Intellectual Property
London (Bar)
22 years ranked
Provided by 11 South Square
Brian was appointed as one of Her Majesty’s Counsel learned in the law in 2019 (QC, now KC) after serving 5 years as Standing Counsel for the Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (2014-2019). He has represented clients as leading or sole counsel in the United Kingdom’s highest courts, including the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the High Court. He has represented the United Kingdom before the Court of Justice of the European Union and appeared in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar.
With a very strong technical background, Brian particularly specialises in cases involving substantial and complex electronic or computing content, but he continues to practice in all areas of intellectual property, including having recently acted in Trade Mark and Design matters before the Supreme Court and the CJEU, pharmaceutical matters before the High Court, Court of Appeal and the CJEU, and confidential information, passing off and copyright matters before the High Court.
Brian has considerable and varied experience in major multi-jurisdictional litigation and is very well acquainted with working in international teams.
Provided by Chambers
Brian Nicholson KC is a razor-sharp and thorough silk recommended for his abilities assisting with hi-tech patent litigation proceedings involving telecommunications companies. His expertise encompasses cases concerning invalidation and infringement actions. His other areas of experience include Community design right disputes and pharmaceutical patent work. Sources highlight his deep knowledge in technology and telecommunications.
Brian Nicholson KC is a highly regarded silk who has particular strength in handling patent and trade mark disputes. He is especially valued by technology clients as he has both commercial awareness and a comprehensive understanding of the technical aspects of his cases. He is particularly noted for his work in telecommunications, where his prior industry experience serves him well.
Provided by Chambers
Brian has been a real godsend. Brian was brilliant on a really high-stakes, complicated case, not just on the technical detail, but also in terms of his engagement, responsiveness and commerciality.
He is the doyen of the IP Bar for technology and telecommunications cases. He is a good advocate and absolutely understands tech better than anyone else. Judges listen to him as he knows so much.
Brian Nicholson is an outstanding legal strategist with the ability to cut through technically and legally complex issues to the heart of the matter and provide succinct, pragmatic advice.
Brian is great on patent and FRAND cases. He is articulate and clever.
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