David Stone
Partner, Global Head of Intellectual Property
London
David Stone
Partner, Global Head of Intellectual Property
London
Contact Details
David works with the world’s leading businesses to protect their most valuable asset: their brands. Leading the A&O global IP practice, he is a distinguished IP litigator specialising in trade marks, registered and unregistered designs and copyright.
A solicitor advocate, David also has the benefit of in-house experience having worked in-house with Coca-Cola for a number of years. In 2017, David was authorised to sit part time as a Deputy High Court Judge.
David is consistently praised by his clients and peers, described as “an international thought leader on brands and designs” and “one of the United Kingdom’s strongest litigators”, being “a first port of call when meaningful IP issues arise” in the World Trade Mark Review (WTR) 1000 2019. WTR 1000 2018 quote he is: “one of the world’s most legally gifted lawyers in intellectual property”: one client says “if I could clone him in every jurisdiction, I would”.
He is regularly sought after to speak, providing unparalleled narrative and advice around the most crucial IP issues. David is a Research Fellow of the Oxford Intellectual Property Research Centre, and teaches IP, including at the Universities of Oxford, Queen Mary and Alicante.
The second edition of David's book, European Union Design Law: A Practitioners' Guide, was published by Oxford University Press in January 2016.
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as a Solicitor (Republic of Ireland) 2016
Admitted as a Notary Public (England and Wales), 2008
Admitted as a Solicitor Advocate Higher Courts Civil Proceedings (England & Wales), 2005
Admitted as a Solicitor (England and Wales), 2002
Admitted as a Solicitor and Barrister (High Court of Australia), 1997
Admitted as a Solicitor (New South Wales), 1996
Academic
Graduate Diploma in Notarial Practice, University of Cambridge, 2007
BCL, University of Oxford, 1995
BA and LLB (hons), University of Sydney, 1992
Related articles
Publications: 23 November 2021
What's the impact of the new IPO Tribunal Practice Notice
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has issued a new Tribunal Practice Notice setting out the legal changes being made to transitional arrangements following the end of the Brexit implementation…
Publications: 04 November 2021
Publications: 28 January 2021
Propel: The branding and uniqueness of self-driving vehicles – an overview of design law
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as a Solicitor (Republic of Ireland) 2016
Admitted as a Notary Public (England and Wales), 2008
Admitted as a Solicitor Advocate Higher Courts Civil Proceedings (England & Wales), 2005
Admitted as a Solicitor (England and Wales), 2002
Admitted as a Solicitor and Barrister (High Court of Australia), 1997
Admitted as a Solicitor (New South Wales), 1996
Academic
Graduate Diploma in Notarial Practice, University of Cambridge, 2007
BCL, University of Oxford, 1995
BA and LLB (hons), University of Sydney, 1992
Pro bono
- David is a trustee of the Centre for Recent Drawing, an arts charity in Highbury-Islington.
- Through the firm’s pro bono program, David assists a diverse range of charities with their IP issues, including recently helping Hope and Homes for Children; Black Equity Organisation; Adferiad (mental health); Beam Up (homelessness); GROW (legal mentoring); Reporters san frontiers; The AIRE Centre (EU human rights legal advice); The London Legal Support Trust; and CITY HARVEST (food support).
Published work
- European Union Design Law: A Practitioners' Guide, Oxford University Press, 2012 (first edition) and 2016 (second edition)
- A quiet year for the EU Courts – Managing IP, March 2017
- A cracker of a year to come in design cases – Managing IP, April 2017
- Design Law Misplaced in Nintendo AG opinion – Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice, July 2017
- CJEU embraces forum shopping in Hummel v Nike - Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice, August 2017
- It’s time to amend the Enforcement Directive to ensure all Member States provide for Declarations of Non-Infringement for EUTMs and Community Designs - Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice, September 2019
Recognition
'The gold standard in substantive knowledge and client care.' 'Maintains a standout infringement action practice.'
Chambers UK 2020: Intellectual Property (ranked Band 1)
What makes this practice unique is David Stone. Multi-talented, all round nice guy, and IP guru, David is at the heart of the firm’s client-driven, multijurisdictional practice. Dealing with the firm is a pleasure.
Legal 500 UK, Intellectual property: Trade marks, copyright and design, 2021
He is incredibly accomplished and highly intelligent, yet commercial too. He is also a huge champion of diversity in the profession and a global thought leader.
World Trademark Review WTR 1000 UK 2020
The firm’s written work product is always impeccable, but the real ‘secret sauce’ is David Stone’s breadth of experience, creative advice and calm and clear-eyed manner with clients. They feel lucky to have David and his team representing them.
WORLD TRADEMARK REVIEW (WTR) 1000 UK 2021
Awards & accolades
Shortlisted: Champion of the Year
Inspirational Women in Law Awards 2020
Top 10 Inspirational Leader
British LGBT Awards 2020
WIPR Diversity Champion
World Intellectual Property Review
