Home > Services > IP Litigation
Back to all services

Clear and commercial legal advice

Whether you are bringing a claim or defending one, our experienced IP litigation team can guide you through every step of the process, from early advice to trial, and will consider with you the possibility of settlement at all stages.

We advise on all aspects of IP law, with expertise ranging from smaller disputes (often resolved in negotiation) to complex, high-value litigation and the coordination of parallel actions in other jurisdictions. Our team regularly advises on issues such as validity challenges, infringement claims, entitlement disputes, contractual matters, and occasionally matters where intellectual property disputes intersect with wider areas of law, such as commercial contracts.

The early stages of a dispute are often the most crucial. Setting out your position clearly and assessing risk at the outset can be decisive. We provide practical, strategic advice to help you take control of the process and achieve the best possible outcome.

Our solicitors work closely with our patent and trade mark attorneys, offering a coordinated approach to both enforcement and protection. This integration ensures that we combine legal, technical, and commercial expertise to address the complexities of each case effectively.

We act across the full spectrum of IP disputes, including patents, trade marks, copyright, design rights, breach of confidence, and licences. Our team has extensive experience before the UK Intellectual Property Office, the High Court (including the Patents Court and the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court) and the Court of Appeal, as well as handling cross-border cases in collaboration with international partners.

In addition to litigation, we are skilled in negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and oppositions, delivering tailored strategies that balance commercial objectives with the need to protect and enforce your rights. Whatever the forum, our goal is to secure the strongest possible outcome for you.

Areas of litigation we cover

  • We have individuals with extensive experience representing clients in disputes in the High Court, IPEC, the Patents Court and the Court of Appeal relating to: Patents
  • Trade Marks
  • Copyright
  • Design Rights
  • Breach of Confidence and Licences.

Using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

In addition to litigation, we also facilitate and advise clients on forms of alternative dispute resolution including:

Mediation – A neutral third party helps both sides reach a voluntary agreement.

Arbitration – An independent arbitrator hears the case and makes a binding decision if the parties agree.

Benefits of choosing Venner Shipley

The advantages of choosing Venner Shipley for IP litigation lie in our highly experienced and integrated team. We involve trade mark and patent attorneys as necessary to ensure the most efficient, technically informed analysis and action in every case.

We tailor our approach to each client’s specific objectives, providing pragmatic and commercially focused advice. Recognised for our expertise and client satisfaction in leading legal directories, we are dedicated to delivering high-quality, reliable services that our clients can depend on.

Our strong track record of successful litigation outcomes reflects both our depth of expertise and our ability to handle some of the most complex and high-profile disputes before the UK courts and beyond. Our experience includes acting in cases across a broad range of industries and technologies, such as:

Patents

  • Cambridge Quantum Computing v River Lane (UK High Court) – quantum chemistry patent entitlement – one of the most technically challenging technologies in patent litigation to date.
  • Nokia v IPCom (UK High Court) – mobile telecoms patent validity and essentiality – the largest UK patent litigation case to date, involving 35 patents.
  • LG v Sony (UK High Court) – blu-ray, DVD and TV patent essentiality – a commercially high-stakes and high-profile patent litigation.
  • Aristo Pharma v Takeda (UK High Court, ongoing) – Lisdexamfetamine pharmaceutical SPC validity – a case raising significant public policy issues regarding SPCs for pro-drugs.
  • Celltrion v Biogen, Genentech, Roche (UK High Court; France Cour de Cassation) – rituximab biosimilar patent validity – dosage regimes for indications including chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Unwired Planet v Samsung, Huawei, Google (UK High Court) – mobile telecoms patent validity and FRAND licence terms – co-defendant coordination with Huawei.
  • Wobben v Siemens (UK High Court, Court of Appeal) – wind turbine operation patent validity and infringement – a case of significant commercial importance.
  • Nikken v Pioneer (UK Court of Appeal) – drill chuck patent validity and infringement – the leading case on post-trial claim amendments.
  • Smith & Nephew v ConvaTec (UK High Court, Court of Appeal, EPO Opposition Division x2, and EPO Board of Appeal x2) – silverised gel-forming wound dressing patent validity – the leading medical device case on expert evidence in UK patent trials and managing parallel UK/EPO litigation.
  • ConvaTec v Smith & Nephew (UK High Court, Court of Appeal) – silverised gel-forming wound dressing infringement – the leading case on claim construction of numerical ranges in patent claims.

Trade Marks & Passing Off

  • Virgin Enterprises Limited v Heineken (non-alcoholic beer)
  • Admiral Group Plc v Admiral Markets/Admirals (financial services)
  • Faul Productions Holding BV v Dockyards London Limited (trade mark: DOCKYARD)
  • ABP Technology Limited v Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc (Court of Appeal – trade mark: STEALTH)

Our services

We handle the full range of IP dispute work, including validity challenges, infringement claims, entitlement disputes, and contractual issues.

Our integrated team of solicitors, barristers, and patent, trade mark, and design attorneys brings together deep expertise across all sectors and technologies. Whether through mediation, arbitration, oppositions, or litigation, we deliver strategic solutions tailored to protect and enforce your IP rights.

We take the time to understand your situation and work with you to find the best commercial outcome through negotiation, alternative dispute resolution, or, if necessary, the courts.

In this section