The previous article just discussed an order by Mr Justice Richard Meade (as he still is, but not for much longer). Then we saw the list of the latest “Appointment of Lord and Lady Justices of Appeal“, approved by King Charles III. It includes him.
Many members of the standard-essential patent (SEP) ecoystem know Mr (soon Lord) Justice Meade. Three months ago to the day, he said in open court that he doesn’t always agree with ip fray (March 12, 2026 ip fray article). That is mutual, but does not diminish our respect for him. We’ve heard only good things about his previous life as a patent litigator, and he’s brilliant in his way, which again doesn’t mean one has to agree. In fact, several courts agreed on a different royalty level in ZTE v. Samsung (May 12, 2026 ip fray article) than the one he deemed fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND).
There is no question that he will make an impact on the Court of Appeal of England and Wales (EWCA), not only but particularly in patent cases.
Another appointee has also been mentioned on this website before: Mr Justice Fancourt dismissed Tesla’s FRAND case against InterDigital and Avanci (July 18, 2024 ip fray article). The EWCA affirmed, and the UK Supreme Court (UKSC) is working on its decision now.
These are their short bios:
Mr Justice Richard Meade was called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn) in 1991 and took Silk in 2008. He was appointed as a Recorder in 2009 and a Deputy High Court Judge in 2010. He was appointed as a High Court Judge of the Chancery Division and a Chair of the Competition Appeal Tribunal, both in 2020.
Mr Justice Timothy Fancourt was called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn) in 1987 and took Silk in 2003. He was appointed as a Recorder (Crime) in 2009, authorised to hear cases under section 9(1) of the Senior Courts Act 1981 in 2013, and appointed a High Court Judge assigned to the Chancery Division in 2018. He was also appointed as a Chair of the Competition Appeal Tribunal in 2018; served as President of the Lands Chamber between 2019 and 2022; and as Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster and Supervising Judge of the Business and Property Courts on the Northern and North-Eastern Circuits between 2021 and 2025. He is currently the Chair of the High Court Judges’ Association.
The other appointees are Mr Justice Butcher, Mr Justice Chamberlain, Mrs Justice Farbey, Mrs Justice Lieven, and Mr Justice Saini. They have been appointed to fill vacancies.