Deborah Bould

Deborah is a solicitor, patent litigator and licensing specialist with more than 25 years' experience advising clients in the Engineering and Information & Communications Technology (ICT) sectors. She represents clients in complex UK and UPC patent disputes, as well as managing and coordinating multi-jurisdictional litigation and licensing programmes across Europe, the US and Asia. Deborah is described as "technically excellent and highly responsive", "a trusted long-term adviser" and having "a deep understanding of her clients' industries" by IAM Patent 2026 and is valued for delivering commercially focused advice.

Deborah leads our Engineering & ICT practice for UK and UPC patent litigation, trade secret disputes and patent licensing matters.

Patent litigation, trade secrets and UPC disputes for engineering businesses

Deborah advises leading global businesses on patent and trade secret disputes and related licensing arrangements across a broad range of engineering disciplines. Her experience spans aerospace and defence, automotive, consumer products, chemical engineering, energy, medical devices and space technologies.

She has acted for both claimants and defendants in strategically important disputes and has particular experience supporting innovative businesses as they commercialise and protect emerging technologies. Her practice also includes advising on the use of artificial intelligence in R&D and the deployment of IoT technologies within manufacturing and supply chains.

SEP, FRAND and ICT patent litigation and licensing 

A key area of Deborah's practice is standards essential patent (SEP) litigation and licensing. She has extensive experience in disputes involving video streaming, telecommunications and data connectivity technologies.

Deborah played a leading role in the development of the UK's "FRAND First" approach to litigation, an innovation that has helped reduce both the cost of SEP disputes and licensing uncertainty for technology businesses worldwide.

Areas of expertise

• Patent Litigation: UK and UPC

• Coordinating global patent litigation

• Settlement agreements

• Freedom to Operate Advice

• Licensing

• Due diligence and transaction support

Representative experience in patent litigation, SEP disputes and licensing

1. Successfully coordinated patent enforcement litigation of hair curling technology in 9 jurisdictions globally against a key competitor for a luxury brand technology company

2. (1) Hand Held Products, Inc (2) Metrologic Instruments, Inc v (1) Zebra Technologies Europe Limited (2) Zebra Technologies Corporation and Honeywell Control Systems Limited (third party) (patent portfolio dispute concerning hand-held bar code scanners)

3. (1) Symbol Technologies LLC (2) Zebra Technologies Europe Limited v Honeywell Control Systems Limited (patent portfolio dispute concerning hand-held bar code scanners)

4.    Lufthansa Technik AG v (1) Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems and (2) Safran Seats GB Limited (patent dispute concerning safety of in-seat power supply systems)

5. TQ Delta LLC v (1) ZyXEL Communications UK Limited, and (2) ZyXEL Communications A/S (WiFi routers and telecommunications networking equipment, SEP and FRAND issues were critical parts of this patent portfolio dispute)

6. Magnesium Elektron Limited v (1) Neo (formerly Molycorp) Chemicals and Oxides (Europe) Limited and (2) Zibo Jia Hua Advances Material Resources Co., Ltd. (patent dispute concerning mixed metal oxides used in catalytic converters)

7. Siemens Schweiz AG v Thorn Security Ltd (patent dispute concerning protective coatings for printed circuit boards)

8. Nuovo Pignone SPA v Aker Subsea AS (LCIA arbitration regarding subsea compressor patent ownership arising from a joint venture) 

9. (1) Cleancut Technologies Limited and (2) M-I Drilling Fluids UK Limited v (1) Halliburton Energy Services Inc, Halliburton Manufacturing and Services Limited and (3) Clyde Materials Handling Limited (patent dispute concerning storage and transport of drill cuttings)

10. (1) LG Electronics Inc and (2) LG Electronics UK Limited v Inside Secure SA (Near Field Communications functionality in smartphones, SEP and FRAND issues were critical parts of this patent portfolio dispute)

11. Memcor Australia Pty Ltd v Norit Membraan Technologie BV (patent dispute concerning industrial scale membrane water filters) 

12. (1) Thomson Licensing SA and (2) Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH v Pace Micro Technology plc (digital set-top boxes, MPEG 2 functionality, SEP and FRAND issues were critical parts of this patent portfolio dispute)

13. Diageo North America Inc v Intercontinental Brands (ICB) Ltd (passing off)

14. Haells Modul System AB v H Modul Limited (design right, trade mark and passing off in modular systems for vehicles) 

Background

Deborah is a UK qualified solicitor with experience of UPC litigations as part of European and global patent enforcement and defence campaigns. Since joining Mewburn Ellis, Deborah works with UPC qualified colleagues to deliver a joined-up service to Engineering and ICT clients across the UPC and the UK.

Having achieved joint honours in Natural Sciences and Law from the University of Cambridge (Jesus College), Deborah qualified as a litigation specialist in 1996. She obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law from the University of Bristol in 2002.

Deborah loves being part of her clients' teams, something reflected in the long-standing relationships she has built throughout her career. One client commented:

"…Deborah Bould has advised our business for more than 20 years. This alone serves as a testament to her abilities and the value the business places on her judgement and expertise in the patents sphere. Put simply, Deborah is our 'go-to' lawyer; there is nobody else in the market we would be prepared to take advice from in this area. Her innate ability to identify and resolve issues in a timely and thorough manner makes her invaluable to the business." – Legal 500, 2026 

Deborah is someone who gets things done and motivates her team to achieve great results. She is also highly organised. Her two favourite parts of a litigation are developing and executing a successful strategy with key members of the team, especially in a fast-moving case, and diving deep into the litigated technology. A previous boss described her as "an Exocet missile" because of her drive and determination to achieve the result her client needs.

Recommendations 

Legal 500, 2026

Intellectual Property: patents (contentious and non-contentious)

 “…Deborah Bould is highly recommended.”

Client testimonial: “[Previous firm] understands our risk appetite and the industry in which we work. The firm adopts a commercial approach by proactively providing legal services around our needs. Their patent advice, provided primarily through Deborah Bould, is unrivalled, meaning we would simply not be prepared to look elsewhere for patent advice.”

IAM Patents 1000

Silver - Individuals: Litigation 

Deborah Bould earns special recognition this year for providing “advice on all patent matters and commercially grounded recommendations shaped by a deep understanding of her clients’ industries. Technically excellent and highly responsive, she delivers clear, jargon-free guidance to both legal and non-legal stakeholders, anticipates issues proactively and remains closely aligned with business priorities. Deborah’s consistent performance and strategic insight make her a trusted long-term adviser”

IP Stars 2026

Patent Star, held for over 10 years

Best Lawyers

Recognised in Best Lawyers since 2009

Personal

Living in both London and Yorkshire, Deborah is married and enjoys spending family time with her young niece and nephew. Her other passions include the theatre, singing, travel and skydiving  (yes, really!).