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  1. Intellectual property – Leading Sets
  2. Intellectual property – Leading Silks
  3. Intellectual property – New Silks
  4. Intellectual property – Leading Juniors

Intellectual property – New Silks

Cutting-edge patent disputes form a large proportion of the IP work at Three New Square, where Simon Thorley QC is highlighted as ‘one of the go-to members of the patent Bar’ and Andrew Waugh QC is ‘a leading patent litigator, particularly in cases involving life sciences issues’. Antony Watson QC is also highly regarded, as are Guy Burkill QC (‘excellent in complex technology cases’), Richard Miller QC and ‘powerful cross-examiner’ Justin Turner QC. At junior level, Tom Mitcheson is ‘outstanding’; ‘nothing is too much trouble’ for Tom Hinchliffe; and Simon Malynicz has ‘an encyclopaedic knowledge of trade mark law’. Also recommended are ‘impressive and robust advocate’ Douglas Campbell; Denise McFarland, who provides ‘spot-on advice’; and Geoffrey Pritchard, for his ‘excellent attention to detail’.

The largest specialist IP set in London, 8 New Square has amassed a sizeable reputation to boot. Daniel Alexander QC is ‘an expert in Copyright Tribunal cases’ and ‘always charming to work with’, and Richard Meade QC is ‘an excellent choice for any major patent dispute’. Other highly respected silks include James Mellor QC, John Baldwin QC and Peter Prescott QC. At the junior end, Andrew Lykiardopoulos is ‘indisputably one of the best advocates at the junior IP Bar’. James Abrahams, George Hamer and Charlotte May are also recommended. Adrian Speck QC took silk in 2012.

11 South Square’s barristers regularly appear in leading cases across the IP spectrum, including the recent Apple v Samsung patent action, the Dyson v Vax registered design right case and the long-running L’Oréal v eBay trade mark dispute. Michael Silverleaf QC is highly respected, as are Henry Carr QC, who has ‘a real understanding of what it takes to win’, and Iain Purvis QC, who impresses with his ‘calm and considered approach to complex cases’. The ‘intelligent and analytical’ Piers Acland QC and Mark Vanhegan QC (who ‘gets to grips with details very quickly’) are also silks to note. Recommended juniors include Brian Nicholson, who has a ‘thorough technical understanding of chip patent cases’; Richard Hacon, who is ‘a pleasure to work with’; and Benet Brandreth, who is ‘a real asset to have on your side’. Anna Edwards-Stuart is ‘impressive on her feet’, and Giles Fernando is ‘determined and persuasive’.

Hogarth Chambers’ Roger Wyand QC is ‘a silk you can rely on for support, whether it is a huge trial or a minor matter’. Alastair Wilson QC ‘comes up with ingenious lines of argument and is completely down to earth’, and Christopher Morcom QC is ‘the guru on UK trade mark law’. Among the juniors, Michael Hicks ‘goes the extra mile for his clients’, and Amanda Michaels is ‘excellent on all brand protection and trade mark matters’. Guy Tritton is also highly regarded, as are Gwilym Harbottle (‘very good on matters where there is a criminal element’) and Andrew Norris, who is ‘approachable and great with clients’.

One Essex Court’s Geoffrey Hobbs QC is ‘an oracle for trade mark matters’ and ‘a top-notch UK silk for soft IP’. The set’s offering at silk level was enhanced with the appointment of Emma Himsworth QC in 2012. At junior level, Philip Roberts is ‘an expert in online media and technology-related cases’, and Guy Hollingworth is ‘bright, intuitive, innovative and a pleasure to deal with’.

Also recommended are Michael Bloch QC at Wilberforce Chambers; Serle Court’s Michael Edenborough QC, who is valued for his ‘attention to detail and responsiveness’; the ‘charismatic’ Ian Mill QC at Blackstone Chambers; the ‘very commercially astute’ Mark Engelman at Hardwicke; and Nicholas Saunders at Brick Court Chambers, who is developing a specialist practice focusing on the interface between IP rights and competition law. The ‘highly intelligent’ Madeleine Heal moved from Hardwicke to New Square Chambers in 2011.

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