Michael Carter

Michael Carter is an experienced patent litigator and IP strategist who is praised by clients as "a trusted expert for patent disputes, delivering reliable and effective solutions". He is recognised by Managing Intellectual Property as an IP Star: Rising Star and by Intellectual Asset Management as a leading IP strategist and patent litigator in its respective IAM Strategy 300 and IAM Patent 1000 lists. Michael is often instructed on complex cross-border patent litigation and has given evidence on English patent law in the Hamburg Local Division of the Unified Patent Court.

As Global Head of Tech, Michael also leads our international tech sector team. Michael's experience in advanced manufacturing (in particular automotive) means that he has particular expertise in navigating the intersection between technology and advanced manufacturing. In addition to supporting clients with their IP strategies, this experience allows him to advise companies on devising and implementing strategies to implement tech transformation programs relating to AI, autonomy and connectivity / IoT. Michael is a member of the Tech West Midlands Special Interest Group for AI & Future Tech which brings together subject matter experts, founders, scale-ups, corporates, researchers and policymakers to shape how AI and future technologies are adopted across the West Midlands.

Michael is also one of the UK's leading lawyers in the field of standards essential patents (SEPs) and the determination of (F)RAND terms across a range of technologies (4G, 5G, Wi-Fi, xDSL, HEVC). He has been involved in a number of groundbreaking cases that developed the law in this field, including being a leading member of the team that acted for InterDigital in only the second ever UK FRAND trial in InterDigital v Lenovo [2023] EWHC 538 (Pat) and [2023] EWHC 1578 (Pat), and subsequently in the Court of Appeal [2024] EWCA Civ 743. The outcome was the successful recovery of a significant licence fee for the client, including all past-royalties. The case was recognised by Managing Intellectual Property as its Impact Case of the Year 2022. Michael was also part of the team that obtained the first ever UK finding of 'unwillingness' for TQ Delta in TQ Delta v ZyXEL [2019] EWHC 745 (Pat).

A particular feature of many of the cases Michael is involved with is the need to implement global strategies and manage cross-border patent litigation, working closely with patent attorneys and attorneys in other jurisdictions. Michael has experience of cross-border litigation including the USA (ITC and District Courts), China, Germany, France and Japan. Michael was part of the team recognised by Managing Intellectual Property as its European Cross-Border Team of the Year 2022. He regularly receives instructions on patent litigation matters from national and international law firms to work alongside them, or support their clients with UK or UPC litigation.

Michael has been recognised as a leading patent litigator in the IAM Patent 1000 list (since 2024) and as a leading IP strategist in the IAM Strategy 300 list (since 2025). He has also been recognised by Managing IP as a Rising Star since 2021 and won UK Rising Star of the Year (Law Firms) at the 2024 Managing IP EU Awards.

Client Feedback

"good team leadership and litigation vision, strong collaboration skills with other important jurisdictions such as the US and China"
- Juve Patent

"a very analytical mind and is always on top of every detail. He is great at offering different solutions to problems"
- MIP IP Stars

"trusted expert for patent disputes, delivering reliable and effective solutions"
- IAM Patent 1000

"a keen, dedicated and meticulous practitioner with a strong understanding of clients' technologies and working practices. He quickly gets up to speed on new matters and communicates effectively with technical teams. Michael combines a commercial approach with close attention to detail and deep knowledge of the subject matter"
- IAM Patent 1000

"a key IP litigator"
- Legal 500