11 South Square is highly regarded in the intellectual property arena, with an excellent reputation as ‘the home of many of the go-to barristers for complex patent cases’. Michael Silverleaf KC brings over three decades of experience in the IP space, and Iain Purvis KC is well known for his expertise in advising on pharmaceutical patents. Piers Acland KC successfully appeared for Moderna before the Court of Appeal in a high-profile patent dispute against Pfizer and BioNTech, arising from alleged infringement issues concerning the Covid-19 vaccine. Among the juniors, Adam Gamsa is well versed in handling patent litigation in the medical devices, pharmaceutical, telecoms and IT sectors. Kathryn Pickard KC was elevated to silk in March 2025.
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Position

Experience in all types of contentious intellectual property work. He has a strong patent practice covering a wide variety of technology areas but with particular emphasis on chemical and pharmaceutical patents. Piers has been involved in numerous cases before all of the appropriate courts and tribunals as well as the European Patent Office. Recent cases include:

Illumina Cambridge Ltd v Latvia MGI Tech SIA & Ors [2021] EWHC 57 (Pat) - Patents Court, DNA sequencing technology.

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation & Anor v Meril GmbH & Anor [2020] EWHC 2562 (Pat) - Patents Court, transcatheter heart valves.

Akebia Therapeutics Inc v Fibrogen, Inc & Astellas [2020] EWHC 866 (Pat) - Patents Court, enzyme inhibitor to treat anaemia and related conditions.

Anan Kasei Co. Ltd & Anor v Molycorp Chemicals & Oxides (Europe) Ltd [2018] EWHC 843 (Pat)

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd & Anor v ResMed Ltd & Anor [2017] EWHC 2748 (Ch)

Mylan v Richter Gedeon Vegyeszeti Gyar [2016] EWCA Civ 410 – Court of Appeal, patent revocation, emergency contraception;

Generics (UK) Limited t/a Mylan v Warner-Lambert Company LLC [2015] EWHC 2548 (Pat)

International Stem Cell Corp v Comptroller General C-364/13 [2014] – CJEU, patentability of methods of producing stem cells;

Smith & Nephew Plc v Convatec Technologies Inc [2015] EWCA Civ 607

Idenix Pharma v Gilead Sciences Inc [2014] EWHC 3916 (Pat) – Patents Court, patent infringement and validity, Hepatitis C treatment;

Scopema v Scot Seat [2014] EWCA Civ 187 – Court of Appeal, Construction and infringement in relation to a patent for seat brackets;

Seitz v KHS [2014] EWHC 14 – Patents Court, patent revocation and declaration of non-infringement, valves used in rotary stretch blow moulding machines;

Mylan v GSK [2013] EWHC 148 – Patents Court, patent revocation, anti-malarial;

Convatec v Smith & Nephew [2012] EWHC 1638 – Court of Appeal, wound dressings;

BMW v Round & Metal [2012] EWHC 2099 – Patents Court, Community designs for alloy wheels;

Mylan v Yeda [2013] EWCA Civ 925 – Court of Appeal, patents for copolymer-1, validity and infringement;

Teva v AstraZeneca [2013] EWCA Civ 454 – Court of Appeal, patent for schizophrenia treatments, revocation;

Bayer v Norbrook – EPO, pharmaceutical patents, revocation;

Pro-Tec Covers Ltd v Specialised Covers Ltd [2011] EWPCC 023 – Patents County Court, unregistered design right, infringement;

Blinx v Blinkbox [2010] – trade mark infringement, interim injunction.

Career

Called 1993; silk 2010.

Education

University College London (1984-87 BSc Biochemistry First Class Hons); Imperial Cancer Research Fund (1987-91 PhD Molecular Virology); College of Law (1991-92 Common Professional Examination); Inns of Court School of Law (1992-93 Bar vocational course). Mansfield scholar (Lincoln’s Inn 1991-92); Denning Scholar (Lincoln’s Inn 1992-93).

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Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The clerks at 11 South Square are brilliant. Sam Fullilove and Harry Eades cannot do enough to help, always thinking ahead to what might be useful on the day of a hearing, and are great people to work with.'
  • 'The clerks are responsive.'
  • 'Ashley Carr and Sam Fullilove are very good clerks. Very personable, easy to get along with and always happy to assist at short notice.'
  • 'The clerks are very friendly and deliver a good, prompt service.'
  • '11 South Square is a very strong set.'
  • '11 South Square is a great set of chambers. Plenty of talent in the set and a very good group of juniors.'
  • '11 South Square offer a solid roster of talent at all levels of seniority in respect of patent litigation.'
  • '11 South Square has excellent bench strength.'