Will James

Will is a Partner who advises on IP issues in a wide range of technical industries. He focuses on litigation and has acted in leading cases in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. He frequently plays a pivotal role coordinating pan-European enforcement strategies alongside UK litigation.

As well as enforcing and defending patents and SPCs, Will also gives commercial freedom to operate advice. He also handles trade secret, breach of confidential information and database rights issues.

Will is featured in the key legal and IP directories including Legal 500 and IAM Patent 1000, he is named as an ‘IP Star’ by Managing Intellectual Property, and an ‘Expert’ by Who’s Who Legal - particularly for Patents and for Life Sciences. Clients and peers describe him as ‘an excellent litigator’ and someone who 'genuinely cares about his clients', who is 'excellent at helping them get to grips with tough situations' and whose advice is 'always commercial and highly relevant.'

On the technology side, Will has advised on disputes relating to electronic and GPS tagging, electronic program guides, RFID technology and air traffic control systems - involving SEPs, computer-implemented inventions and software issues.

In the life sciences sector, Will has advised on a number of core biotechnologies, particularly involving therapeutic antibodies. He has experience of plant protection issues including chemical and biological plant patents, herbicides and plant variety rights.

Will joined Osborne Clarke in April 2019 having previously been a Partner at IP boutique Marks & Clerk Solicitors and an Associate and Trainee at Herbert Smith Freehills. He has a postgraduate degree in Bioscience and Neuroscience from Oxford University.

Will sits on the IP Advisory Board of the UK BioIndustry Association, is a member of EPLAW and is a tutor on Oxford University’s Postgraduate IP Diploma.