Overview
Graham Howard is a commercially focused, personable, and strategic-thinking lawyer and digital economy specialist with over three decades of international experience advising on technology commercialisation, cross-border M&A, IP management and litigation including trade reputation, and complex corporate and commercial matters. Called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 1987, he brings a wealth of global expertise to clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to major universities, energy multinationals, and private clients. He is adept at resolving high-stakes disputes involving IP rights, technology-led ventures, privacy, and reputational risk, as well as managing global private equity portfolios. Graham navigates intricate legal challenges across sectors including fintech, mining, oil and gas, agriculture, renewables, and retail, and is known for strengths in IP enforcement, trade libel, cyber and data compliance, and cross-border mediation, delivering tailored strategic guidance and solutions-driven advocacy across diverse business scenarios.
Experience
Before joining Caldwell, Graham practiced as a barrister and mediator and consulted for leading international law firms on intellectual property, digital economy matters, and cross-border commercial work. His experience includes advising on high-value disputes, global investment portfolios, major infrastructure projects, and corporate transactions across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Australasia.
Prior work includes:
Barrister & Mediator | Lincoln’s Inn Chambers, London*
- Intellectual property litigation and IP asset work
- Advisory services for PE firms on global investment portfolios for Gem PE & RioZim Plc
- Commercial projects, M&A, regulatory matters, and litigation
- Trade and personal reputation cases
Contract Consultant for Konexo (Eversheds Sutherland) | Stratagem Intellectual Property Management, Cambridge*
- Full-service intellectual property and asset management
- Strategic oversight of patents, trademarks, design rights, and digital economy matters
Intellectual Property Consultant | Ashurst LLP, London*
- Transactional and contentious IP work across digital economy sectors
- Advisor on projects of national importance to the UK, such as HS2
Of Counsel | Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, London & Johannesburg*
- Focus on Southern Africa’s mining and financial sectors
- Cross-border liability and joint venture agreement expertise
Head of Commercial DLA Piper Africa Group, Botswana, Minchin & Kelly*
- Head of legal, Barclays Africa
- M&A Signet acquisition of diamond processing
- Botswana Oil formation, Kalahari
- Energy and Botswana Power Corp
Additional professional experience:
- General Counsel at Waikato Link Limited (Waikato University, New Zealand)*
- Research and Development at Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia) and IP counsel at Saudi Arabia Basic Industries (SABIC)*
- Patent manager, Exeter University*
- Solicitor at Buddle Findlay Lawyers (New Zealand)*
- Barrister-at-law in London & Exeter chambers*
*Positions held prior to joining Caldwell.