Nick Smee
Nick has acted on a series of high-profile trade mark and patent disputes and also advises on complex IP transactions. He advises clients in a range of different sectors including retail and leisure, tech, construction and automotive.
Nick has extensive trade mark and patent litigation experience, having acted on a series of high-profile cases before the EUIPO, Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Recent highlights include representing Comic Enterprises in its dispute with Twentieth Century Fox over hit TV show 'glee', which is listed to be heard in the Supreme Court.
Nick is also a transactional specialist, regularly drafting and advising on complex agreements including patent licenses and R&D collaborations, and has gained experience on secondment at Mondelez International and Williams Formula One.
Nick helps clients to make the most of their brands and technology, providing strategic advice at various stages of the product lifecycle, from providing training on how to protect early-stage technologies and designs, through to bringing a client's rights to fruition in lucrative deals. Nick's work on brands covers initial advice on filing for protection and international registration strategy, through to enforcing rights in court. This experience has enabled Nick to build strong working relationships with his clients and to better understand their key drivers and the challenges they face.
Judgments Nick has been involved with include:
- Comic Enterprise Ltd v Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp [2014] EWHC 2286 (Ch); [2014] EWHC 185 (Ch); [2016] EWCA Civ 41; [2016] EWCA Civ 455
- AP Racing v Alcon [2017] EWHC 248 (IPEC)
- Sony Communications International AB v SSH Communications Security Corp [2016] EWHC 2584 (Pat)
- Kohler Mira Limited v Bristan Group Limited [2013] EWPCC 2
- BOS v Cobra [2012] EWPCC 38
- Kingspan Group Plc v Rockwool Limited [2011] EWHC 250 (Ch)