Gordon Harris was, for 25 years until 2020, head of the Gowling WLG IP team. He is now a member of the International Leadership Team for IP and is still a full time IP partner in the UK team. He has over 35 years of experience as an IP litigator in Europe.
Highlights of his brands career include:
- Veng v Volvo (Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) – abuse of dominant position in relation to spare parts for automobiles covered by registered design);
- O2 v H3G (CJEU – comparative advertising and registered trademarks);
- BA v Ryanair (High Court – derogatory use of trademarks in comparative advertising).
Mr Harris used his brands expertise in his work for the franchising sector, acting for well-known networks such as Rymans and helping to establish the award winning Rosemary Conley Diet And Fitness Clubs.
Mr Harris is also an internationally accredited mediator (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution and WIPO) and has wide experience in the conduct of mediation in IP disputes as a party and as a mediator. However, in litigation his reputation is as a ‘fighter’ with a very high success ratio due to his ability to know the right cases to fight to the finish.
Chambers Directory listed him as an Eminent Practitioner in its 2019 and 2020 editions – the only such listing for an IP lawyer in the United Kingdom. Mr Harris is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Trademark Attorneys; he is actively involved in law reform and development through various committees and organisations, including the Committee of the Intellectual Property Lawyers’ Association. He also tirelessly promotes diversity and inclusion in the IP profession through his membership of the Board of IP Inclusive and his role as chair of the IP Federation’s Diversity and Inclusion Working Group.
Year Joined Firm: 1982
Education/Alumni: University College London
Network Memberships: AIPPI, CITMA, INTA
