James Whyte
UK Bar Guide 2025
Band 1 : Intellectual Property
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
020 7405 4321Share profile
Band 1
About
Provided by James Whyte
Practice Areas
Barrister specialising in intellectual property law, with a particular emphasis on technically complex patent cases in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. Scheduled trials include DSM v Mara (algal fatty acids), Hill v Touchlight (DNA production), Abbott v Dexcom - Trial E (glucose sensors), Samsung BioEpis v Alexion (antibody), Accord v Hoffmann-La Roche (subcutaneous formulation). Recent cases include Abbott v Dexcom - Trial C, Gilead v NuCana (nucleoside derivatives), InterDigital v Lenovo (telecoms), Optis v Apple (telecoms), Insulet v Roche (insulin pumps), Royalty Pharma v Boehringer Ingelheim (royalty dispute under German law), GSK v Fibrogen (iron deficiency drugs; settled shortly before trial), Conversant v Huawei (telecoms), Illumina v Ariosa (cell-free foetal DNA enrichment), Silence v Alnylam (RNAi; settled shortly before trial), Pacific Biosciences v Oxford Nanopore (DNA sequencing; settled shortly before trial), Illumina v Premaitha (prenatal diagnosis), Regeneron v Kymab (antibody engineering).
Career
Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge (top 1st in genetics; PhD in molecular biology); City University (distinction in postgraduate diploma in law); BPP (outstanding in bar vocational course). Called 2005, Lincoln's Inn.
Professional Memberships
Chancery Bar Association, IP Bar Association.
Publications
Co-author of Laddie, Prescott and Vitoria on the Modern Law of Copyright (6th edition forthcoming).
Chambers Review
UK Bar
James Whyte is a technically brilliant IP barrister with a background in the biotechnology field. He is also noted for his abilities representing electronics and telecommunications clients in patent infringement claims. Additionally, he is frequently instructed in patent invalidation actions and litigation involving supplementary protection certificates. He acts in patent cases at appellate level as well as at first instance.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"One of the best juniors around across all different areas. He can work on any complicated TMT matter. James is well prepared, calm and measured and reads the court quite well."
"James is a really good senior junior with excellent technical skills for life sciences cases."
"A go-to junior who is experienced, very level-headed and looks at the big picture."
"One of the best juniors around across all different areas. He can work on any complicated TMT matter. James is well prepared, calm and measured and reads the court quite well."
"James is a really good senior junior with excellent technical skills for life sciences cases."
"A go-to junior who is experienced, very level-headed and looks at the big picture."
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