DRS Experts

Occupation:

Solicitor: Internet Law principal

Professional Experience:

Adam was a partner at City of London law firm Withers before setting up internet and domain name law practice Adlex Solicitors in 2001. As well as domain name disputes, Adam handles internet reputation, website terms and privacy, web contracts and other online legal issues.

DRS Expert:

2002 – present. Over 100 decisions.

Occupation:

Mediator and Arbitrator

Professional Experience:

Alan, MA (Jurisprudence) Oxford, MDR UTS, is Managing Director of Strategic Action Pty Ltd., a mediation consultancy, having practised for over 20 years as a litigation lawyer in Sydney before turning in 1987 to mediation and arbitration. He has conducted over 3,000 mediations and arbitrated over 620 domain name disputes.

DRS Expert:

2008 – present. Over 50 decisions.

Occupation:

Domain Consulting and ADR Director

Professional Experience:

In 1999, Andrew founded Demys Limited. The company provides corporate domain name management and domain-name related Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) advice to UK and international organisations. Demys was acquired by the Com Laude Group in September 2018 and, within the wider group, Andrew now serves as Domain Consulting and ADR Director.

DRS Expert:

2001 – present. Over 100 decisions.

Occupation:

IP Consultant and Mediator; Solicitor and Barrister (non-practising)

Professional Experience:

As of July 2021 Anna is ‘resting’ after 35 years of practice as a London-based IP lawyer, including as a solicitor and partner in law firms including Linklaters, Redd and Wiggin, and as a barrister at Wilberforce Chambers. Her main areas of focus have been on brand strategy and IP dispute resolution (litigation, mediation and other forms of ADR) across the spectrum of trade marks, domain names, designs and copyright.

DRS Expert:

2004 – present. Over 30 decisions.

Expert Review Group member: 83 reviews. 13 appeal panels.

Occupation:

Consultant, non-practising solicitor.

Professional Experience:

Bob practised as a solicitor in major City of London and regional law firms for over 30 years, specialising in commercial litigation, intellectual property and IT related matters, with recognition as a leading individual in both Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession and Legal 500 during that time.

DRS Expert:

2002 – present. Over 100 decisions.

Occupation:

IP Consultant

Professional Experience:

Catherine qualified as a solicitor in 2002, starting her career at a large midlands-based firm and specialised in litigation including contractual disputes, directors disqualification proceedings and defamation. She joined Serjeants LLP, a firm of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, in order to pursue her interest in Intellectual Property. She qualified as a Trade Mark Attorney in 2011, being made a Partner in 2013 before leaving in 2020 to become a Consultant.

DRS Expert:

2019 – present.

Occupation:

Solicitor (retired)

Professional Experience:

Until retiring in 2017, Chris had been a partner of international law firm DLA Piper, where he had spent the previous 30 years and been acknowledged by independent publications, such as Chambers and Legal 500, as a leading Intellectual Property lawyer. His practice covered the protection, enforcement and exploitation of brands, designs, inventions and confidential information; e-commerce, comparative advertising; character and personality merchandising; advertising clearance and pre-litigation infringement advice.

DRS Expert:

2004 – present. Over 50 decisions.

Occupation:

Barrister

Professional Experience:

Chris graduated with a 1st in physics from Imperial College and worked as an IT project manager before turning to law. He joined specialist intellectual property chambers 11 South Square in 2010, and is now well-established with a wealth of experience in all intellectual property disciplines.

DRS Expert:

2019 – present.

Occupation:

ICT Policy Consultant

Professional Experience:

Claire Milne is an experienced independent telecoms and ICT policy consultant, active both nationally and internationally. She has worked closely with UK consumer organisations and sat on a number of public bodies. She is involved with the internet as an enthusiastic user, consumer representative, and policy adviser.

DRS Expert:

2001 – present. Over 20 decisions.

Expert Review Group member: 166 reviews. 23 appeal panels.

Occupation:

Arbitrator and Mediator

Professional Experience:

Dr. Clive Trotman practises dispute resolution, with a preference for the arbitration or adjudication of technical matters, as principal of Dispute Science Ltd. He trained in dispute resolution at Massey University School of Business and the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ).

DRS Expert:

2012 – present. Over 50 decisions.

Occupation:

Commercial Litigation Partner at Addleshaw Goddard

Professional Experience:

David has advised on and acted in internet-related disputes since 1995 and leads the firm’s internet disputes team. David advises on a range of internet legal issues including website content, protection of rights and reputation online, internet antipiracy, domain name disputes and liability of ISPs.

DRS Expert:

2008 – present. Over 50 decisions.

Occupation:

Solicitor (non practising)

Professional Experience:

David was admitted in 1975 and spent the next 18 years in private practice before joining The Law Society in 1993. He was a departmental manager between 1994 and 1998 and then became a Senior Advisor in the Clients Relations Office (the predecessor of the Legal Complaints Service) which dealt with complaints about the service provided by solicitors and disputes regarding solicitors’ costs under the Remuneration Certificates procedure.

DRS Expert:

2002 – present. Over 20 decisions.

Expert Review Group member: 171 reviews. 15 appeal panels

Occupation:

Chartered Arbitrator and a licensed solicitor and attorney-at-law in England and Wales, Hong Kong, New York, New Jersey, California, Florida and Washington, D.C.

Professional Experience:

Experienced in deciding intellectual property, information technology, software and luxury goods licensing, financial and hospitality industry disputes, David has been appointed presiding arbitrator, sole arbitrator or co-arbitrator in more than 40 international arbitration references, including ICC, HKIAC, SIAC and ICDR administered and ad hoc proceedings.

DRS Expert:

2019 – present.

Occupation:

Solicitor: Intellectual Property, Media & Technology Partner

Professional Experience:

David specialises in Internet related intellectual property, and in particular the protection of brands online. David heads up the Lovells International Domain Name Practice, which covers the registration, recovery and protection of domain names and clients’ rights in over 160 jurisdictions.

DRS Expert:

2008 – present. Over 50 decisions.

Occupation:

Solicitor: Internet Law and e-commerce Partner of McCarthy Denning

Professional Experience:

Dawn specialises in Internet law/e-commerce and is recommended for intellectual property in the Legal 500. She regularly advises businesses in relation to the content or hosting of web sites, the use of brands/IPR on the Net including new TLDs and the protection and enforcement of IPR in cyberspace including notice and takedown..

DRS Expert:

2002 – present. Over 100 decisions.

Occupation:

A domestic and international negotiator, litigator and arbitrator

Professional Experience:

Flip has been handling arbitrations for nearly 30 years. He has served as chairman, sole arbitrator and party-appointed arbitrator, and he also acted as counsel in arbitration proceedings. Matters were related to the following industries: Information Technology, Telecommunications, Intellectual Property, Construction and Energy.

DRS Expert:

2019 – present.

Occupation:

Retired Intellectual Property and Technology dispute lawyer and part time nutritionist

Professional Experience:

Gill has specialised for some 30 years in IP and IT litigation and dispute resolution and qualified as a solicitor in 1986, joining Maclay Murray & Spens (now SNR Dentons) in 1988 and becoming a partner in 1993. Gill was Head of the IP & Technology Dispute team there until 2012 before leaving to join Brodies LLP again to head up their IP and Technology Dispute resolution team.

DRS Expert:

2016 – present. Over 50 decisions.

Occupation:

IP Consultant and Mediator; Solicitor (non-practising)

Professional Experience:

Ian Lowe retired as a solicitor in 2017 after more than 40 years in practice. His work over the previous 25 years focussed on all areas of contentious intellectual property issues, including trade marks, patents, copyright, design right and registered designs, as well as domain name, e commerce and other technology disputes.

DRS Expert:

2002 – present. Over 20 decisions.

Expert Review Group member: 167 reviews. 21 appeal panels.

Occupation:

Jacqueline practices in all areas of IP and in IT law

Professional Experience:

Jacqueline is sought after for her expertise in the areas of Trade Marks, Data Protection and Confidential Information and often advises high profile clients in these areas. She has an equally impressive reputation for her work in the areas of design right and copyright cases.

DRS Expert:

2019 – present.

Occupation:

Barrister

Professional Experience:

From 1989-1992 James was Associate lawyer Patent and Trade Mark Agents, Dublin and from 1992 has been a practicing barrister, arbitrator and mediator. His practice is based at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square London and The Law Library, Dublin.

DRS Expert:

2002 – present. Over 100 decisions.

Occupation:

Solicitor and Partner at Hogan Lovells, Paris

Professional Experience:

With years of experience in Intellectual Property, Media and Technology law, Jane has advised many clients on brand protection online, in particular regarding the protection and recuperation of domain names in many jurisdictions across the globe.

DRS Expert:

2008 – present. Over 50 decisions.

Occupation:

Independent Mediator

Professional Experience:

Jon Lang is an independent commercial mediator. In May 2005, after almost twenty years in private practice, the last six as a partner in the disputes group of White & Case in London, Jon set up his own mediation practice. He has mediated a wide variety of commercial and intellectual property matters both in the UK and overseas.

DRS Expert:

2008 – present. Over 50 decisions.

Occupation:

Civil Servant (retired)

Professional Experience:

Mark spent over thirty years as a civil servant, starting as a tax inspector with the Inland Revenue and ending up at the Cabinet Office, working on Brexit. In between, he had a range of senior technical, policy, strategy and delivery roles. Mark is an experienced programme director and a graduate of the University of Oxford/Saïd Business School’s Major Projects Leadership Academy.

DRS Expert:

2002 – present. Over 100 decisions.

Occupation:

Solicitor. Joint Managing Partner and Joint Head of IP and IT Litigation at Waterfront Solicitors LLP

Professional Experience:

Matthew specialises in all aspects of Intellectual Property and Information Technology law both contentious and non-contentious. However, in the past he has practised as a general commercial litigator and today the primary focus of his practice is IP, IT and Internet related litigation. His experience of Domain Name disputes stretches back to involvement in the Harrods. com domain name dispute in 1996, probably the first domain name dispute to come before the English Courts.

DRS Expert:

2004 – present. Over 100 decisions.

Occupation:

Barrister at 4 Pump Court

Professional Experience:

Matthew acts and advises on a wide range of technology and telecoms-related disputes. He is regularly instructed on behalf of providers, purchasers and users of networks, computer systems, internet and cloud services and software across a variety of industry sectors. Matthew is a trustee of the Society for Computers and Law, and speaks regularly on the legal implications of leading edge technologies such as blockchain, IoT and AI.

DRS Expert:

2019 – present.

Occupation:

QC: Intellectual Property

Professional Experience:

Before joining the Bar in 1980, Michael read physics at Imperial College. He was appointed as Queens Counsel in 1996 and has long been one of the leading IP Silks. He has appeared in many leading patent, trade mark and copyright cases over the last 30 years and is well known for his technical grasp and IP expertise. He is also well-known for his IT practice, having acted in a number of substantial IT disputes.

DRS Expert:

2008 – present. Over 50 decisions.

Occupation:

Head of Legal at Safenames Limited

Professional Experience:

As domain management and brand protection expert, Micah advises on the protection of brands online with an emphasis on online counterfeiting, internet policy, domain portfolio management, acquisitions, domain name dispute resolution, gTLD/ccTLD registration procedures, sunrise periods and other rights protection mechanisms.

DRS Expert:

2019 – present.

Occupation:

Chartered Arbitrator & Engineer, Adjudicator, Mediator

Professional Experience:

Niall is a Chartered Arbitrator, Information Systems Practitioner, Mechanical Engineer, Building Services Engineer, and Chartered Builder. Niall is an experienced international commercial arbitrator (‘ad hoc’ and ICC), who has published awards in commercial, construction and engineering, IT and technology disputes. Niall is a member of many respected panels of Arbitrators in Asia and Europe. In 2008, he was appointed as EU Expert to help China investigate improvements to its arbitration law.

DRS Expert:

2008 – present. Over 50 decisions.

Occupation:

Complaints Reviewer

Professional Experience:

Nial has worked in the complaints field since 2012, where he began working for major banks as a contractor, dealing with complaints arising out of specific failures, especially Payment Protection Insurance. He then moved into the Ombudsman field, working as an Executive Assistant at Ombudsman Services, before resolving complaints by adjudication or mutual agreement in the Energy sector as an Investigation Officer. Currently, Nial is employed reviewing complaints within a law enforcement agency.

DRS Expert:

2019 – present.

Occupation:

Partner and Solicitor at Edwin Coe LLP

Professional Experience:

Nick is a Solicitor specialising in Intellectual Property and IT work. His practice includes a broad range of both contentious and non-contentious Intellectual Property and IT work and he also has considerable experience of more general commercial matters. Nick regularly advises on domain name issues and has been involved in and successfully resolved disputes under both Nominet’s DRS and ICANN’s Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy.

DRS Expert:

2004 – present. Over 100 decisions.

Occupation:

Solicitor: Intellectual Property Consultant

Professional Experience:

Nick Gardner practised as a lawyer with leading international law firm Herbert Smith LLP in London for over 25 years. He was a partner in its intellectual property and technology practice for 18 years, latterly with 7 years as world wide head of the intellectual property group. Prior to joining Herbert Smith he obtained a first class honours degree in law from the University of Nottingham. Law was a second career for him having originally studied electrical engineering and then worked for a number of years in the computer business.

Expert Review Group member:

202 reviews. 24 appeal panels.

Occupation:

Non-practicing barrister

Professional Experience:

Peter’s entire practice has been as an in-house lawyer: He has wide experience in technology law and Intellectual Property matters. Since 1988 Peter has worked in, or on behalf of a number of well known software and hardware companies. He has a breadth of experience both as a practical in-house lawyer, including first-hand experience of domain name disputes, and as a lecturer and researcher on legal issues related to the Internet.

DRS Expert:

2008 – present. Over 50 decisions.

Occupation:

Solicitor – Intellectual Property and Data Protection

Professional Experience:

Patricia is a consultant at Pannone Corporate LLP based in Manchester specialising in intellectual property and data protection. She is scientifically qualified with a degree in Applied Physics and a PhD. Patricia has over 20 years experience as a solicitor. Prior to joining Pannone Corporate, Patricia ran her own specialist intellectual property law firm and was formerly an intellectual property partner at an international law firm.

DRS Expert:

2008 – present. Over 50 decisions.

Occupation:

Solicitor

Professional Experience:

Ravi has been working as a solicitor in the online, technology and brand space since qualification in 1999. He advises clients on a range of IP, commercial and technology legal issues, and has worked as a solicitor in private practice in the UK (Bird & Bird and Clarke Willmott LLP) and Australia (Corrs Chambers Westgarth). Ravi has also held senior in-house roles at Vodafone Group Services Limited, Quadriga Worldwide Limited and VEON Digital Limited.

Expert Review Group member:

2012 – present. Over 50 decisions.

Occupation:

Barrister Intellectual Property

Professional Experience:

Phil’s practice encompasses all aspects of the law of intellectual property and information technology, with a particular specialism and expertise in the areas of e-commerce, internet domain names and the commercial exploitation of computer software. He regularly acts and advises on the intellectual property aspects and commercial aspects of IT disputes.

DRS Expert:

2002 – present. Over 20 decisions.

Expert Review Group member: 140 reviews. 15 appeal panels.

Occupation:

Solicitor: Intellectual Property

Professional Experience:

Russell is an experienced competition and regulatory lawyer who has managed various dispute resolutions and multi-discipline litigation before the UK, EU and Grand Cayman courts. His career has involved a number of high-profile roles including his current role as General Counsel and Company Secretary at the Oil and Gas Authority (the ‘OGA’).

DRS Expert:

2008 – present. Over 50 decisions.

Occupation:

Solicitor: Information Technology; mediator; arbitrator

Professional Experience:

Richard read law at Cambridge and first qualified as a barrister. Richard subsequently re-qualified as a solicitor and has been a specialist in IT Law for some 35 years. In that time he has become one of the best known IT lawyers, having been ranked as a “Leader in His Field” in the Chambers Guide to the Law.

Expert Review Group member:

2012 – present. Over 50 decisions.

Occupation:

Solicitor: Intellectual Property Partner, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP’s IP/IT Dispute Resolution Group

Professional Experience:

Simon’s work covers all areas of intellectual property including trade marks, patents, copyright, designs and confidential information, with particular emphasis on brand protection. He also has a wealth of experience of developing and implementing internet enforcement programmes to protect clients’ brands on the internet.

DRS Expert:

2002 – present. Over 100 decisions.

Occupation:

Principal Policy Adviser, Information Commissioners Office

Professional Experience:

Sallie is a former solicitor specialising in Intellectual Property and media disputes and former legal academic. She is the author of “A Guide to Advertising and Sales Promotion Law” and “Media law” published by Cavendish Publishing Limited. She also contributes to legal journals on media and intellectual property law related issues.

DRS Expert:

2002 – present. Over 100 decisions.

Occupation:

Chartered Arbitrator, barrister and accredited mediator

Professional Experience:

Stephen has a UK domestic and international commercial arbitration practice carried on through ARBDB, international arbitration chambers in London: www.arbdb.com. His practice background is as a barrister at the English Bar, with over 25 years’ experience in a range of civil and commercial matters, specialising in media & entertainment law, latterly at 5RB barristers’ chambers until 2017

Expert Review Group member:

2008 – present. Over 50 decisions.

Occupation:

Solicitor

Professional Experience:

Simon is an IP and technology solicitor, and has been practicing in the IP field since 2002. After training at City law firm Baker McKenzie, Simon worked in-house for technology start-ups and for an international publishing business. Simon founded Sellars Legal in 2018 to offer an alternative to traditional law firm legal advice, and works with a wide range of organisations, from start-ups in the space industry to national insurance companies and academic institutions.

DRS Expert:

2019 – present.

Occupation:

Solicitor: Information Technology and Intellectual Property Partner

Professional Experience:

Steven is a partner with Maier Blackburn, a specialist legal practice focusing on IP, media and entertainment work and dispute resolution. He has 25 years’ post-qualification experience in both commercial and IP litigation, including copyright, trade mark, passing off, breach of confidence, libel and privacy disputes as well as domain name cases.

DRS Expert:

2002 – present. Over 100 decisions.

Occupation:

Solicitor

Professional Experience:

Steve has over 25 years engineering and commercial experience in the software and electronics industries and made the transition to qualify as a solicitor in 2006. He began his career as an electronics design engineer with Ferranti and was appointed as programme manager with responsibility for a business unit. He sat on several appeal panels as an independent arbitrator in 1990/91 when Ferranti made thousands of employees redundant and many appealed against selection.

Expert Review Group member:

2003 – present. Over 100 decisions.

Occupation:

IP Consultant

Professional Experience:

Tony qualified in 1970 and worked in the Trade Marks Department of The Distillers Company Limited (now part of Diageo) until joining Herbert Smith in 1973. He became a partner in 1977 and remained there until 1994 when he left to join Rouse & Co (later Willoughby & Partners). Tony was a partner at Willoughby & Partners until April 2006, he is now retired. He has specialised in all aspects of intellectual property (contentious and non-contentious) since he was admitted to practice.

DRS Expert:

2001 – present. Over 100 decisions.

Occupation:

Head of Brand Protection

Professional Experience:

Tim is Head of Brand Protection at Com Laude Group. In this role Tim has advised some of the world’s foremost brands, celebrities and businesses on Internet intellectual property matters over the past two decades. Tim has specialised in Internet intellectual property since 1996 when he focused on the interaction between trade marks and domains as part of his IT and IP focused law degree at Southampton University.

DRS Expert:

2012 – present. Over 50 decisions.