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Ari Laakkonen

Partner

Ari
Laakkonen

Partner

  • +44 (0)20 3040 8000
  • ari.laakkonen@powellgilbert.com
  • linkedin.com/in/ari-laakkonen
  • People
  • Ari Laakkonen

Ari has a huge breadth of experience in the electronics, IT and telecoms sectors derived from his in-depth technical knowledge from experience as both in-house and external legal counsel.
 
Ari specialises in electronics patent litigation and licensing disputes, as well as advising on general IP, licensing and competition law matters including FRAND obligations, obligations to license, damages and general strategic advice. He also advises in relation to disputes involving trade marks, designs, copyrights and trade secrets/confidential information.
 
He has represented clients in the UK courts as well as in opposition and appeal proceedings in the European Patent Office, and has assisted with co-ordinating actions in courts elsewhere in Europe, the US, Latin America and Asia. Advice on multi-jurisdictional strategy is a particular strength.

Key cases

  • CommScope v SOLiD (digital distributed antenna systems)

  • Promptu v Sky and Comcast (voice recognition systems)

  • Garmin v Navico (sonar)

  • Garmin v Philips (GPS wearable devices)

  • PulseOn v Garmin (designs - heart rate monitors)

  • Kapitza v Remember (copyright)

  • Sony v SSH Communications (computer networks)

  • Vringo v ZTE (telecommunications / FRAND licensing)

  • TCT v Ericsson (telecommunications / FRAND licensing)

  • Rovi v Virgin Media & TiVo (electronics)

  • LG v Sony (blu-ray technology / FRAND licensing)

  • Apple v Nokia (smartphones)





     

Qualifications
  • 1997 Solicitor
  • 2013 Solicitor Advocate
Education
  • BSc (Computer Science), King’s College, London
  • PhD (Computer Science), Imperial College, London
  • LLM, Bristol University
  • Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice, Bristol University
Awards and recognition
  • IAM Global IP Awards, UK Patent Law Firm of the Year (2020, 2019)
  • Managing IP EMEA Awards - UK Patents (Contentious) Firm of the Year (2021, 2019, 2018)
  • IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals
  • Managing IP's IP Stars - Patent Star
  • Recommended Individual JUVE Patent UK
  • Who's Who Legal Patents Lawyer
Connections and networks
  • Reporter General of AIPPI
  • Member of EPLAW, AIPLA, LSLA and the British Computer Society
  • Chartered Engineer

“… very dedicated to the details of the case, extremely hard working”

Legal 5002023

a good communicator who is conscious of keeping clients informed

IAM Patent 1000 2022

very experienced solicitor for telecommunication patents

JUVE 2022

Ari Laakkonen has a wealth of technical and industry experience.

Legal 500 2022

Ari has strong industry knowledge. "He is a very thorough and formidable lawyer."

Chambers and Partners UK 2022

simply brilliant at developing winning strategies, and thorough and detail oriented when preparing a case for trial

IAM Patent 1000 2022

receives widespread praise for his top-tier work on patent and licensing cases.

WWL 2022

highly recommended for complex patent litigation cases...sharpest mind in the industry

JUVE 2021

among the best IP litigation lawyers not just in England, but anywhere in the world

IAM 1000: The World's Leading Patent Practitioners 2020

does an extremely thorough job of preparing a case for trial and knows how best to strategise across jurisdictions

IAM 1000: The World's Leading Patent Practitioners 2020

strong in telecommunication disputes

JUVE Patent 2020

He is a very impressive litigator in his field

Chambers and Partners 2020

has truly global capabilities, having masterminded briefs on four continents

IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals 2019

He has the ability to plan winning strategies and also master all the details of a case - he never stops thinking about ways to win and delivers excellent results

Chambers and Partners 2019

extremely experienced, diligent and proactive “the best patent litigation solicitor in London”

Who's Who Legal 2018

another extremely strong lawyer who gets to grip with complicated new technologies in no time at all

IAM 1000: The World's Leading Patent Practitioners 2018

truly phenomenal

Legal 500 2018

The "superb" Ari Laakkonen is noted for his experienced handling high-profile litigation in relation to electronics, telecoms, mechanical and chemical patents

Who’s Who Legal, Patents 2018

Has a "fantastically sharp mind and is extremely effective", focusing his "impressive practice" on electronics patent litigation and IT disputes.

Who's Who Legal, Patents 2017

…a top notch strategist who is extremely knowledgeable in multi-jurisdictional litigation, and very technically savvy

Managing IP - IP Stars Handbook, Patent 2016 (UK)

Ari Laakkonen is one of the UK's leading telecoms, media and technology law litigators. A former Nokia employee, sources say of him: "Beyond patent validity issues, he is superb on FRAND and licensing issues which are nebulous and confusing, so it's great to have someone who has been in the client's shoes."

Chambers & Partners 2016

Former Nokia man Ari Laakkonen plies a busy trade in telecommunications and IT sectors. The “imaginative advocate” “thinks difficult problems through methodically.”

IAM 1000: The World's Leading Patent Practitioners 2015

“A great strategic thinker" who "can see all the different angles and permutations and so can lead the opposition into well-laid traps."

Chambers & Partners 2015

A “true specialist in the electronics and telecoms areas” and a “relaxed, trustworthy and generally outstanding operator”

IAM 1000: The World's Leading Patent Practitioners 2014

Ari Laakkonen's patent practice is largely centred around the IT and electronics industries, with sources saying "he really fights on your behalf."

Chambers & Partners 2014

As far as the telecommunications industry is concerned, “there is no better patent expert” than Ari Laakkonen

IAM 1000: The World's Leading Patent Practitioners 2013

Ari Laakkonen has a specialist interest in electronics and IT-related IP matters, playing a key role in the firm’s work.

Chambers & Partners 2012

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