Michael Tappin, KC

Michael Tappin QC is probably best known for his work on many of the leading patent cases of the last decade. However, he has experience across the range of IP and has a strong track record in trade mark cases, having been involved in a series of references to the Court of Justice of the European Union. He has also conducted two trials in the High Court of Ireland and was responsible for handling the clinical evidence at a major international arbitration in The Hague.

In recent years, he has been described in Chambers & Partners as being 'a highly effective and persuasive advocate with a no-nonsense but user-friendly attitude, 'a very clear and effective advocate, who is calm, thoughtful and confident, as having 'great intellect, exceptional advocacy skills and impressive paperwork and as being 'a thorough thinker, technically brilliant and a purveyor of sound advice. It was also said that he 'always does a first-class job: he runs cases in a calm, efficient manner and is fully engaged with the litigation process.

Michael obtained a first class degree in chemistry and a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Oxford and was called to the Bar in 1991. Between 2003 and 2008 he was Standing Counsel to the Comptroller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks and in 2008 he was named Chambers & Partners' Intellectual Property Junior of the Year. Michael took silk in 2009.