Martin Howe KC KC > 8 New Square Intellectual Property > London, England > Barrister Profile
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8 New Square
LINCOLN'S INN
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Martin Howe KC KC
Position
Barrister specialising in all aspects of intellectual property (patents, trade marks, copyrights, designs, confidential information etc) and EU and post-Brexit law on free movement of goods and services; many hi-tech cases, with particular emphasis on computing, information technology and internet; also extensive experience in biotechnology/genetic engineering cases; regularly appears before the EPO in Munich and (pre-exit) before ECJ in Luxembourg. Please see website entry at www.8newsquare.co.uk for recent cases.
Career
QC 1996; worked as computer programmer for IBM (UK) and a software house before coming to the Bar; editor ‘Russell-Clarke and Howe on Industrial Designs’ (6th ed – 10th ed, 2022); Appointed Person for hearing designs appeals (2018-current); Member Commission on a Bill of Rights for the UK (2010-2012); joint editor ‘Halsbury Laws on Trade Marks’ (1986, 2000).
Memberships
Intellectual Property Bar Association (IPBA); The Intellectual Property Lawyers Organisation (TIPLO).
Education
Trinity Hall, Cambridge (1977 BA Engineering and Law; 1979 MA).
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Intellectual property
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3Martin Howe KC – 8 New Square ‘Martin commands respect, as he is thorough, thoughtful, and extremely knowledgeable. He is excellent at seeing the whole picture as well as the detail, he knows the law inside out, he digests the facts quickly, and he is excellent at advising on strategy.’
The team at 8 New Square has a strong reputation for regularly handling major intellectual property litigation, with expertise across the entire range of patents, copyright, and trade marks, representing clients in all levels of the court system. Michael Tappin KC represented the claimant in Nokia v Oppo, a claim regarding patent infringement in the telecoms sector. Andrew Lykiardopoulos KC is notable in patent-related cases, and Martin Howe KC is strong in IP mandates concerning technology, including those involving the internet, broadcasting and computer systems, as well as biotech and pharmaceuticals. High-tech patent litigation is a significant strength of James Abrahams KC and he represents clients in the telecoms, pharmaceutical, advanced medical devices, and engineering industries. Lindsay Lane KC has a broad-ranging practice, with significant expertise in database rights, designs, passing off, and confidential information; she is instructed by the claimant in Ensygnia v Shell regarding a patent concerning bar codes. Justin Turner KC joined the set from Three New Square in July 2022.
London Bar > Media and entertainment
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2Martin Howe KC – 8 New Square ‘The great thing about Martin is that he has such a broad knowledge of and interest in the law that he can spot new angles in complex matters. He is authoritative but very easy to work with.’
The barristers at 8 New Square regularly act in high-profile media and entertainment cases, where barristers combine their specialist knowledge in television, film and broadcasting to work on varied cases. Martin Howe KC represented the claimant in Molavi v BBC and Gilbert, a copyright case concerning the scripts of a two-part episode of Silent Witness. Jonathan Hill represented the claimants in Shazam Productions v Only Fools The Dining Experience, in which it was found that an immersive dinner theatre performance featuring characters, but not dialogue, from Only Fools and Horses was a breach of the claimant’s copyright, the first case establishing that a character can be a freestanding copyrighted work.