Catherine Howell

Catherine Howell specialises in high-value telecoms patent litigation, with a particular focus on complex FRAND and standard-essential patent (SEP) disputes.

She has worked extensively on some of the most significant SEP disputes before the English courts, including landmark cases such as Unwired Planet v Huawei, Conversant v Huawei and Optis v Apple. Her experience spans first instance proceedings, appellate litigation and complex procedural applications, including jurisdictional challenges, confidentiality disputes and anti-suit injunctions.

Howell played a key role in the Optis v Apple litigation, including the Court of Appeal proceedings concerning FRAND licensing and confidentiality, which resulted in a landmark decision on confidentiality in FRAND disputes and contributed to a licence fee determination in excess of $700 million.

Her wider experience includes preparation and filing of Unified Patent Court actions and coordination of cross-border litigation strategy across multiple jurisdictions.

Howell has held leadership roles within IPSoc, including serving as chair (2022–2024), during which she significantly increased membership, strengthened governance structures and expanded engagement through events featuring senior judiciary and leading practitioners. She continues to contribute to IPSoc in an advisory capacity and serves on committees for both the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) UK and ChIPs, where she supports professional development initiatives and the advancement of women in law and technology.

Howell has led EIP’s participation in the Sutton Trust Pathways to Law programme, providing access to legal experience for students from underrepresented backgrounds. She has also been instrumental in developing EIP’s trainee recruitment initiative, which supports graduates undertaking legal training through funding and structured entry into the profession.