David Cran
Head of IP & Tech
Experienced and commercially focussed, David Cran works closely with clients to resolve their IP, technology and commercial issues.
David specialises in IP, technology and commercial matters, with significant experience in both disputes and transactions.
David advises on all areas of intellectual property, confidential information, IT/software and commercial issues. His work covers a wide range of industry sectors, including retail, financial services, insurance, IT/telecoms, media/digital media, energy, manufacturing and life sciences. David frequently advises on international matters, particularly involving the US, Europe and the Far East, including coordinating multi-jurisdictional disputes and deals.
David is recommended in the leading legal directories for IP and technology, including in Chambers, Legal 500, Who's Who Legal, World Trademark Review and IAM Patent, having been described as "technically polished", "very commercial" and "a class act".
David is named in The Lawyer's Hot 100 2023.
Directory quotes
"David Cran is an exceptional communicator who is very engaged with the detail and able to keep a large team motivated." - Legal 500 UK 2024
"David is a great and experienced lawyer." - Chambers UK 2023
Ranked – Chambers UK 2022
David Cran is a trade mark and copyright specialist who frequently handles multi-jurisdictional disputes and transactions. He is often instructed by fashion brands, media outlets and online platforms. - Chambers UK 2022
"He is absolutely top-notch on IP law. I go to him for complex and nuanced issues. He's extremely personable and good at explaining complex concepts in a simple way." - Chambers UK 2022
"David Cran is very personable and I really appreciate his creative approach to problem-solving and attention to detail." - Chambers UK 2022
"David Cran is very personable and tactical in his approach. I really appreciate his creative approach to problem solving and his attention to detail." - The Legal 500 UK 2022
"David Cran is the complete package, easy to work with, responsive, authoritative and completely reliable." - The Legal 500 UK 2022
"David Cran is brilliant." - The Legal 500 UK 2022
Recommended - The Legal 500 UK 2022
Leading individual - The Legal 500 UK 2022
"David takes a commercial as well as a legal view on things, which means the advice you get is tailored rather than generic. He doesn’t mind putting his neck on the line to make a call and his knowledge on complex issues is second to none." - World Trademark Review 1000 2021
David Cran is a trade mark and copyright specialist who frequently handles multi-jurisdictional disputes and transactions. He is often instructed by fashion brands, media outlets and online platforms. - Chambers UK 2021
"David is extremely knowledgeable about IP and very thorough while also being very commercial and able to see the bigger picture." - Chambers UK 2021
Leading individual - The Legal 500 UK 2021
"David Cran is very personable and tactical in his approach. I really appreciate his creative approach to problem solving and attention to detail." "David Cran is personable, very intelligent and quick to get to the nub of the problem." - The Legal 500 UK 2021
"David Cran is genuinely exceptional." - The Legal 500 UK 2021
Recommended - The Legal 500 UK 2021
"Excellent tactical lawyer" David Cran is adept at piecing together enforcement strategies that are equally effective in Asia, Europe and the United States – a skill that serves him well when working for global giant Coca-Cola. - World Trademark Review 1000 2020
"David Cran is very clever, thorough and thoughtful, and charted a clear strategic line throughout the long-running litigation we worked on." - The Legal 500 UK 2020
[Clients describe David as] a confident professional. He is very good at cutting through the politics of litigation and offers very practical advice. - Acritas 2019
He adds value by providing in-house teams with training and regular IP updates. - World Trademark Review 1000 2019
David Cran is recommended for commercial and contentious trade mark and copyright matters. "He really knows his stuff on the technical side but he's also very good at communicating with us and boiling it down to the key points." - Chambers UK 2019
"Performs at a high level in critical spats with international components, but is also highly sought after as a vigilant portfolio manager." - World Trade Mark Review 1000 2018
“An excellent tactical lawyer.” - World Trade Mark Review 1000 2018
David Cran is a "very responsive and thoughtful" practitioner who "always thinks outside of the box" and is "mindful of the client's style and approach." - Chambers UK 2018
Paul Joseph and David Cran are "excellent lawyers", and have expertise in contentious and non-contentious IP matters. - Legal 500 UK 2017
"International litigator and deal maker extraordinaire David Cran is another lawyer who is always adding commercial value." - World Trade Mark Review 1000 2017
David Cran is a trade mark specialist recommended for litigation, clearance searches and commercial agreements. Clients say: "He explains matters very clearly and has a good commercial perspective on matters." - Chambers UK 2017
David Cran is best known as a litigator although he also advises on IP-driven transactions. His areas of expertise include copyright, designs, trade marks and trade secrets, and he is lauded by clients for his "formidable brain power." - Chambers UK 2016
Gives "clear and robust advice." - The Legal 500 UK 2016
Lauded by clients for his "formidable brain power." - Chambers UK 2016
"Knowledgeable and a pleasure to deal with." - The Legal 500 UK 2015
David Cran is esteemed by clients and peers [...] He is "very personable" and admired for his tactical sense - "he knew exactly which card to play to get the best outcome." - Chambers UK 2015
"Thinks about legal issues in a very lateral way and comes up with creative solutions; his advice is always spot on" [...] "tenacious, well organised and determined – exactly what you want in a dispute." - World Trade Mark Review 1000 2015
"Combine[s] technical excellence with an astute understanding of client needs." - The Legal 500 UK 2014
David is “an excellent tactical lawyer and a measured litigator who is easy to work with.” - World Trade Mark Review 1000
Memberships
Member of the City of London Law Society (CLLS) IP Committee
Member of the International Trademark Association (INTA)
Member of the Society for Computers and Law (SCL)
Member of the ICT Arbitration Club
Supervising Solicitor on the London Litigation Solicitors Association (LSLA) list
Co-author of Getting the Deal Through - Copyright global guide
Relevant work
Advising a world famous sports brand on trade mark licensing issues and disputes, including before the High Court and Court of Appeal, as well as in foreign court and registry proceedings
Advising on significant international arbitration proceedings in China and Hong Kong concerning patent and knowhow licences in the energy industry
Obtaining and executing a Search Order for a hedge fund against former employees on the basis of breach of confidence and copyright/database right infringement
Advising on a major dispute arising from an systems architecture agreement between a well-known life sciences company and Tier 1 IT supplier
Acting for a leading US media company on the acquisition of core IP assets and subsequent restructuring of ownership and licensing arrangements