Mike Gilbert

Mike is an intellectual property lawyer who advises clients in a wide variety of business sectors on issues including litigation and dispute resolution, IP strategy and risk limitation, due diligence projects and commercial and licensing transactions involving IP.

Mike is described in Legal 500 2009 as having “built up some very loyal big clients” and “a very robust approach to spurious threats of litigation”. He is also recommended by Chambers and Partners 2009.

His particular expertise is in patent litigation where Mike advises clients in the chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and electronic business sectors in actions in the Patents Court of the High Court, Court of Appeal, Patents County Court, and on several petitions to the House of Lords. Mike has acted in a number of multi-jurisdictional technical disputes working as part of an integrated team of IP specialists spanning many countries.

Mike is also actively involved in alternative dispute resolution and is an advocate of mediations.

In addition to Mike’s work in the patent litigation field, he also represents a number of clients in trade mark related disputes both before the courts in the UK and in the CFI on a European level. He has assisted in a large number of trade mark oppositions through OHIM and the UKIPO and on many internet and domain name issues through Nominet and WIPO.

Mike provides freedom to operate and other due diligence reports on complex IP issues for clients looking to invest in, acquire or hive off IP assets.

Mike has also advised clients who are looking to exploit their IPRs through business sales or acquisitions and has been involved in formulating strategies for maximising the exploitation of IPRs through sale, licensing, franchise and distribution arrangements.

Mike joined Marks & Clerk Solicitors in March 2000 and became a partner in 2001. He is a member of the Law Society and AIPPI. He is a regular speaker at conferences worldwide. Mike speaks French and Dutch and his interests include skiing, windsurfing, music and his family.

BA Natural Sciences Cambridge University (1989)

Diploma in Law Cambridge University (1990)

Diploma in Intellectual Property Law Bristol University (1994)

Qualified as a Solicitor (1993)

Recent Cases/Matters

Aontec v Smartrac

Affymetrix v Illumina

Tercica v Insmed

MedImmune v Celltech

Whitserve v CPA

Jeyes v Henkel

Novamedix v Fox & Gardner