Profile
Guy is an experienced intellectual property practitioner with a substantial and broad practice ranging from patents, copyright, designs through to franchising, competition law and commercial disputes. Indeed, he has even appeared in a recent appeal from the VAT Tribunal to the High Court. He has appeared in most tribunals including the High Court, Court of Appeal, European Court of Justice, European Patent Office, the Trade Mark Registry, VAT Tribunal and Crown Court.
He has a strong scientific background having read physics and computing at University. He has even written a solicitors’ discovery programme and a chambers’ fee billing programme as well as a complex 3 dimensional graphic modelling programme (in the days when this was cutting edge!)
He has been involved in many reported cases ranging from complex patent disputes through to VAT cases. He relishes being involved in cases which require cross-disciplinal skills believing that one can be too specialized. Yet, he is as proud of those cases where he has achieved a good result for his client without needing to go to court.
He is widely regarded as having a very hands-on and commercial attitude to cases. In early years, he had an extensive criminal practice which honed his advocacy skills. He is now a Grade A Inner Temple Advocacy Teacher and his skills as a cross-examiner have often been remarked upon (see Testimonial & Directory Quotes).
He is the chief author of Intellectual Property in Europe (3rd edition), a book often cited in Advocate-General’s Opinions and is the text book in several European universities.
He is also a trained mediator with a very high success rate, mainly because of his robust “hands on” approach. He has also sat as an arbitrator in an IT licensing dispute.
He is the Chairman of the Code of Practice Committee of National Office Animal Health – a post whose predecessors have been Mr Justice Laddie, Mr Justice Kitchin and Mr Justice Arnold!
He lectures frequently around Europe trying the delicate task of weaving humour with topical IP issues.
He is consistently recommended in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 for intellectual property and information technology.
He is also involved in a number of start-up technology and fashion businesses where he sits on the board advising on IP aspects.
Cases
• Brigade v Amber Valley [2013] EWPCC 16 (patent infringement and validity)
• Seven Arts v Content Media Corp plc [2013] EWHC 588 (copyright, films, issue estoppel, privity by estate, assignment) (High Court)
• Oracle (Sun Microsystems) v M-Tech Data Ltd [2012] 1 W.L.R. 202 (parallel imports, free movement of goods, trade marks) (Supreme Court).
• Pendle Metalwares (t/a Thomas Barker & Son) v Walter Page (Safeways) Limited (design right and passing off, infringement) 29th July 2012 (judgment of Stuart Isaacs QC)
• Golden Eye v Telefonica [2013] E.M.L.R. 1 (High Court, application for Norwich Pharmacal)
• Jean Scene Ltd v Tesco Stores Ltd [2012] EWHC 1275 (costs, Part 36 offer)
• AS Watson v Boots Co Plc [2012] F.S.R. 8 (trade marks; transfer to High Court)
• Caljan Rite-Hite v Sovex Ltd [2011] F.S.R 23 (transfer to Patents County Court, patent proceedings)
• Media CAT Ltd v Adams [2011] F.S.R. 11 (unlawful downloading, copyright infringement, discontinuance, abuse of process)
• Media CAT Ltd v Adams [2011] F.S.R. 29 (wasted costs, copyright)
• SAS Institute Inc v World Programming Ltd [2009] EWHC 3797 (computer software; intellectual property)
• Deakin v Card Rax Ltd [2011] EWPCC 3 (copyright; breach of contract; debt, bailment)
• LABORATOIRE DE LA MER [2006] F.S.R. 5 (Court of Appeal); [2004] ETMR 47 (ECJ) (genuine use of trade mark
• Sportswear v Stonestyle [2006] F.S.R. 11 (Euro-defence, strike out, trade mark infringement, Court of Appeal)
• Bailey v Haynes [2007] F.S.R. 10 (design right case in fishing meshes)
• LIFFE v Pinkava [2007] R.P.C. 30 (employee ownership dispute in financial derivative invention, Court of Appeal)
• Alan Nuttall v Fri-Jado [2009] EWCA Civ 1520 (patent infringement and revocation action, Patents Court)
• Baigent v Random House Group [2006] 150 S.J.L.B 603 (contempt of court; disclosure; handing down judgments)
Appointments
Chairman of Code of Practice Committee, National Office of Animal Health.
Directory & testimonial Quotes
Legal 500 2012
Guy Tritton is 'highly regarded'.
Chambers & Partners 2012
Guy Tritton is "excellent" at covering all aspects of trade mark matters, and further has an excellent command of other IP rights. A "great cross-examiner" with knowledge and experience of commercial and contract law generally, he is a valued member of any litigation team.
Legal 500 2011
In Intellectual Property: Guy "has very good commercial nous and a certain instinct for choosing the right strategy for a case."
In Information Technology: Guy "is persistent in pursuing his clients' interests."
Chambers & Partners 2011 Guy is 'friendly and responsive and quick to turn things around." He has a wide practice that includes IP, IT and commercial work, and is noted as " a fine all-rounder who is able to see the bigger picture."
Recommended in Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 for IP and IT.
“excellent at cross-examination and has a good grasp of EU competition law (Chambers & Partners)
“ a savvy operator with an amazing brain” (Chambers & Partners)
“electronics IT fanatic” with “eye for detail and consistent view throughout a case” (Chambers & Partners)
“bullish presence in court and excellent delivery” (Chambers & Partners)
“you very ably won the skirmishes of the barristers certainly with the witnesses concerned..” (grateful client following successful trial)
“He out thought them, out witted them, out talked them, out negotiated them” (testimonial from grateful client following successful mediation)
“Although the time you had to consult the many documents was very short, your grasp of the case was outstanding” (grateful client after plagiarism trial)
Membership
Chancery Bar Association; Bar European Group; Competition Law Association; Intellectual Property Lawyers Association.
Qualifications and Regulations
Qualifications
BSc Natural Science (physics, computing, mathematics)
Diploma in Law (postgraduate)
Pegasus Scholar
Grade A Advocacy Trainer
Regulations
Guy is a self-employed, independent barrister whose practice is governed by the Code of Conduct of the Bar of England and Wales. He is registered with the Bar Standards Board of England and Wales (Bar Ref: 22275)
He
has professional indemnity insurance provided by the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund (BMIF Ref: 2190/037). Please refer to the
BMIF website for full details of the world-wide cover provided, and the BMIF’s contact details.
Human interest
Married, 3 children. Keen jazz pianist often playing at receptions, restaurants, parties.
Chairman of Rhino Ark (UK) – an environmental charity operating in the Aberdar National Park, Kenya.
Director of Art of Being Limited (a fashion business)