Jeremy is an experienced IP and media litigator. He is regularly instructed in disputes involving trade marks, copyright and designs, and patents, and in matters involving reputation management, confidential information, and privacy (including in relation to family law disputes). Jeremy is also instructed in IT disputes (licence compliance, auditing, and software copying), and in professional negligence claims concerning IP. He is often instructed as part of a multi-disciplinary team, alongside lawyers specialising in family, personal injury, regulatory and criminal law.
Jeremy has considerable experience of applying for Norwich Pharmacal orders, interim injunctions, and search and seizure / imaging injunctions. He has been instructed in a range of other contentious interim applications, including public interest immunity, scope of legal professional privilege, scope of ‘without prejudice’ privilege, scope of redactions in disclosure, reporting restrictions and anonymity, and non-party disclosure. Jeremy successfully appeared in the Supreme Court on a point concerning the privilege against self-incrimination in relation to intellectual property claims involving confidential information.
Jeremy has been instructed in a number of contempt applications, including for breach of interim injunctions, disobedience of a search and seizure order, and breach of court undertakings. These have given rise to interim and ancillary issues including bench warrants, permission to serve via Facebook messenger, compatibility with Article 10, and improper collateral purpose.
Most of Jeremy’s cases are litigated in the High Court in London, with appearances in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Jeremy has experience before the Copyright Tribunal and the UK IPO. He is also instructed as part of multi-jurisdictional legal teams, including working with lawyers from Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, Scotland, Switzerland and the USA.
Chambers & Partners 2023
Intellectual Property: “A great eye for detail and impressive depth of knowledge in complex technologies.”
Defamation & Privacy: “Jeremy is a very user-friendly KC. He is knowledgeable, picks things up very quickly and forms a good rapport with the client.”
Chambers & Partners 2022
Intellectual Property: “He is really intelligent and strong on the details.” “He has a good reputation in the crossover between media and intellectual property.”
Defamation & Privacy: He has a very good manner in court.”
Chambers & Partners 2020
Intellectual Property: “I really enjoy working with him as he is extremely responsive, commercial and practical in his outlook.”
Defamation & Privacy: “He was responsive, imaginative, and very helpful in an urgent and confidential matter.”
Intellectual Property
Ocean on Land Technology v. Land [2024] EWHC 396 (IPEC) – Claim alleging patent infringement, trade mark infringement and breach of contract, in relation to lobster rearing technology. Interim application to strike out evidence concerning without prejudice negotiations.
Instagram LLC v. Meta 404 Ltd [2023] EWHC 436 (Ch); [2023] ETMR 20 – Appeal to the High Court from UKIPO re: Soundgram TM, opposition on relative grounds.
Safestand v. Weston (trial) [2023] EWHC 3250 (Pat); [2024] FSR 14 – 5-day trial alleging infringement of three patents and three registered designs relating to trestle scaffolding. Subsequently settled shortly before Court of Appeal hearing.
Safestand v. Weston (experiments) [2023] EWHC 1098 (Pat); [2024] FSR 4 – Interim application seeking disclosure of experiments that were not relied upon by the defendant, raising interesting questions about the extent of waiver of legal professional privilege when some experiments are relied upon.
Semtech Corp v. Lacuna Space Ltd (2021) – Complex claim alleging breach of contract under French and Swiss law, breach of confidence, and copyright infringement, in relation to LoRa communication chips used by the defendants in satellites.
DeLorean Motor Company v Ty DeLorean (2021) – Acted for DMC in dispute concerning the well-known DeLorean trade mark.
Wave Studio v. General Hotel Management Ltd and 162 others [2019] EWHC 3062 (Ch); [2019] EWHC 239 (Ch); [2018] EWHC 2933 (Ch) – acting for the lead defendant in a multi-jurisdictional copyright dispute concerning hotel photographs.
Zurich Insurance Plc v Borisov (2019) – Acting for Zurich in claim against ex-employee for breach of confidence, obtaining interim injunction.
White Winston Select Asset Funds LLC v Mahon [2019] EWHC 1381 (Ch) – Acting for claimant in 5-day trial against a former director for breach of confidence (misuse of customer lists) and breach of fiduciary duty in relation to a bespoke tailoring business.
Chailey Homes v. Solinparc Estates (2018) – Acting for defendant in a copyright infringement claim concerning architects drawings.
Permavent Ltd v. Makin [2017] EWHC 2077 (Pat)– Application for interim injunction in a patent entitlement dispute.
(2017) Acting for a religious organisation in a multi-disciplinary dispute with the Charity Commission, with issues including copyright infringement and privacy.
(2017) Acting for a company in a claim for trade mark infringement and passing off against a large supermarket chain.
Kuhn-Audureau v. McHale Engineering (2016) – Acting for the defendant in a patent infringement claim concerning agricultural machinery.
(2016) Acting for a group of leading global software companies in a copyright infringement and licensing dispute.
GO Outdoors v. Skechers [2015] EWHC 1405 (Ch) – Successfully acted for Skechers as respondent to appeal from IPO – whether trade marks GO WALKING and GO RUNNING were distinctive of the retailing of clothing/footwear.
Baillie v. Bromhead [2014] EWHC 2149 (Ch); [2015] FSR 16 – Successfully defended a professional negligence claim against patent attorneys (led by John Wardell QC).
Martin Lewis (a.k.a. the Money Saving Expert) v. Client Connection Limited [2011] EWHC 1627 (Ch); [2012] ETMR 6 – Successfully acted for Mr Lewis alleging infringement of the registered trade mark MONEY SAVING EXPERT by reason of CCL’s oral use of ‘Money Claiming Expert’.
Atrium Medical v. DSB Invest Holding [2011] EWHC 74 (Pat); [2012] Bus.L.R. 133; [2011] RPC 24 – Concerning scope of patent attorney rights to conduct litigation.
Flashing Badge Co Ltd v. Groves [2007] EWHC 1372 (Ch); [2007] FSR 36; [2007] ECDR 17 – Considered the scope of section 51 of the CDPA in relation to design documents with pictures on them.
Score Draw Ltd v. Finch [2007] EWHC 462 (Ch); [2007] FSR 20; [2007] ETMR 54; [2007] Bus. L.R. 864 – Trade mark appeal: whether the old emblem of the Brazilian football team was devoid of distinctive character.
J.R. French Ltd v Redbus LMDS Ltd [2006] FSR 13 – Patent and know-how licence, with issues including construction, rectification and breach of contract.
NIC Instruments Ltd’s Licence of Right (Design Right) Application [2005] RPC 1 – Licence of right dispute concerning bomb disposal equipment requiring the Comptroller to settle the royalty and other terms.
Hi-Tech Autoparts Ltd v Towergate Two Ltd [2002] FSR 254 and (No.2) [2002] FSR 270 – Infringement of copyright in car mats, and whether rubber car mats were “engravings”.
Media and Entertainment
Mickey de Hara v. Guy Ritchie (2023) – Acting for well-known director, producer and screenplay writer in a contract/copyright dispute about the films “RocknRolla” and “The Gentleman”.
McIntyre Entertainments Group Ltd v. Faulty Towers Dining Experience Ltd (2020) – Acting for the exclusive licensee alleging copyright infringement in the Fawlty Towers scripts, and defending a parallel claim alleging various economic torts, passing off, malicious falsehood, and libel.
Glass Slipper Ltd v. Crimson Flower Productions Ltd (2019) – Acting for defendant in claim seeking declaratory relief concerning ownership of a recording of Swan Lake at the Mariinsky Theatre.
Michael Flatley v. FameFlynet (2016) – Acting for a photo news agency against the well-known Irish dancer in respect of syndication of various photographs of Mohammed Ali taken shortly before his death.
Tariff LC – Acting for concert promoters in a copyright tribunal reference concerning the appropriate royalty rate for the live performance of classical music.
Information Technology / Data protection
Jeremy is regularly instructed in IT licence and software copyright disputes, and fitness for purpose disputes. He also advises on compliance with subject data access requests. Examples include:
(2025) – Dispute alleging breach of a software licence for providing server and hosting services.
Cole v. Marlborough College [2024] EWHC 3575 (KB) – Claim alleging that the school failed to properly comply with a data subject access request by a former pupil. Raised issues about scope of search and reliance on exemptions. Settled shortly before trial.
(2023) – Advising a number of related entities on DSAR responses.
(2022) Acting for a multi-national software company in a software licence auditing dispute against a large UK supermarket chain.
(2021) Acting for defendant in dispute involving use of an API and compliance with service levels.
(2018) Acting for defendant in fitness for purpose dispute of a telephone communication system (hardware and software).
(2016) Acting for a major cryptocurrency entity in respect of various IP, IT and privacy matters.
Softlanding Systems Inc. v. KDP Software Ltd [2010] EWCA Civ 1172; [2010] EWHC 326 (TCC) – Successfully acted for KDP (leading Tom St Quintin) in a 14-day trial in the TCC concerning a software distribution agreement (middleware for the AS/400). The Court of Appeal considered discrete points about the entitlement to terminate the contract, and the credibility of two witnesses.
Pocket Kings v. Commonwealth of Kentucky [2010] Ch 438; [2010] 2 WLR 1110; [2009] All ER (D) 205 [2009]; EWHC 2529 (Ch) – Acted for Pocket Kings (led by Romie Tager QC) in an action concerning Kentucky’s attempts to confiscate the domain name fulltiltpoker.com, raising issues of state immunity and enforcement of foreign orders.
Reputation management / privacy / defamation
Jeremy advises on a range of privacy matters, often involving ultra high net worth individuals, including in relation to disputes in the Family Division (e.g. financial remedy proceedings). Jeremy is instructed to draft and advise on non-disclosure, privacy, and security agreements for various UHNWs for yacht crews and household staff. He is regularly instructed to advise celebrities and other UHNWs facing claims or other threats.
Weavabel Group Ltd v Lance Christie (2023) – Acted for WGL seeking to enforce a multi-party settlement agreement involving a non-derogatory comment clause. Raised various issues on enforcement and the grant of injunctive relief, including compatibility with Article 10. Settled on second day of trial with the defendant giving an undertaking to the Court.
Inivos v Marsh [2023] EWHC 1775 (KB) – Obtained a permanent injunction and declaratory relief to enforce an agreement forming part of a Tomlin Order.
O’Connor v. Secretary of State for Justice (2022) – Claim alleging that the prison service had misused the claimant’s private medical information.
Christoforou v Christoforou (2021) – Instructed (together with Adam Wolanski KC) in proceedings for harassment, breach of confidence, and misuse of private information. Application included an allegation of “warehousing”.
Vugts v Christie [2021] EWHC 2270 (QB) – Acting for claimant in proceedings for libel, misuse of private information, and breach of contract. The interim application raised issues of contractual construction, limitation, “serious harm”, and Jameel abuse.
Fentiman v Marsh [2019] EWHC 2099 (QB) – Successfully acting for claimant at libel trial; defendant had alleged that the claimant had been responsible for a cyber-attack. General damages of £45,000 and aggravated damages of £10,000.
Fentiman v Marsh [2019] EWHC 1563 (QB) – At the PTR, successful application to strike out various defences, including defendant’s attempt to rely on earlier publications.
Choudhrie v. Choudhrie [2019] EWHC 2066 (Ch) – Claim seeking declaratory relief in relation to confidentiality obligations.
Maajid Nawaz v. Reuters plc (2017) – Acting for the Claimant for libel and data protection breaches in respect of his inclusion in the WorldCheck database.
Ecclestone v. Khyami [2014] EWHC 29 (QB) – Acted for Tamara Ecclestone in a claim for misuse of private information, harassment, conversion of a Lamborghini Aventador, and damages under a cross-undertaking.
A v B & C (Flitcroft) [2003] QB 195 – Interim injunction appeal to the Court of Appeal (led by Alastair Wilson QC) acting for a premiership footballer engaged in extra-marital affairs, at a stage when privacy law was in its infancy in this jurisdiction.
Committals
Weavabel Group Ltd v. Lance Christie [2025] EWCA Civ 644 – Defendant appealed finding of contempt on grounds of violation of Article 10 and improper collateral purpose abuse, and appealed committal sentence as being manifestly excessive. Appeal dismissed; acted for the successful claimant.
Weavabel Group Ltd v. Lance Christie [2024] EWHC 2298 (KB) – Committal application for breach of an undertaking not to make derogatory comments. Various defences including interference with Article 10, Jameel abuse, and improper collateral purpose abuse. Defendant held in contempt and sentenced to 14 days in prison, suspended for 12 months.
Inivos Ltd v. Marsh [2023] EWHC 1844 (KB); [2023] EWHC 1985 (KB) – Committal application, raising issue of whether to proceed in absence of defendant. Defendant held in contempt for breach of an undertaking not to publish or disclose any information about the Claimant, and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Defendant ordered to surrender to the tipstaff, with extension of enforcement.
Inivos Ltd v. Marsh [2023] EWHC 894 (KB) – Claimant given permission for alternative service of committal application by Facebook Messenger message and by posting a comment on Facebook.
Specialist Hygiene Solutions v. Marsh (2019) – Committal application for breach of undertaking; defendant pleaded guilty following cross-examination. Sentenced to 8 months in prison, suspended for 2 years.
Universal Business Team Pty Ltd v. Laurie Moffitt [2017] EWHC 3251 (Ch) – Committal application for breach of a search and seizure order (including refusing entry, and only providing an iPad after defendant had wiped it). Obtaining bench warrant prior to trial of application. Defendant held in contempt on multiple grounds, and sentenced to 14 months in prison.
Halfords Media v. Ponomarjovs [2015] EWHC 2892 (Ch) – Committal proceedings against an ex-employee for various breaches of an interim injunction. Associated judgment of 2nd October 2015 permitting the claimant to rely upon the defendant’s without prejudice communications on the basis that it was a cloak for unambiguous impropriety.
Phone hacking / Unlawful information gathering
Jeremy was instructed as co-counsel on behalf of the claimants in the voicemail interception litigation, first against NGN / News of the World (known as MTVIL – the mobile telephone voicemail interception litigation), and subsequently against MGN / Sunday Mirror, Daily Mirror and the People (known as MNHL – the Mirror newspapers hacking litigation), from 2007 to 2017. Jeremy was instructed at trial in March 2015 on behalf of the representative claimants as test cases for damages for phone hacking and other misuses of private information.
Jeremy was sole counsel in the first ever phone hacking cases, for Gordon Taylor (2007-2008) and Max Clifford (in 2009-2010), and has subsequently acted for many others including Paul Gascoigne, Steve Coogan, Sky Andrew, Alastair Campbell, George Galloway, Jeffrey Archer, Sven Goran Eriksson and Charlotte Church.
Times Newspapers Ltd v. Flood and related claims [2017] UKSC 33; [2017] 1 WLR 1415; [2017] 4 All ER 733; [2017] EMLR 19; [2017] 2 Costs LR 345 – Acting for the phone hacking victims (led by Hugh Tomlinson QC and Simon Browne QC) in the conjoined Supreme Court appeal concerning Article 10 and the recovery of additional liabilities (CFA success fees and ATE insurance premiums).
Various Claimants v. Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) – acting for Claimant Group in the 2nd wave of the managed litigation against MGN, and acting individually for numerous Claimants including Lord Archer and Michael Barrymore.
Hurst v. News Group Newspapers and others – Acting for Ian Hurst (a former military spy / agent-runner) in an email interception claim against News of the World, involving multiple non-party disclosure applications against the Metropolitan Police.
Representative Claimants v. MGN Ltd [2015] EWCA Civ 1291; [2017] QB 149; [2016] 2 WLR 1217; [2016] 3 All ER 799; [2016] EMLR 9; [2016] FSR 13 – Acted for all 8 claimants in MGN’s appeal against damages.
Shobna Gulati and others v. MGN Limited [2015] EWHC 1482 (Ch); [2016] FSR 12 – Acted for all 8 claimants in the phone hacking test case against the Mirror group. Judgement addressed the nature of general damages, and the methodology for assessing the quantum of damages, in misuse of private information claims involving multiple torts over a period of time. The 8 representative claimants were awarded general damages of circa £1.25 million in aggregate.
Gulati and others v MGN [2013] EWHC 3392 (Ch) – Application striking out and summary judgment of various phone hacking claims.
Various Claimants v News Group Newspapers [2013] EWHC 2119 (Ch) – Application for Norwich Pharmacal disclosure from the Metropolitan Police, extending the jurisdiction beyond ‘facilitators’ and entities ‘mixed up’ in the wrongdoing.
Phillips v. Mulcaire [2012] UKSC 28; [2013] 1 AC 1; [2013] FSR 12; [2012] EMLR 31 – Acted for the successful respondent in a Supreme Court appeal concerning privilege against self-incrimination and the scope of Section 72 of the Senior Courts Act 1981. Court of Appeal decision reported as Coogan v. NGN at [2012] 2 WLR 848; [2012] FSR 29; [2012] EMLR 14.
Re: Mobile Phone Voicemail Interception Litigation [2012] EWHC 397 (Ch); [2012] 1 WLR 2545; [2012] EMLR 23 – Application striking out and summary judgment of various phone hacking claims.
Intellectual Property Bar Association (Honorary Secretary 2001-2006)
Chancery Bar Association
Qualifications
Natural Sciences (Genetics) at Peterhouse, Cambridge.
Scholar of Rugby School and Peterhouse.
Queen Mother’s Fund Major Scholarship (Middle Temple).
Regulation
Jeremy is a self-employed, independent barrister whose practice is governed by the Code of Conduct of the Bar of England and Wales. He is registered with the Bar Standards Board of England and Wales (Bar Ref: 37151)
He has professional indemnity insurance provided by the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund (BMIF Ref: 2190/049). Please refer to the BMIF website for full details of the world-wide cover provided, and the BMIF’s contact details.
Rugby coaching, sailing, skiing and smallholding.
