Jamie Watt > Harper Macleod LLP > Edinburgh, United Kingdom > Lawyer Profile

Harper Macleod LLP
CITYPOINT, 65 HAYMARKET TERRACE
EDINBURGH
EH12 5HD
United Kingdom

Position

Partner

Jamie leads the firm’s intellectual property & technology (IP&T) team, as well as the life sciences group. He is a specialist in both intellectual property law and cybersecurity, accredited by the Law Society of Scotland, and a specialist in international trade marks, certified by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

His expertise includes trade marks & brand management (including anti-counterfeiting), patent law, pharmaceuticals and medical devices (including their regulatory regimes), aquaculture and marine technology, blockchain and decentralised network innovation, software, IT/ICT and the internet, and music, entertainment, sports and publishing.

In addition, the European Commission has recognised Jamie as an expert in intellectual property under the Horizon programme, and previously under Framework Programmes FP5 to FP7. He has advised both the European Commission on commercialisation policy and the OECD on open access policy. He has also assisted extensively with the development of IP related legislation at both the Scottish and UK parliaments.

Prior to joining the firm he was the in-house IP manager at a leading Scottish university.  He has also worked in-house for a major independent record label and an artist management company.

Jamie has extensive experience of cross border work and foreign jurisdictions, particularly the US, Netherlands, India and China. He also coordinates the Netherlands country desk, part of Harper Macleod’s international offering.

He contributes regularly to journals such as Sports Law and Taxation on international IP related matters.

Jamie is rated as an expert in trade mark matters by World Trade Mark Review, which comments that he “is highly skilled and experienced within the trademarks field, and has an impressively broad practice”.

He was named as an IP Star by Managing IP magazine in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Education

LLB (Hons) Dip LP

Lawyer Rankings

Scotland > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms

Harper Macleod LLP‘s technology practice is noted for its expertise in public sector IT procurement and contracts work, and acts for a diverse range of public and third sector clients on the full range of related matters. Tom Thomas, who specialises in high-value cybersecurity and technology contract work for public and private entities, leads the team from Glasgow. In Edinburgh, accredited IP specialist Scott Kerr advises clients in the consumer goods and life sciences sectors on outsourcing and regulatory issues, while Jamie Watt, dual-accredited in IP and cybersecurity, is the key contact for disputes concerning patents in the tech sector.

Scotland > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media and entertainment

Harper Macleod LLP assists a wide range of blue-chip media organisations, governing bodies and high-profile individuals with both contentious and non-contentious matters. The team is led by the Edinburgh-based IP and cybersecurity specialist Jamie Watt, who is renowned for his expertise in the music sector and cross-border capabilities. Tom Thomas‘ commercial knowhow spans film and television production and location agreements, in addition to sports broadcasting rights arrangements, while James McMorrow‘s experience includes film production funding and location matters. In the contentious space, David Kerr‘s recent work involves advising public broadcasters on breach of contract and defamation issues. All named individuals are based in Glasgow unless noted otherwise.

Scotland > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport

Harper Macleod LLP is renowned for its contentious and non-contentious capabilities across the entire spectrum of sports law matters, translating into regular instructions from leading international federations and governing bodies, in addition to high-profile sports clubs, individuals and representatives. Department head Bruce Caldow is noted for his expertise in regulatory, governance and disciplinary issues; the latter is an area in which senior partner Lorne Crerar further excels. Tom Thomas concentrates on broadcasting, sponsorship and IP rights matters, where the Edinburgh-based Jamie Watt is also an essential contact, for major cycling championships and football leagues, while Carolyn Morgan oversees receipts of complaint in the sport of gymnastics. Other recommended individuals include David Kerr, an expert in football disputes before the SFA Panel, and senior solicitor Andrew Maxwell, an active figure in the sport of cricket. All named individuals are named in Glasgow unless noted otherwise.

Scotland > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property

(Leading individuals)

Jamie WattHarper Macleod LLP

Harper Macleod LLP caters to major domestic and international clients across a wide array of key economic sectors, spanning music, sport, and government authorities, with a particularly strong reputation for trade marks, patents and legislative implementation. Jamie Watt leads the offering and brings considerable strength in the life sciences, music and entertainment industries. Commercial litigator E-Ming Fong regularly handles high-profile IP disputes before the Court of Session, while Tom Thomas specialises in high-value technology contract work, servicing major software developers and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) service providers in the private sector, as well as having a strong niche in relation to broadcasting in the sports sector.