Gordon Harris Of Counsel International IP Leadership


Speaks:  English

Qualified: 1984 - Solicitor of England & Wales


Primary office:  London

Secondary office:  Birmingham




Gordon Harris

Gordon Harris is part of the Global IP Leadership Team for Gowling WLG, working across all the firm's offices to help build the practice and develop new specialisms.

He is also still a working IP lawyer and helps clients to enforce and protect their valuable intellectual property (IP) rights, and particularly patents and designs.

Gordon conducts litigation in all UK and European Courts for clients seeking to protect their IP, or those who have been accused of infringing other people's rights. He is known as a fighter who will explore every avenue to get the right result, including, going to the Supreme Court to change over 100 years of patent law in order to ensure the right outcome for a client. His long unbeaten run in the courts is testament to a blend of experience, strategy and a fighter's instinct. He knows when to stick and when to twist.

He has conducted ground-breaking cases on designs and brands in the Court of Justice of the European Union, and contested the validity of patents in the European Patent Office (EPO).

He has over 30 years' experience in IP and is involved in law reform and development through various committees and organisations. He is on the Committee of the Intellectual Property Lawyers' Association and has worked in that capacity to inform the government in respect of aspects of the proposed Unified Patents Court. He has recently instigated a proposal to introduce a cost-capping scheme in the High Court Shorter Trial Scheme to try to improve access to justice for medium sized companies.

As a qualified mediator accredited by Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) and the World Intellectual Property Organisation, Gordon also pursues alternative dispute resolution both on behalf of clients and as a mediator.

Gordon developed his interest in IP early in his career and has never wanted to do anything else. He finds the business of learning about clients' products and businesses endlessly fascinating and is always keen to visit clients as soon as possible in a new case to get to know them inside out. He enjoys the "teach in" with clients and has great intellectual curiosity about the technology involved in his cases.

While he likes to win, Gordon is realistic that not every case can be won. He likes to establish realistic goals at the outset and to be sure what the commercial objectives are. If the aim is "win at all costs" then he is happy to put everything into driving the case forward and turning over every stone to get the right result. After 35 years in IP law he has undiminished enthusiasm and still enjoys every minute of his work.

He conducts work across continents with many US clients, work in Germany and France, and a role leading the firm's China office, which has achieved ground-breaking results in IP enforcement. In his view, everything is connected to everything else in the modern world and you have to think globally to get the best results.

World Trademark Review recognised Gordon in the 2023 edition of its prestigious annual guide, WTR 1000, for enforcement and litigation.

Gordon was recognised as a 'patent star' in the IP Stars guide 2023. Chambers Directory listed him as an "Eminent Practitioner" in its 2020 edition - the only such listing for an IP lawyer in the UK.

Gordon is a Board Member (Treasurer) of IP Inclusive and Chairs the IP Federation's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group.

Career & Recognition

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