Toby Sears is an intellectual property (IP) litigator, advising clients on critical business issues in the high-tech, telecoms, life sciences, pharma, and medical devices sectors. Toby works on a range of contentious and noncontentious IP matters, with a focus on patent litigation. He also advises on software copyright disputes and IP licensing rights.
Much of Toby's work involves cross-border disputes, with litigation often taking place in the United Kingdom in parallel with actions around the globe. Toby has handled high-profile litigation matters before the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court as well as international arbitration and mediation.
Prior to joining Jones Day, Toby acted in many notable cases in the electronics, telecommunications, and software sectors in the United Kingdom, including Standard Essential Patents (SEP) and FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) litigation.
Toby's experience includes multiple standard essential mobile telephony technologies patent disputes and licensing for a multinational digital communications technology company; multiple pharmaceutical patent disputes, including small molecules, antibodies, and genetic modifications; digital video broadcasting (DVB) patent disputes for a major electronics manufacturer; a patent entitlement dispute relating to advanced aspiration devices; a contractual dispute involving copyright infringement and a software licensing dispute for an international bank; and international arbitration regarding a contractual dispute and copyright infringement for a UK-based software company.
He also has handled patent actions related to organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display technology for a major display manufacturer; a drug for preventing migraines for a pharmaceutical company; medications to treat symptoms of various medical conditions, including Parkinson's disease, for pharmaceutical companies; aircraft seating; and synchronization of signaling systems.
Toby is a member of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI).
- Oxford University (Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice 2015); Kaplan Law School (Legal Practice Course 2011; Graduate Diploma in Law 2010); King's College London (B.Sc. in Pharmacology 2008, first in class; Awarded Robin Hoult Prize for the Best Overall Final Year Pharmacology Student; Merck Sharp and Dohme Prize for the Best Neuropharmacology Student; Eli Lilly Prize for Best Cellular Pharmacology Student; Pfizer Global R&D Prize for Best Practical Skills in Pharmacology)
- Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales