DOB:   16th August 1959

Education:  RGS, Newcastle upon Tyne
Manchester University LLB (Hons)
Chester Law College Law Society Finals
Admitted as a Solicitor in 1983

Position: Partner IP and IT Law : Crutes LLP, Newcastle upon Tyne

Previous: Practised in City of London 1981-1993

Employment: Herbert Smith, Clifford Chance, Richards Butler (Partner); returned to Newcastle 1994 and after working for other local firms, joined Crutes LLP in October 2008

Experience: Whilst in London (1981-1993), my work covered in particular cross-border and international disputes, intellectual property litigation (with particular emphasis on trade marks, copyright, and design right), and EU and Competition law, together with more general commercial litigation across a wide range.

Since returning to the North of England (1994 to date), my work has evolved from what was previously a wide range of commercial litigation with an IP bias, primarily for technology-based businesses involved in the heavy/light engineering, IT/high tech, and other manufacturing sectors, into my current practice which is now exclusively focused on IP, IT and e-commerce law, both contentious and non-contentious.

Other information: Recognised as a Leading Individual dealing with commercial litigation by Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession; recognised as an expert in Intellectual Property law, and in Commercial Dispute Resolution by Legal Experts; Expert on Nominet’s dispute resolution panel since 2001, a panelist for the Czech Arbitration Court for .eu domain name disputes, CEDR Accredited Mediator. Appointed to WIPO’s list of Neutral Mediators and Arbitrators in 2003.

Dated:   1 October 2008