8 New Square‘s barristers are noted as being ’at the top of their game’. The set’s key recent cases include Jaani Riordan‘s representation of Microsoft in JJH Enterprise (t/a ValueLicensing) v Microsoft Corp & Ors wherein abuse of dominance in alleged owing to imposition of restrictive licence terms prohibiting resale of second-hand software licenses, with a trial anticipated for 2026. Mark Chacksfield KC’s specialism in this area is at the intersection of patents and IT, an example of such work being the representation of the defendant in Lenovo Group Ltd v InterDigital Technology Corp, wherein it was put to the test whether a so-called FRAND interim licence could be declared in respect of patents declared as essential to telecoms standards; The Court of Appeal affirmed that limitation periods do not apply to the determination of FRAND terms for past sales and that interest is payable on the determined royalty.
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Mentions
Profile
Position
Mark is a highly regarded silk with an outstanding reputation in complex pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and telecoms patent actions, but also attracting a loyal following across the entire range of IP and media cases. He is praised for his deep understanding of the law, innovative and inventive mind, and his impressive work ethic.
Mark has a preeminent reputation in multijurisdictional FRAND litigation, having acted in virtually all of the leading UK FRAND actions, including InterDigital v Lenovo, Nokia v Oppo, Amazon v Alcatel, Asus v Nokia, Optis v Apple, Unwired Planet v Huawei, as well as the jurisdictionally important pair of Kigen and Vestel. He recently appeared in the Supreme Court on the potentially revolutionary Emotional Perception AI case, and has been credited with the original creation of the Arrow declaration. In the pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical field Mark has litigated many of the world’s largest blockbuster products, including FKB v. AbbVie (adalimumab), Pfizer v Roche (bevacizumab), Actavis v Icos (tadalafil), Lilly v Genentech (IL-17A/F), and Hospira v. Genentech (trastuzumab); as well as related SPC cases.
Additionally Mark represents broadcasters, record companies, picture libraries and well-known personalities in copyright/privacy claims, as well as acting in musical copyright actions concerning substantial hits.
Career
Called 1999, Middle Temple.
Memberships
IPBA; Chancery Bar Association.
Education
Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe; Clare College, Cambridge: BA (Double First) Natural Sciences (Zoology), Hurst Prize for Zoology. Called 1999. Silk 2019.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Extremely thoughtful and accommodating clerking.'
- 'Martin Williams is an elite clerk.'
- 'Very good clerking.'
- 'An excellent set.'
- 'Has the best barristers in this area.'
- 'Top of their game.'