Justin Watts

Justin Watts is a highly experienced patent litigator and a partner in Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr's London office, where he joined in June 2017 from a "Magic Circle firm" where he led its UK IP litigation practice. He focuses on complex, multinational patent disputes, particularly those involving standards, competition law, and FRAND issues. His practice spans a diverse range of technology sectors, including pharmaceutical, medical devices, biotechnology, communications, and hardware and software industries. Watts' technical background includes a PhD in Optoelectronics and prior work in satellite communications engineering, which underpins his understanding of high-tech patent matters.

Watts primarily represents operating companies, frequently defending them in significant patent infringement actions. His tracked appearance in Phenix Longhorn, LLC v. AU Optronics Corporation et al. shows him defending AU Optronics. He has also represented major clients such as Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS), HP, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott, Philips, Sony Computer Entertainment, Thomson Multimedia, Texas Instruments, and Schlumberger in various multi-jurisdictional disputes. Notable representations include asserting patent infringement claims for BMS related to immune system cancer treatments across seven jurisdictions, and defending HP against page-wide printing patent claims in the UK and Ireland.

While specific personal IPR/PTAB appearances for Watts are not detailed, his firm, WilmerHale, has extensive experience in post-grant proceedings. For instance, the firm represented Genentech in biosimilar patent litigation involving its drug Herceptin, which included engagements in four district courts and 30 IPR proceedings before the PTAB. Watts is listed as a key contact for the firm's "Protecting Intellectual Property in International Markets" practice, which highlights this type of comprehensive IP enforcement and defense work.

Dr. Watts is a qualified lawyer and a chartered engineer. He earned a PhD in Optoelectronics and a BA in Electrical Sciences from the University of Cambridge, and holds a Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice from the University of Bristol. He is admitted as a Solicitor in England and Wales and in Ireland.