Ryan Abbott

Ryan acts in complex commercial disputes, including AI patent litigation, contractual and partnership claims, digital asset conflicts, and cross-border enforcement, with experience across all court levels including the Supreme Court.

• Acted as lead trial counsel for a claimant in a business partner dispute that resulted in a judgment on the claimant’s behalf on all claims after trial.
• Acted as counsel and supervising lawyer for a claimant alleging breach of contract and bad faith for an insurance dispute. Survived dispositive motions and the matter successfully settled the week before trial.
• Acted as counsel and supervising lawyer for a claimant alleging theft of cryptocurrency by a decentralised finance platform. The case successfully settled within a month of filing. Also acted as counsel and supervising lawyer for the same claimant related to claimed violations of the non-disclosure provisions of the settlement agreement above, which successfully settled prior to trial.

Ryan advises on IP strategy, licensing, and enforcement, acting as counsel to companies on protection, prosecution, infringement, and disputes, including successfully resolving high-stakes IP litigation and licensing matters.

• Acted as counsel in numerous matters alleging patent infringement.
• Acted as counsel and supervising lawyer for an information technology company threatened by a large multinational corporation with intellectual property infringement. The case ended with a substantive settlement for the information technology company.
• Providing patent invalidity, freedom to operate, and infringement opinions.
• Advising on complex commercial and intellectual property licensing and sale agreements.

Ryan serves as arbitrator and panel chair in complex commercial disputes under major institutional rules, handling emergency relief, appeals, and regulatory matters, including interim injunctive relief.

• Acted as solo arbitrator, panel chair, or wing arbitrator in dozens of arbitrations under various institutional rules.
• Chaired arbitral appellate panel.
• Resolved requests for interim relief as emergency arbitrator along with requests for interim and injunctive relief on a non-emergency basis.
• Adjudicated a claim between a regulatory body and an applicant denied marketing approval for a medical device.

Many of Ryan’s clients are technology companies, and many of the disputes Ryan assists with resolving are in the technology industry.

• Acted as lead trial counsel for the claimant in Yu v Rari Capital, which successfully resulted in complete verdict for about 3M USD for breach of contract, conversion, and theft of cryptocurrency assets related to a decentralised finance platform.
• Acted as counsel and supervising lawyer in Thaler v Comptroller, concerning patent protection for an AI-generated invention. Appeared in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, and High Court actions. [2023] UKSC 49.
• Acted as lead attorney in Thaler v Perlmutter and Allen v Perlmutter seeking copyright registrations for AI-generated and AI-assisted works, respectively.
• Acted as counsel and supervising lawyer for an information technology company threatened by a large multinational corporation with intellectual property infringement. The case ended with a substantive settlement for the information technology company.
• Outside general counsel and head of intellectual property to a variety of emerging technology companies.
• Counsel for numerous early and mid-stage companies assisting with corporate transactional, contractual, and compliance matters.

Many of Ryan’s clients are life sciences companies, and many of the disputes Ryan assists with resolving are in the life sciences industry.

• Acted as counsel and supervising lawyer for a dietary supplement manufacturer suing a foreign vendor for breach of contract. Obtained a multimillion-pound judgment upheld on appeal.
• General Counsel of a biotechnology company from the time it went from preclinical development to phase two clinical trials.
• Outside general counsel and head of intellectual property to a variety of emerging companies including biotechnology companies progressing from preclinical development through to regulatory approvals for drugs and devices.

Recognised by Chambers UK as a Global Leader for Artificial Intelligence 2025

Recognised by IAM (Intellectual Asset Management) Strategy 300 as a World Leading IP Strategist 2022–2025

Mondaq, Thought Leadership Award, ADR, Spring 2025 & Autumn 2024

LexisNexis Legal Awards Finalist – Case of the Year, 2025

Lawyer Monthly, Legal Award, 2024

Recognised by WIPR as an Outstanding IP Practitioner 2022–2023

Managing Intellectual Property Europe Cross-border Patent Litigation Team of the Year 2022

Managing Intellectual Property 50 Most Influential People in IP 2019 and 2021

2016–Present  Professor of Law and Health Sciences, University of Surrey

2013–Present   Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles

2025–Present  United Kingdom Jurisdiction Taskforce (UKJT) Subcommittee on AI and Civil Liability

Expert Consultee

2025–Present  Global Initiative on AI for Health (GI-AI4H)

IP Working Group Member

2024–Present  The Institute for Creativity and AI, City University of London

Advisory Board Member

2024–Present  Global Intellectual Property Alliance (GLIPA)

Board Member

2021–Present  Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA) Attorney Client Mediation and Arbitration Services (ACMAS)

Executive Committee Member

2021–Present  Network Journal of Digital and Intellectual Rights & Society

Editorial Board Member

• Revista Rede de Direito Digital, Intelectual e Sociedade (RRDDIS)

2019–Present  American Bar Association (ABA)

• 2021–Present: International Coordinating Committee (ICC) Administrative Director of the Business Law Section Dispute Resolution Committee
• 2020­–Present: Inaugural Chair, Cross-Border Disputes Subcommittee
• 2019–2023: Editor, Intellectual Property Section, Landslide Magazine

2020–2023      American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) Emerging Technologies Committee

Co-Chair, AI Subcommittee

2019–Present  All-Party Parliamentary Group on Artificial Intelligence

Member, Data Governance Task Force

2019–Present  International Law Association

Member Global Health Law Committee

2018–2019      European Commission Expert Working Group on New Technologies Formation

Expert

2017–2020      Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Peer Review College

Academic College Reviewer

2014–2016      Judge Paul R. Michel Intellectual Property American Inn of Court

Member

2013–2016      Valley Community Healthcare

Board of Governors

Member of the Medical Affairs Committee