Tom Mitcheson

Called to the Bar 1996

Practice Area
Tom has experience in all types of contentious intellectual property work including patents, trademarks, copyright, design right, registered designs, passing off and confidential information.

He has been involved in a wide variety of interim applications and trials in the High Court and Court of Appeal (both with & without a leader) and in the House of Lords. He also makes regular appearances in the UK Patent Office & Trade Marks Registry and at the European Patent Office (both Opposition Division and Board of Appeal level).

Reported cases
Recent and Notable Cases include:

• Eli Lilly v HGS (industrial applicability, Supreme Court)

• MedImmune v Novartis (biotechnology patent)

• Eli Lilly v Neopharma (summary judgment, pharmaceutical patent)

• Warner-Lambert v Teva (interim injunction, pharmaceutical patent)

• Tate & Lyle v Roquette [2011] FSR 3 (chemical patent, CA)
• Medeva's Patents [2010] RPC 27 (SPC, CA & CJ Reference)
• Siemens v Seagate (N. Ireland, patent action, hard disk technology)
• Teva v Merck [2010] FSR 17 (pharmaceutical patent, CA)
• Schütz v Werit [2010] FSR 22 (mechanical patent, CA)
• CoreValve v Edwards [2010] FSR 34 (patent action, heart valve technology, CA)
• L'Oreal v eBay [2009] RPC 21 (trademark dispute, CJ Reference)
• Lundbeck v Teva [2009] RPC 13 (House of Lords, scope of sufficiency)
• Sandoz v Napp [2009] RPC 11 (patent action, controlled release formulation)
• GSK v Sanofi (vaccine patent, EPO Opposition & Appeal)
• Leo v Sandoz (interim injunction, patent action)
• Knorr-Bremse v Haldex [2008] FSR 30 (conflict of laws)
• UK Channel Management v E! Entertainment [2008] FSR 5 (survey evidence in trademark dispute)
• Luxim v Ceravision [2007] RPC 33 (patent entitlement dispute)
• Pozzoli v BDMO [2007] FSR 37 (patent action, CA)
• USP v LGH [2006] FSR 6 (damages inquiry in copyright action, CA)
• Mayne v Debiopharm [2006] FSR 37 (patent action - platinum based anti-cancer drug)
• Ultraframe v Eurocell [2005] RPC 7 & 36 (patent & design right, CA)
• GSK v. Apotex [2003] FSR 30, [2005] FSR 44 [2007] Ch 71 (damages inquiry on cross undertaking in patent action, CA)
• Agilent v Waters (damages inquiry in patent action)
• Dyson v Strutt (confidential information in employment dispute)
• Mayne v Teva (patent infringement - pharmaceutical formulation)
• NIC’s Licence of Right [2005] RPC 1 (design right)
• Sir Robert McAlpine v Alfred McAlpine [2004] RPC 36 (passing off)
• Buchanan v Alba [2004] RPC 34 (improvements clause, HL)
• Rockwater v Coflexip [2004] RPC 46 (patent infringement, CA)
• THQ/JAKKS v World Wildlife Fund [2004] FSR 10 (contractual dispute)
• Arsenal v Reed [2003] RPC 9 & 39 (trademark - ECJ reference & CA)
• Collag v. Merck [2003] FSR 13 (confidential information)
• Coca-Cola v. Mabe (trademark & passing off) [2002] FSR 47
• Apple Computer’s Design Application [2002] FSR 8
• 3M v Rennicks Ltd [2000] FSR 727 (stay pending EPO proceedings)
• Magic Ball Trade Mark [2000] RPC 439 (non-use)
• Kimberly-Clark v Procter & Gamble [2000] RPC 422 CA
• Norowzian v Arks [2000] FSR 363 (copyright in Guinness television advert, CA)

Professional Memberships:
Intellectual Property Bar Association; Chancery Bar Association; Bar European Group.

Publications:
• Wang P-C, Vancura A, Mitcheson TGM, and Kuret J (1992), “Two genes in Saccaromyces cerevisiae Encode a Membrane-Bound Form of Casein Kinase-1”, Molecular Biology of the Cell 3, 275-286
• Contributor to “Terrell on the Law of Patents” (16th edition 2006).

" A “top performer” and "ahead of his peers in terms of his presentation and preparation.” … Commentators say he is "absolutely excellent, as he is so thoughtful and helpful. Considered, thorough and diligent, he engages and communicates well with all of the team including clients, experts and solicitors." Chambers and partners 2012, Star Individual

 “an excellent junior who gives prompt, sound advice" Legal 500 2012, Leading Junior

"Intellectual Property Junior of the Year", CHAMBERS BAR AWARDS 2009

 

Appointments
Standing Counsel to the Comptroller General for Patents Designs and Trade Marks 2009-

Education
• Baring Foundation Scholarship 1990-1991. Spent 9 months living with Nobel Prize-winner Dr James Watson and working as a research assistant at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Long Island, USA.
• Trinity College, Cambridge (1994 MA First Class Hons Natural Sciences).
• City University (1994 Diploma in Law CPE - Distinction).
• Inns of Court School of Law & Major Scholar, Inner Temple (1996)