Neeraj Thomas

Practice Areas

Neeraj Thomas is a partner in our Technology, Intellectual Property and Media team specialising in contentious intellectual property and sports and disciplinary work.

Neeraj has significant expertise in all areas of contentious intellectual property including trade marks, patents, copyright, confidential information and designs. On the contentious IP side Neeraj has acted for a number of large international, UK and Scottish companies. Neeraj is very experienced in managing and running contentious IP litigation, the majority of which takes place in the Court of Session (Scotland’s Supreme Court). He is one of a handful of IP litigators accredited as an IP specialist by the Law Society of Scotland and sits on the Law Society of Scotland’s IP sub-committee.

Neeraj’s other main area of expertise is in the sports and disciplinary area. Neeraj has provided lead advice to the largest Scottish sports governing bodies on a number of high-profile disciplinary issues involving clubs and players over the last few years. Neeraj has also been heavily involved in advising on, drafting and implementing and thereafter managing the new disciplinary rules for various sports governing bodies. Neeraj has also acted for number of, clubs and players/athletes in a wide range of sports and regulatory matters.

Work Highlights

IP:

A major broadcaster on copyright enforcement strategy for its exclusive content. Such work has included raising a large number of copyright infringement actions in the Court of Session.

A large UK brand on a £10 million trade mark dispute in the Court of Session, which included counter-claims and various disputes before the EUIPO and UKIPO.

A global computer game manufacturers in respect of a allegations of copyright infringement which resulted in the obtaining and carrying out of a “search and seizure” order.

A major utility provider, on the recovery if its confidential information which had been misappropriated by consultants and employees.

A prominent and large religious group in relation to the infringement and misappropriation of its copyright protected information and documents.

A major Scottish business in relation to various IP issues including the theft of its website source code by a competitor.

A major US NSDAQ company in relation to multiple copyright infringement and breach of contract claims.

A major oil and gas operator services company in relation to a patent entitlement/ownership claim brought by a former employee.

Sport:

The largest Scottish Sports Governing Body (“SGB”) on the drafting, implementation and operation of a detailed set of rules and procedures governing its disciplinary procedures and other ancillary regulations.

A major Scottish SGB on a high-profile and sensitive case providing assistance on the prosecution and appeal of alleged breaches of the SGBs financial rules by a club,

A major Scottish SGB on two complex Judicial Reviews brought by a minority but prominent shareholder of a major club relating to “dual interest” and “fit and proper person” rules.

A major Scottish SGB in relation to alleged breaches of the Laws of the Game brought by FIFA which involved the use of so-called “political symbols” by the national team involving proceedings being raised at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.

A major Scottish SGB on a sensitive investigation into the conduct of a club and certain players and its officials in relation to a serious off-field incident.

Acting for a major SGB in conducting a detailed review and thereafter revising its disciplinary rules and procedures.

Acting for a Scottish SGB advising on and thereafter carrying out detailed revisions of its Commonwealth Games selection policy.

Acting for a Scottish cyclist in a selection appeal against her non-nomination for the Commonwealth Games.

Acting for Scottish SGB providing advice on whether European and World governing body regulations were discriminatory and/or manifestly unfair in the way they treated UK athletes versus European/international athletes.

Education