Michael Tappin, a leading patent barrister with 35 years at the Bar, has been appointed to succeed Richard Meade as a judge in the UK High Court’s Business and Property Division. The move, effective October 1, 2026, fills the vacancy left by Meade’s elevation to the Court of Appeal. Tappin’s appointment marks a shift in the court’s focus, potentially reducing emphasis on standard-essential patent (SEP) disputes and restoring more attention to life-sciences cases.
Tappin, currently a King’s Counsel at 8 New Square, brings deep experience in intellectual-property law. He was appointed a Deputy High Court Judge in 2021 and has sat in the Patents Court, handling high-profile matters such as Bayer’s Xarelto case and AstraZeneca’s dapagliflozin patent revocation. His expertise spans life sciences, where he represented BioNTech in its dispute with Moderna over mRNA patents, and broader IP, including the Ericsson-Lenovo SEP licensing conflict. Those cases demonstrate the breadth of his courtroom experience.
Before law, Tappin trained as a scientist, earning a doctorate in biochemistry from Oxford. His appointment continues the trend of drawing patent judges from specialist IP barristers, following Meade’s tenure, which included landmark cases like Moderna vs. BioNTech and Samsung vs. ZTE. Meade, promoted to the Court of Appeal earlier this year, will reportedly continue hearing cases at the High Court temporarily before fully transitioning, providing continuity during the handover.
The appointment was announced by the Lady Chief Justice this week. Tappin will be known as The Honourable Mr Justice Tappin. At the Court of Appeal, Meade will work alongside Richard Arnold in patent cases. Colin Birss, previously Chancellor of the High Court, has reduced his caseload due to administrative duties while continuing to hear cases both as a senior judge in the Court of Appeal and at first instance in the Chancery Division.
