Steven James is a Partner based in the London office of Morrison Foerster. He specialises in intellectual property disputes, and advises on the protection and exploitation of intellectual property, as well as a wide range of commercial matters.

Steven practices in intellectual property, technology, and commercial law, with a focus on new technologies and innovation. His experience includes advising clients on both contentious and transactional intellectual property and commercial matters, predominantly in the tech, financial services, life sciences, retail and luxury goods, food & beverage, and media sectors. He advises on the full spectrum of IP rights, including trade marks, passing off, copyright, designs, patents and confidential information. Steven counsels clients on the development of IP and branding strategies and formulates strategic approaches for the licensing and enforcement of intellectual property rights. He also has experience of advising on commercial disputes, defamation and data protection matters.

Steven has been recommended for Intellectual Property law and Technology, Media & Telecommunications Law multiple times over many years in the Legal 500 UK. He is described by clients as “an efficient, effective and an excellent, timely communicator … always on hand to provide confident and practical advice. His deep and technical knowledge of IP is unparalleled”. Steven has also been recognised in the 2025 edition of World Trademark Review’s 1000 guide, named a Trade Mark Star by Managing Intellectual Property and as a recommended individual by IAM Patent 1000.

The Lawyer named Steven in its prestigious “Hot 100” list for 2025, recognising him for his commitment to utilising MoFo’s technology and ECVC experience to launch the MoFounders initiative, a community of business Founders, Entrepreneurs, Investors and Advisors. The Lawyer praised Steven’s “can-do approach to making deals and connections in the sector happen”.

He has been awarded a Distinction in Intellectual Property Law from the University of Oxford. Steven has conducted matters before the U.K. Intellectual Property Office, the EU Intellectual Property Office, the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, the High Court and Court of Appeal, and the Court of Justice of the European Union. Steven is a Solicitor-Advocate with rights of audience in all civil proceedings in the higher courts of England and Wales.

Representative Experience

• Representing Wirex Limited, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency platforms, in its successful trade mark infringement claim and damages inquiry against Cryptocarbon Global Ltd & Others (Wirex Limited v. Cryptocarbon Global Ltd & Others ([2021] EWHC 617 (IPEC) and [2022] EWHC 1161).
• Novaerus Patents Limited v Quest International (UK) Limited [2016] EWHC 95 (Ch): Represented medical technology provider Novaerus in a summary judgment claim in a complex contractual dispute about the sale of various patents and subsequent cross-licensing.
• Advising World-Leading COVID Rapid Test Provider Excalibur Healthcare Services on a ground-breaking Licence and Development Agreement with Sensyne Health in respect of the use of Excalibur’s lateral flow diagnostic tests with Sensyne Health’s clinical AI software, ‘MagnifEye’.
• Acting for an electrical wholesaler in relation to a passing off claim against a nationwide chain.
• Acting for a software development company on a High Court Technology & Construction Court dispute with a global retail bank.
• Acting for the acquirers of the iconic Crombie coat brand, and advising on its global IP portfolio.
• Acting for an electrical wholesaler on a passing off action against a listed building merchants’ business.
• Acting for an online fashion retail platform in respect of parallel trade mark infringement proceedings in the U.K. and United States.
• Interflora Inc v Marks & Spencer plc (Case C-323/09): Acting for Interflora on a high profile trade mark infringement case relating to the use of keywords on Google’s AdWords program, which was referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
• Orion Publishing Group Ltd v Novel Entertainment Ltd [2012] EWHC 1951 (Ch): Acting for a major commercial publisher in relation to a dispute over a royalty verification clause in a publishing agreement.