Dispute resolution
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.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Position
Barrister in many leading intellectual property cases involving: patents, trade marks, passing off, copyright and related rights, registered and unregistered designs, computer disputes, breach of confidence, performers rights, entertainment and media law, restraint of trade, trade libel, trade descriptions, related areas of European and domestic competition law; practice in tribunals and courts at all levels up to the House of Lords and European Courts of Justice and the UK and European Patent Offices. Recent cases include:
Advanced Bionics AG v MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate [2021] EWHC 2415 (Pat) - (Patents Court)
IPCom v Vodafone [2021] EWCA Civ 205 - (Appeal)
Pliteq Inc & Anor v iKoustic Ltd & Anor [2020] EWHC 2564 (IPEC) - (trade mark infringement/passing off)
Genentech v Comptroller [2020] EWCA Civ 475 - (Appeal)
Lifestyle Equities v Royal County of Berkshire Polo [2019] EWCH 1872 (Ch) Club - (trade mark infringement)
Warner-Lambert Company LLC v Generics (UK) Ltd t/a Mylan and anr [2018] UKSC 56 - (Supreme Court)
Wobben Properties GmbH v Siemens Public Ltd Company & Ors [2017] EWCA Civ 5 - (Appeal)
Victoria Plum Ltd (t/a Victoria Plumb) v Victorian Plumbing Ltd & Ors [2016] EWHC 2911 (Ch) - (Trade mark infringement)
Generics (UK) Ltd (t/a Mylan) v Warner-Lambert Co LLC [2016] EWCA Civ 1006 - (Appeal)
Napp Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd v Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (UK) Ltd and Sandoz Ltd [2016] EWHC 1517 (Pat) (patent infringement);
Richter Gedeon Vegyeszeti Gyar RT v Generics (UK) Ltd (t/a Mylan) [2016] EWCA Civ 410 (patent validity);
The Sofa Workshop Ltd v Sofaworks Ltd [2015] EWHC 1773 (IPEC) (trade mark infringment, passing off);
JW Spear v Zynga [2015] EWCA Civ 290 (trade mark infringement);
Starbucks v BSkyB (UKSC 2013/0274) (passing off);
Fresh Trading Ltd v Deepend Fresh Recovery Ltd [2015] EWHC 52 (copyright);
Interflora v M&S [2014] EWCA Civ 1403 (Google ad words);
Nokia v HTC (patent infringement, standards essential licensing) (2013-4, settled);
Confidential design arbitration, 32Red of [2013] EWHC 815 (Ch) (damages inquiry);
32Red Ltd v William Hill Gaming (UK) Ltd [2012] EWCA Civ 19 (trade marks);
Football DataCo v Sportradar [2013] EWCA Civ 27 (database right);
Samsung v Apple [2012] EWCA Civ 1339 (registered designs of tablet computers);
Schlumberger Holdings Ltd v Electromagnetic Geoservices AS [2010] RPC 33 (CA) (inventive step, validity, patents);
Abbott v Bayer (EPO anti-TNF alpha human monoclonal antibodies);
Newspaper Licensing Agency Ltd v Meltwater Holding BV [2011] RPC 7 (ChD), [2012] RPC 1 (CA) (copyright licensing schemes, literary works).
Career
Trained Gray’s Inn, qualified 1980; QC 1996; junior counsel to the treasury in patent matters 1991-96; qualified as a mediator 2004 and practises actively in this field; appointed to Nominet DRS Expert Panel member 2008-12. Publications: ‘Passing Off Law and Practice’ (Butterworth’s 2nd ed 1995); also many articles in the legal press and papers delivered at professional conferences and seminars.
Languages
French.
Memberships
Intellectual Property Bar Association; Chancery Bar Association.
Education
King’s College School, Wimbledon; Imperial College, London (1975 BSc Physics); Inns of Court School of Law.
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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.'