Michael Gardner
Partner, Head of IP & Commercial
IP & Commercial






Expertise
Michael advises clients in relation to disputes involving commercial, contractual, reputation management, IT and in particular, intellectual property matters. This includes trade marks, passing off, copyright, databases, designs, patents, confidential information and disputes involving all forms of business and IT contracts. In the reputation management space, he advises on defamation and privacy issues.
Michael is experienced in all forms of IP dispute resolution including litigation in the High Court and IPEC including the obtaining of urgent injunctive relief. His practice includes anti-counterfeiting work (including in the online space) and advising on parallel imports. He also advises on brand protection and reputation management generally and conducts trade mark prosecution work and domain name dispute resolution.
Recent Experience
- Bringing claims for trade mark infringement and passing off against online-based financial services company.
- Obtaining urgent injunctive relief for an overseas based client to restrain breaches of confidential information by a former employee.
- Winning an apology and damages for defamation, acting for a well-known figure in the world of business and politics.
- Bringing claims for breach of contract on behalf of a web development company against its customer.
- Bringing and defending trade mark opposition proceedings before both the UK and European Union Intellectual Property Offices.
- Defending retailer against registered and unregistered design infringement claims.
Career History
Michael joined Wedlake Bell in 1993 and qualified as a solicitor in 1995. Prior to it, he obtained degree in Modern History and International Relations from the University of Reading. He also passed the Common Professional Examination in 1992.
Michael became a partner in 2001 and head of the IP team in 2005.
Publications
Michael is author of The Bright Idea Handbook published by Which? – a guide for would-be entrepreneurs on how to protect IP rights, author of the IP chapters in the advertising industry’s trade publication AdLaw published by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising.
Endorsements
Ranked in The Legal 500, “Mike Gardner is outstandingly good with clients“.
Michael continues to be ranked in Chambers and is listed as a Managing IP Trade Mark Star for 2022.
"Mike Gardner is outstandingly good with clients and also works well with Debra Goldwyn, who is brilliant at detail."
— Legal 500, 2023
"An outstanding commercial IP solicitor."
— Chambers UK, 2022
"He is very good on the big picture as well as being very good on detail - to get those two together is a great treat."
— Chambers UK, 2021
""Knowledgeable and effective litigator""
— Chambers UK, 2018
Insights
Law360: Vardy ‘Own Goal’ Shows Risks Of Destroying Evidence
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The i: Rebekah Vardy scored own goal with knee-jerk legal battle against Coleen Rooney, say lawyers
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Ed Sheeran Facing Another Lawsuit For Copyright Claim
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Black cab shape not distinctive enough to be trademark, say judges
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‘This is the beginning not the end’ – Mail Online
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“A tale of two Mercks — what the Big Pharma dispute teaches us” Michael Gardner has article published in Spear’s Magazine
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Colour trade marks and branding – The struggle continues
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“Experts Suggest 3M Push For ‘Settlement Fee’ In F1 Logo Row” – Michael Gardner comments for Forbes
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Brexit negotiations: cart before horse?
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Victory for UK broadcasters against march of digital
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Vidal-Hall v Google – potential headache for data controllers
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“SUPREME” pet food no longer” and “no Deluxe for Lidl”
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Private: Interflora v M&S – the saga continues
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Camilla Wallace and Michael Gardner’s joint article is published in Spear’s
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Michael Gardner’s comments are published in City A.M. – Brexit Case
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Michael Gardner’s comments are published in The Times – December 11, 2018
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