Sam Harvey

Solicitor, Bristows

Sam obtained a master’s degree in physics from the University of Manchester in 2016. His final year project focused on using fractals to model the growth of cities. After completing his legal studies and training contract, Sam qualified into Bristows’ patent litigation team in September 2020.

A background in physics has complemented Sam’s work on a broad range of litigation across the technology sector, including cases on wind turbines, standard-essential technologies (such as wireless charging and mobile communication standards), fibre-optic cables and software-as-a-service offerings. He has also been involved in UK litigation over FRAND licence terms.

Sam has spent time on secondment to a Japanese SEP-holder where he assisted with co-ordinating global SEP litigation strategy and negotiating with potential licensees.

Contributed to

1

Standard essential patents and FRAND licensing

Practice Notes

This Practice Note addresses the role played by standard essential patents (SEPs) and fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing in patent litigation before the Courts of England and Wales (the English Courts). In particular, this Practice Note considers the legal landscape following the UK Supreme Court decision handed down on 26 August 2020 in the conjoined Unwired Planet and Conversant appeals and the practical implications of this decision.