Michael's extensive experience in mediation has covered, and continues to cover, a variety of areas. Specific subject expertise is essential for successful meditation. Explore the sections below for details on a variety of areas of competence in which Michael accepts new instructions.
The core areas of dispute in which I am willing to mediate are summarised below. Most of them overlap to some extent. I am also able to assist with commercial disputes which do not fall neatly into any of the areas below. If you are considering using me as a mediator and are in doubt about whether your dispute is with my areas of expertise, please ask. My clerks or I will be more than happy to help.
I mediate disputes in all areas of intellectual property. I have experience of almost all kinds of IP disputes, from major patent litigation through trade marks, passing off and design right to artists’ copyright and performers’ rights. I consider breach of confidence to be a form of IP although it overlaps with privacy claims. My profile gives more information about the scope of my practice as a professional adviser and advocate, decision maker and mediator in relation to IP.
Disputes in this field are often IP or IP related and can also involve financial arguments and disputes about authorship and recognition. As a mediator I deal with all forms of media and entertainment.
I mediate disputes involving all forms of privacy and data protection claims, both under the general law and the particular provisions of legislation such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the predecessor Data Protection Acts. I have extensive expertise in relation to such disputes, having in particular acted in mobile telephone hacking claims for a number of years. There is considerable overlap between these claims and breach of confidence.
This area of work covers both intellectual property related disputes to those which are pure technical disputes arising under software and systems supply contracts or supply arrangements for business and consumer products. It also covers technology transfer and development arrangements. I have experience both as a mediator and as an adviser in relation to a wide range of disputes in these areas and am happy to undertake mediations in relation to dispute involving technology issues.
Many commercial disputes involve technical issues or competition issues even though the core of the dispute is a commercial contract. Procurement disputes often have this characteristic. I have advised and mediated many such disputes and have found that it is often helpful in identifying and crystallising the issues if the mediator understands something about the area of commerce and technology rather than looking at the dispute simply as a legal argument. I always try to bring a sense of practical realism to discussions about resolving commercial disputes.
Whether consensual or court mandated, mediation is an essential process for reaching the best possible outcome in complicated disputes. In such situations, the experience and expertise of the mediator is crucial.
If you are in need of mediation for a technology, IP, trade mark, patent or other matter – click the button below to lodge an enquiry via quick form, email or telephone.
