; lead counsel for defendant.
- Unwired Planet v Huawei & Ors [2015] EWHC 3366 (Pat): validity and infringement of mobile phone standard essential patent; lead counsel for Google and Samsung.
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; lead counsel for defendants.
Jurisdiction & Remedies
- Novartis AG v Teva UK Ltd & Ors [2022] EWCA Civ 775, [2022] EWHC 959: whether court has jurisdiction to grant interim injunctive relief in respect of patent application; application for interim injunction; lead counsel for claimant.
- 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 months of issue of claim even before CMC.
- Thomas Pink v Victoria’s Secret [2104] EWHC 3258 (Ch): costs recovery in respect of budgeted costs.
Mediation
Charlotte qualified as a trained mediator in 2021 and has been successfully mediating disputes since then. Whilst the details of the disputes are confidential, her experience spans the full range of IP (including patents and trade marks) as well as related contractual disputes. She also has a wealth of experience representing clients at mediation.
- 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
- Member of ChBA, ITMA, IPBA
- Other relevant information
- Mediator – see above
- Publications
- The Modern Law of Copyright – co-author of Fourth and Fifth Editions.
Contact Charlotte May 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.