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  1. Information technology – Leading Sets
  2. Information technology – Leading Silks
  3. Information technology – Leading Juniors

4 Pump Court is the ‘go-to set for IT disputes’, and its clerking is ‘unfailingly excellent’. Jeremy Storey QC is ‘unquestionably the number-one IT silk in the country’, and was instructed by Logica in a dispute over a global outsourcing contract termination. The ‘utterly reliable’ Alex Charlton QC is ‘a prodigiously hard worker’, and Nigel Tozzi QC is ‘an excellent advocate’. The ‘impressive’ Duncan McCall QC is one of the 11 individuals acting in a groundbreaking case for a health sector client; also involved are Terence Bergin, who has a ‘a fighting spirit’, and Simon Henderson, whose previous experience in the IT industry is ‘a real plus’. Michael Taylor is ‘hardworking and has a fantastic capacity to absorb information’. Matthew Lavy is an up-and-coming junior, who is ‘exceptionally bright’ and ‘very knowledgeable on large software development issues’.

Client receive a ‘Rolls-Royce service’ at 11 South Square, where ‘every single clerk is courteous, polite and professional’. Of the silks, the ‘wonderful’ Henry Carr QC ‘is pre-eminent in the IT field’, as is Michael Silverleaf QC, who is ‘the best cross-examiner’. Among the juniors, Brian Nicholson is ‘a terrier for detail’ and Heather Lawrence, who has ‘formidable intellect and a razor-sharp mind’, can ‘see her way through a problem like a hot knife through butter’. Jacqueline Reid and Giles Fernando are also well-respected individuals.

The ‘well-run and very user-friendly’ Atkin Chambers handles IT disputes relating to public and private projects, both domestically and abroad. The ‘excellent’ Nicholas Baatz QC is highly recommended, as is Stephen Dennison QC, who has expertise in the professional obligations of project managers and designers of software and hardware projects. The ‘creative and very able’ David Streatfeild-James QC acts for well-known household names such as Cap Gemini UK and Fujitsu. Of the juniors, Christopher Lewis is ‘able to understand and present in the clearest way the most complex of technology’.

At 8 New Square, clients speak very highly of Daniel Alexander QC, whose work includes rights-related and contract disputes. Martin Howe QC also has extensive expertise in computer technology and is very knowledgeable on issues related to biotechnology and genetic engineering. Also recommended are Adrian Speck, Robert Onslow and James St Ville.

Well known for its work on local authorities’ IT disputes, Henderson Chambers’ reputation continues to flourish. Richard Mawrey QC appeared in St Albans City and District Council v International Computers Ltd, and Peter Susman QC acted for the claimant in TH Baker & Co Ltd v SDK Jewellers Ltd in the TCC. Geraint Webb is also highly regarded.

Hogarth Chambers’ Alastair Wilson QC is experienced in high-profile patent and trade mark cases involving IT issues. Michael Hicks is recommended for software-related work and provides ‘good and practical input’, and Guy Tritton is ‘persistent in pursuing his client’s interests’.

At Three New Square, Guy Burkill QC is acting for Apple in its high-profile UK action against Nokia relating to smartphone patents. Douglas Campbell also handles a wide variety of large patent cases involving technological elements.

The ‘clear-thinking and tactically astute’ Paul Lowenstein QC of 3 Verulam Buildings acted for Cable & Wireless in a claim relating to a point-to-point fibre cable use agreement. Michael Lazarus ‘impresses at every level and grasps technical issues quickly’, and Clive Freedman is ‘proactive and very accessible’.

Also recommended are Alan Gourgey QC of 11 Stone Buildings (‘very user-friendly’); Graham Read QC at Devereux (‘tenacious in driving a strategy forward’); Simon Croall QC of Quadrant Chambers; and Derek Sweeting QC of 7 Bedford Row. Brick Court Chambers attracted ‘top junior’ Nicholas Saunders from Hogarth Chambers in 2010, who has an excellent reputation in the field – his ‘technical knowledge is unsurpassed’. The ‘very strong’ Lawrence Akka at 20 Essex Street and the ‘bright and client-friendly’ Philip Roberts of One Essex Court are also well-respected juniors.

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