Paul is a solicitor, Partner and Head of Litigation at Dehns, having joined the firm in 2021. His 38 years’ experience covers the range of contentious and non-contentious intellectual property matters. Paul’s litigation practice incorporates UKIPO appeals and cases before the Business & Property Courts of England & Wales (Patents Court; IPEC), and the Court of Appeal (Civil); while his litigation experience and tactical expertise is called upon in cases currently before the UPC.
Paul’s experience extends across a range of technologies, incorporating, inter alia, complex chemical, electronics and mechanical. He successfully defended Black & Decker in a patent action brought by Electrolux, the outcome of which led to changes in the Patents Court Guidelines on experiments and expert’s reports. He was involved in the erythropoietin litigation (Kirin Amgen); and stent litigation (Boston Scientific); and acted for the defendant in Icescape v Ice-World International, at first instance and on appeal – the first case to provide guidance on the application of the doctrine of equivalents following the decision in Actavis v Eli Lilly.
Paul is known for his trade mark practice (registered and unregistered). He successfully litigated the first case under the Trade Marks Act 1994 (Wagamama Ltd v City Centre Restaurants plc). More recently, he was involved in the extended passing off case: Fage v Chobani, and successfully steered longstanding client, Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., in a trade mark infringement/ jurisdictional battle involving a former distributor (The Black & Decker Corporation v Dvize).
Paul handled the Dyson v Strutt litigation, relating to misuse of confidential information: the same action laid down guidance on the important issue of common costs recovery. He led the successful team in the First Conference v Bracchi case, which included executing an interlocutory search and seizure order against the defendant.
Paul’s expertise in non-contentious IP matters is called upon by domestic and international clients alike. He provides corporate support, strategic advice and innovative solutions across all aspects of IP, including programmes for registration in overseas jurisdictions; patent analysis and assessment; negotiation and licensing arrangements (incorporating multi-national and cross-licensing and co-existence agreements); and due diligence on the sale of businesses. Paul notably played a part in the £2 billion sale to Du Pont of ICI’s film business. Paul also deals with the copyright and design rights, and has acted for a management buy-out team in relation to computer software and hardware.
Paul has lectured on patents, trade marks and confidential information. Well-known domestically and internationally, he has been invited to speak at conferences across the UK, Europe, the USA and the Middle East. He has, since 1995, been privileged to teach aspects of trade mark law on the Intellectual Property Diploma Course at the University of Oxford. In addition, Paul has written extensively on IP matters, and been published widely, particularly on patent and trade mark-related issues.
Paul has been regularly highlighted and acknowledged as a leading IP expert in various leading legal and IP directories. This has included:
“Solicitor Paul Harris is a senior member of the litigation team, with the skill to take over and turn around cases in which adverse decisions have been handed down for other firms.” – World Trademark Review 1000, 2021
‘All-sector solicitor Paul Harris is a “thoroughly straightforward person who manages to get right into the issues that need to be addressed – he responds quickly, works within budgets and is always easy to understand”.’ – Client Testimonial, IAM Patent 1000 (Bronze) for Patent Litigation – 2020
‘Paul Harris is an outstanding litigator with years of experience and a thoroughly pragmatic approach. He leaves no stone unturned getting the right result for his clients.’ – Legal 500
Dehns is delighted to announce that it has been ranked in the 2024 World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000 ranking.
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Plausibility after Warner-Lambert and G2/21: Paul Harris, Head of Litigation at Dehns, provides a case analysis of Sandoz and Teva v Bristol Myers Squibb – Court of Appeal.
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When justice needs to be seen to be done: Paul Harris, Head of Litigation at Dehns, provides a case analysis of ABP Technology Ltd v Voyetra Turtle Beach.
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Paul Harris, Head of Litigation at Dehns, discusses a trial of an account of profits.
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Dehns is delighted to report that the first High Court ruling involving the new Dehns litigation team was a success, with the judge deciding in our client’s favour.
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In this article, Paul Harris, Dehns’ Head of Litigation, reviews the recent Wineapp Ltd v Johnson case.
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In this article, Paul Harris, Dehns’ Head of Litigation, reviews the recent Evans V Joseph Joseph Ltd case which considers the licensing of design rights and the burden of protection.
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Will the CJEU follow the Advocate General’s opinion? Paul Harris, Head of Litigation at Dehns, takes a look…
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Paul Harris, Head of Litigation at Dehns, discusses a rare case which highlights the need for caution in both drafting around prior art provided by the inventor/applicant and giving validity opinions on the same.
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Given that the ‘average consumer’ is a legal construct, and ‘honest use in industrial and commercial matters’ as well as ‘honest concurrent use’ are considered objectively, it is questionable whether actual witnesses are going to be of any real assistance to the court in deciding these matters.
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Dehns, one of Europe’s leading firms of intellectual property specialists, has today announced the arrival of a new Partner, and Head of Litigation, Paul Harris.
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Arrow declaration misses its target: Paul Harris, Head of Litigation at Dehns, considers the extent to which the Patents Court will go in order to provide a “spin-off value” for one party, in the courts of another jurisdiction.
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