Alastair McCulloch is one of the leading intellectual property litigators in the United Kingdom. Best known as a patent litigator, he has handled some of the most important patent litigations in the United Kingdom in recent years, acting for world-renowned companies. He also has extensive experience in trade secret disputes and arbitrations in agreements that have a strong IP component. Benefiting from a degree in natural sciences (chemistry, physics, and cell biology), he works in all technical fields, from pharmaceuticals and biotech through to high-technology.
Alastair's patent litigation is frequently multijurisdictional, and he often works closely with his Jones Day colleagues, bringing an integrated approach to UK litigation, EPO (European Patent Office) oppositions, and parallel national litigation. Alastair is experienced in litigating before the English courts (including the Patents Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court), the EPO, and in arbitration. He has acted in ICC, ad hoc, and UNCITRAL arbitrations on IP-related agreements.
Alastair is recommended in the Legal 500, Chambers, IAM Patent 1000, Expert Guides: Patents, and London Super Lawyers directories. According to clients he is "superb," "technically very able," and "a good tactician" (Legal 500); "displays enormous resourcefulness and imagination in his work" (Chambers); and is "an excellent patent litigator" (IAM250 World's Leading Patent Litigators). He is recognized as a Life Sciences Star in LMG Life Sciences Europe. Alastair is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys and a member of AIPPI and AIPLA. He lectures frequently on patent and other IP matters.
Experience
Additional Speaking Engagements
- October 27, 2016
Cross-border IP litigation in the US and Europe: Strategic options for validity and infringement, VPP half-day seminar - June 29, 2016
Brexit: UK votes to leave the EU: What happens next? - April 19, 2016
Arbitrating IP Rights - A Legal Representative's Perspective: MARQUES Conference - March 25, 2013
Europe's New Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court: How the introduction of the Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court will impact your existing patent portfolio - October 11, 2011
Developing a Patent Litigation Strategy for Europe - Januar 27, 2011
Protecting and Exploiting Your IP Rights in Europed, Transatlantic Seminar - May 2009
Biotech Patenting, C5 Conference - April 2009
Obviousness, Fordham IP Conference - November 2008
Patent Litigation in Europe, CIPO Seminars for TAITRA - September 2008
Pharma Law Europe, ViB Events Seminar - June 2008
Freedom to Operate Opinions, C5 Conference - September 2006
European Patent Enforcement Seminar - September 2004
The Ownership and Control of Intellectual Property Rights, Hawksmere Conference - July 2004
Intellectual Property Litigation, CLT conference
"Fantastic" and a "trustworthy excellent commercial lawyer" — The Legal 500
- Bristol University (Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice 1996); The College of Law, Guildford (Law Society Finals 1992); Jesus College, Cambridge University (M.A. in Natural Sciences and Law, 1987-1991)
- Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales and as a solicitor-advocate