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Home Professionals Michael Skrein

Michael is a partner in Reed Smith's Entertainment and Media Industry Group. He leads the firm’s Responsible Business programme, EMEA.

His practice is mainly in litigation, but he also advises about conflict and potential conflict situations, including crisis scenarios. Michael specialises in intellectual property and media law and in public and regulatory law, both domestic and international.

Michael has a very broad and notably international practice, including advertising, aviation, insurance, leisure and travel. He has considerable experience of multi-jurisdictional disputes and is well used to the role of lead lawyer for clients in countries other than England. Michael is also part of the firm’s global environmental, social and governance (ESG) practice.

Michael has been consulted over the formulation of statutory tribunal codes and made submissions concerning parliamentary drafting and law reform in the UK and abroad.

Credentials

  • University of Oxford, M.A.
  • University of Southern California, A.M.

  • England and Wales

  • British Literary & Artistic Copyright Association
  • International Trademark Association
  • Royal Television Society
  • Visiting Professor in the School of Law, Queen Mary University of London

  • French
  • German

Awards & Recognition

  • Listed as a 'Leading Individual' and in the 'Hall of Fame' in The Legal 500 UK for TMT Reputation Management, 2023-2024
  • TMT Team of the Year – Highly Commended, Legal Business Awards 2020
  • Ranked in Chambers Global for UK Intellectual Property, 2017-2024
  • Recognised as an outstanding IP practitioner in WIPR Leaders 2020 and 2021 by World Intellectual Property Review
  • Ranked in WTR 1000: The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals 2021 - 2024, by World Trademark Review 
  • Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
  • Ranked in Chambers UK for London Intellectual Property and UK-wide Defamation/Reputation Management, 2020-2024
  • Impact Case of the Year, Managing IP Awards 2019
  • Selected through peer review for inclusion in The Best Lawyers™ in the United Kingdom for Defamation Law, 2018-2024
  • Recognised as an IP Star in IPSTARS, 2020-22
  • “Lawyer of the Week: Michael Skrein” The Times, 5th March 2015
  • “CSR Programme of the Year” at the Legal Business Awards 2015
  • Selected as a "Super Lawyer" by 2014 London Super Lawyers
  • Head of the Litigation Team of the Year (The Lawyer Awards 2001)
  • “Licensed to bill” The Lawyer, 8th July 2002
  • Michael Skrein is listed in the 11th edition of The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom for Defamation Law.

Reported Cases

As well as being involved in many cases that settled, were arbitrated, or were not the subject of law reports, and cases that featured in law reports in other jurisdictions, the following is a list of Michael's United Kingdom reported cases, with citations:

  • Moonbug Entertainment Limited -v- (1) CCM Touring LLC and (2) S2BN Entertainment Corporation [2024] EWHC 793 (Comm)
  • Preston Paris Ingold & Ors, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions , Gingerbread Intervener [2023] EWHC 3207 (Admin)
  • The Queen on the Application of Channel Rescue v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2022] EWHC 517 (Admin) & [2022] EWHC 823 (Admin)
  • R. (on the application of Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation TV-Novosti) v Office of Communications [2022] 1 W.L.R. 481; [2021] EWCA Civ 1534 [2022] E.M.L.R. 5
  • Cartier International AG v British Telecommunications Plc [2018] UKSC 28
  • Eurasia Sports Ltd. v Tsai and others [2016] All ER (D) 37 (Oct); [2016] EWHC 2207 (QB)
  • Cartier International AG & Ors v British Sky Broadcasting Ltd & Ors [2016] EWCA Civ 658 (06 July 2016)
  • Davila v Davila [2016] EWHC B14 (Ch) 
  • Cartier International AG v British Sky Broadcasting Limited [2014] EWHC 3354 (Ch); [2015] RPC 7 
  • Fenty v Arcadia Group Brands Ltd (t/a Topshop) [2015] 1. W.L.R. 3291
  • Global Knafaim Leasing Ltd. and another v Civil Aviation Authority and another EUROCONTROL and Others (Interested Parties) Aviation Working Group (Intervening) – [2011] 1 Lloyd’s Rep. 324
  • Danjaq v OHMI- Mission Productions (Dr. No) (Intellectual property) [2009] EUECJ T-435/05 (30 June 2009) 
  • Pell v Express Newspapers, [2009] EWHC 118 (QB)
  • Pell v Express Newspapers, (CA (Civ Div)) Court of Appeal (Civil Division), 28 January 2005 [2005] EWCA Civ 46
  • R v Johnstone, House of Lords, 22 May 2003, [2003] 1 WLR 1736
  • World Wide Fund for Nature (formerly World Wildlife Fund) v World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Inc (Third Party Application), Court of Appeal, 27 March 2003, [2004] F.S.R. 10
  • R v Holborough, Court of Appeal (Criminal Division), 7 November 2002, [2002] EWCA Crim 2631
  • Koch Shipping Inc. v Richards Butler, Court of Appeal (Civil Division), 22 July 2002, [2002] 2 All ER (Comm) 957
  • McManus and Others v Beckham, Court of Appeal (Civil Division), 4 July 2002, [2002] 1 WLR 2982
  • R. v Maxwell-King (Paul John), (CA (Crim Div)) Court of Appeal (Criminal Division), 23 November 2000, [2001] 2 Cr. App. R. (S.) 28
  • Radio Telefis Éireann v Southern Star Sales Ltd and Others, (ChD) Chancery Division, 21 September 2000
  • National Westminster Bank PLC v Purge I.T. and Purge I.T. Ltd., WIPO Case No. D2000-0636 (August 13, 2000)
  • John and others v Express Newspapers plc and Others, Court of Appeal (Civil Division), 19 April 2000, [2000] 3 All ER 257
  • DNV Petroleum Services Inc v CBC Marine Publications Ltd, (QBD) Queen’s Bench Division, 1 February 2000
  • Re. Televising Premier League Football Matches, (RPC) Restrictive Practices Court, 28 July 1999, [1999] U.K.C.L.R. 258
  • Music Gallery Ltd v Direct Line Insurance plc, (ChD) Chancery Division, 6 April 1998, [1998] E.M.L.R. 551
  • MTV Europe (a firm) v BMG Records (UK) Ltd and Others, Court of Appeal (Civil Division), 10 March 1998
  • R. v Panel of the Federation of Communication Services Ltd Ex p. Kubis, (QBD) Queens Bench Division, 3 September 1997, (1999) 11 Admin. L.R. 43
  • Business City Express Ltd, Re, (ChD) Chancery Division, 20 January 1997, [1997] B.C.C. 826
  • Direct Line Group Ltd v Direct Line Estate Agency Ltd, (ChD) Chancery Division, 12 September 1996, [1997] F.S.R. 374
  • Civil Aviation Authority (with the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation as an intervener) v Internationale Nederlanden Aviation Lease BV and Others [1997] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 96
  • Batjac Productions Inc v Simitar Entertainment (UK) Ltd, (ChD) Chancery Division, 8 June 1995, [1996] F.S.R. 139
  • Phonogram Ltd. v Def American Inc, (ChD) Chancery Division, 30 August 1994, Times, October 7, 1994
  • Internationale Nederlanden Aviation Lease BV v Civil Aviation Authority and European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation [1997] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 80
  • Def American Inc. v Phonogram Ltd, (ChD) Chancery Division, 27 July 1994, The Times 16 August 1994
  • Direct Line Group Ltd. and Others v Direct Line Travel Ltd. trading as Direct Line Insurance, (ChD) Chancery Division, 19 July 1994
  • McDonald’s Corp. and Another v Steel and Another, Court of Appeal (Civil Division), 25 March 1994, [1995] 3 All ER 615
  • Direct Line Insurance v Lotus Leisure Group Limited and Others, Chancery Division (Patents), 21 December 1993
  • News Group Newspapers Ltd v Independent Television Publications Ltd (No.2), Copyright Tribunal, 30 December 1992, [1993] E.M.L.R. 133
  • News Group Newspapers Ltd v Independent Television Publications Ltd (No.1), Copyright Tribunal, 20 December 1991, [1993] E.M.L.R. 1
  • R v The Independent Television Commission ex parte TVNi Ltd; R v The Independent Television Commission ex parte TVS Television Ltd, Court of Appeal (Civil Division), 19 December 1991, The Times 30 December 1991
  • Irish Aerospace (Belgium) NV v European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation and Civil Aviation Authority, Queen’s Bench Division (Commercial Court), 6 June 1991, [1992] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 383
  • British Broadcasting Corporation & Another v Celebrity Centre Productions Ltd & Another, (ChD) Chancery Division, 27 May 1988
  • Dunbar of Kilconzie v Lord Advocate and Another, House of Lords, 17 April 1986, [1986] S.C. (H.L.) 1
  • O’Neill and Others v Paramount Pictures Corporation and Others, Court of Appeal (Civil Division), 20 July 1983
  • Richmark Camera Services Inc v Neilson-Hordell Ltd, (ChD) Chancery Division, 15 April 1981, [1981] F.S.R. 413
  • OCLI Optical Coatings Ltd v Spectron Optical Coatings Ltd, Court of Appeal (Civil Division), 28 February 1980, [1980] FSR 227
  • Re Allobrogia Steamship Corporation, Chancery Division, 22 February 1978, [1978] 3 All ER 423
  • The Mardina Merchant, Queen’s Bench Division (Admiralty Court), 25 July 1974, [1975] 1 WLR 147

Fellowships

  • Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce
  • Society for Advanced Legal Studies

Trusteeships

  • Chair and trustee of UK Friends of the Science Museum Limited
  • Kraszna-Krausz Foundation
  • Council Member of The Media Society