Department profile
11 South Square

Intellectual Property

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)


11 South Square

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Intellectual Property - London (Bar)

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

11 South Square is a highly regarded set which is regularly instructed in technically heavy patent cases involving medical devices, pharmaceuticals and telecoms technology. The "top-quality, very highly regarded counsel" at the chambers also advise well-known clients active in the fashion, leisure and technology sectors on trade mark matters. Among other notable work, members represented Celltrion in the Patents Court concerning a treatment for asthma and acted for LzLabs in a well-publicised High Court trade secrets case against IBM.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • 11 South Square has a strong roster of talent supported by an excellent clerking team who have their fingers on the pulse of the court. It is a very strong clerking team.

    Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks are commercially minded and, we have found, more cost-conscious than clerks at other sets.

    Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
  • They have a really good clerking team. Ashley Carr, who is senior clerk, offers really good client service.

    Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
  • Ashley Carr leads the clerking team very well. They are responsive and efficient.

    Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Star IndividualsIain Purvis KC
    Star IndividualsIain Purvis KC

    Iain Purvis KC

    Iain Purvis KC is one of the most sought-after silks at the IP Bar, and regarded as an extremely bright and effective barrister who provides adept representation in High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court proceedings. He is well known for his skill in trade mark litigation, and is also recommended for patent disputes involving hi-tech and pharmaceutical companies. His impressive roster of past clients also features household names from various other industries, including entertainment.

    • Iain is superb at seeing a case from the judge's perspective.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • Iain just takes the best points and explains things well to client.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • Iain Purvis KC is at the top of his game. He is considered in his approach and nothing fazes him.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Brian Nicholson
    Band 1Brian Nicholson

    Brian Nicholson

    Brian Nicholson KC is a razor-sharp and thorough silk recommended for his abilities assisting with hi-tech patent litigation proceedings involving telecommunications companies. His expertise encompasses cases concerning invalidation and infringement actions. His other areas of experience include Community design right disputes and pharmaceutical patent work. Sources highlight his deep knowledge in technology and telecommunications.

    • Brian has been a real godsend. Brian was brilliant on a really high-stakes, complicated case, not just on the technical detail, but also in terms of his engagement, responsiveness and commerciality.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • He is the doyen of the IP Bar for technology and telecommunications cases. He is a good advocate and absolutely understands tech better than anyone else. Judges listen to him as he knows so much.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • Brian Nicholson is an outstanding legal strategist with the ability to cut through technically and legally complex issues to the heart of the matter and provide succinct, pragmatic advice.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Mark Vanhegan
    Band 1Mark Vanhegan

    Mark Vanhegan

    Mark Vanhegan KC is a knowledgeable silk highlighted for his mastery of detail in complex cases. He is known for his abilities in handling high-profile TMT patent disputes, and is also fully conversant in claims of design right and trade mark infringement. He has additionally developed a strong practice in the pharmaceutical industry.

    • Mark Vanhegan is excellent. I worked with him on an extremely complex tech dispute.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • He has been hugely strong on analysing the technical material and working to crystallise submissions. He is extremely hands-on and really kicks the tyres on factual issues.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • Mark Vanhegan KC has a good reputation.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Piers Acland
    Band 1Piers Acland

    Piers Acland

    Piers Acland KC is a hands-on and very approachable silk, highlighted for his client care skills, his strategic guidance and the quality of his courtroom advocacy, particularly in cross-examination. Interviewees appreciate his superior attention to detail in highly technical cases. He is sought after for his experience representing life sciences companies in high-value patent litigation, including infringement claims and invalidation attempts.

    • Piers Acland is very diligent and thorough.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • Piers is a details person. Everyone appreciates you can trust what he is saying. He is straight with the court.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Adam Gamsa
    Band 2Adam Gamsa

    Adam Gamsa

    Adam Gamsa is a technically-minded barrister who is prominent in the field of patent infringement claims. He has acted in numerous cases before the Patents Court and the Court of Appeal, and has demonstrated significant expertise in FRAND licensing matters.

    • Adam used to be a solicitor, which helps him understand what we are trying to do. He is very accessible and very practical. He's a good all-rounder.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • Adam provides excellent service. He is a very good choice for hi-tech matters.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Benet Brandreth
    Band 2Benet Brandreth

    Benet Brandreth

    Benet Brandreth KC is an efficient, pragmatic and responsive silk recommended for his commercial advice. He enjoys a strong reputation for trade mark and copyright infringement disputes and has recently been active in licensing disputes involving life sciences companies. He also has experience in litigation concerning mechanical patents. He has acted in appellate trade mark-related proceedings in the Supreme Court and in Luxembourg.

    • Benet Brandreth KC is a clever and focused advocate who can turn his hand to any kind of IP dispute with aplomb.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • Benet Brandreth KC is extremely capable and extremely good on his feet.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • Benet is fiercely bright and forensic in his analysis. He makes sure he is extremely well prepared for any hearing, and his advocacy is extraordinarily eloquent but always forensically targeted.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Chris Aikens
    Band 2Chris Aikens

    Chris Aikens

    Chris Aikens is well liked by instructing solicitors, with a good reputation for IPEC proceedings and contentious design rights matters. He is also noted for his assistance with patent entitlement disputes, Community trade mark infringement claims and allegations of passing off. He has acted on a number of matters that concern the misuse of confidential information. He has also advised in relation to Supreme Court intervention and represented his clients in LCIA arbitration proceedings.

    • A superb barrister, Chris is great to work with. He is definitely the go-to junior at the IP Bar.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • We love him! He is very practical and commercial.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • Chris Aikens is excellent. His knowledge of trade mark matters has been invaluable, and he is extremely polished on his feet.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Christopher Hall
    Band 2Christopher Hall

    Christopher Hall

    Christopher Hall is highly recommended for design right, copyright and trade mark infringement claims. He is praised for his work in mechanical and electronic patent litigation and frequently assists in the IPEC, Patents Court and appellate courts. He counts multinational giants and household names among the clients he has advised and represented.

    • Christopher Hall is an excellent junior for both patent and non-patent matters. He is responsive and a strong advocate, both in writing and orally.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • Christopher Hall is a highly accomplished senior junior. He provides very good client service.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Hugo Cuddigan KC
    Band 2Hugo Cuddigan KC

    Hugo Cuddigan KC

    Hugo Cuddigan KC is a commercially-minded silk distinguished for his tactical ability, work ethic and user-friendliness. He is comfortable handling litigation involving pharmaceutical, mechanical and hi-tech patents. He has acted in high-profile trade mark infringement cases. He provides effective representation in IPEC and Court of Appeal proceedings and is experienced in EU matters, including contested Community design rights.

    • I can recommend Hugo Cuddigan. I enjoy working with him.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Michael Silverleaf
    Band 2Michael Silverleaf

    Michael Silverleaf

    Michael Silverleaf KC is an authoritative IP silk renowned for his oral presentation and his tenacious advocacy. He has substantial experience assisting with trade mark and patent litigation matters, including infringement, invalidation, passing-off and Swiss-type medical use claims. He practises in diverse sectors including pharmaceuticals and technology.

    • He is very good. We use him a lot for arbitration and mediation. He really gets stuck into the briefs and fights hard for the client. He gets very good results.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • Michael is absolutely excellent for IP mediations.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Tom Alkin
    Band 2Tom Alkin

    Tom Alkin

    Tom Alkin is a quick-thinking and forthright barrister praised for his courtroom presentation and noted for his expertise in IPEC as well as Court of Appeal proceedings. He is particularly effective in patent litigation involving life sciences and technology sector clients, with expertise in revocation and invalidation claims. He also has experience assisting with trade mark invalidation actions, design right infringement claims and royalties disputes.

    • Tom is absolutely first rate. He's highly intelligent and brilliant at the detail and seeing the big picture. He delivers very good advocacy. He is very persuasive and respected by the judges.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • Tom is great to work with. He is a clear and concise advocate who has a great feel for what issues matter.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • Tom Alkin's advocacy is very good. He is really impressive.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Anna Edwards-Stuart
    Band 3Anna Edwards-Stuart

    Anna Edwards-Stuart

    Anna Edwards-Stuart KC is highlighted for her responsiveness, pragmatic advice and strong written opinion work. She has experience of invalidation and infringement actions relating to patents and trade marks. She is regularly instructed by life sciences companies and draws praise for her work in cases concerning design right infringements. She is an authority on IPEC proceedings.

    • Anna Edwards-Stuart did a great job. She was robust and rolled her sleeves up. She was impressive.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • Anna provided clear and consistent advice. She has a straight-talking approach. She gave the clients confidence in the defence of the claims against them, and they were pleased with her advice.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Kyra Nezami
    Band 3Kyra Nezami

    Kyra Nezami

    Kyra Nezami is a particularly adept junior barrister with a technical background in computer science. She is praised for her capabilities in handling technical patent litigation and demonstrates those capabilities with her high-profile caseload acting for various tech giants.

    • Kyra is fantastic and definitely one to watch as a future star of the IP Bar. She is efficient, responsive and technically on point – everything you could want from a junior.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • Kyra understands the tech and can explain things to clients. She is very useful and easy to work with.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4David Ivison
    Band 4David Ivison

    David Ivison

    David Ivison is a barrister with a strong scientific background. His broad IP practice encompasses patent claims in the life sciences and TMT spaces, as well as trade mark, passing-off and copyright cases.

    • He is responsive and pragmatic. He's a very commercial barrister.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • David Ivison is an extremely helpful and knowledgeable IP junior.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Edward Cronan
    Band 4Edward Cronan

    Edward Cronan

    Edward Cronan has a reputable patent litigation practice. He is renowned for his strength in handling technically challenging patent cases, representing life sciences and TMT clients.

    • Edward Cronan is definitely one to watch. He could be a star here.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • He is going places. He is bright, focused and hard-working. He is going to be a star.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • Edward is hard-working and creative. He handles a full range of IP matters. We instructed him for his drafting.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Mitchell Beebe
    Band 4Mitchell Beebe

    Mitchell Beebe

    Mitchell Beebe is a fast-rising junior barrister who has developed substantial experience representing pharmaceutical clients in patent disputes before the UK IPO, EUIPO and other forums. He has a broad intellectual property practice which extends beyond patents to trade marks, designs, copyrights and confidential information.

    • Mitchell Beebe is a real pleasure to work with. He is responsive, available and thoughtful. He is also detail-oriented yet strategic, and is quickly maturing into a trusted adviser.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • He is user-friendly, responsive and a pleasure to work with.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • Mitchell Beebe was very constructive to work with.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
  • New SilksKathryn Pickard
    New SilksKathryn Pickard

    Kathryn Pickard

    Kathryn Pickard KC is an impressive IP barrister offering substantial experience acting for medical device, pharmaceutical and engineering companies. Her experience includes instructions in key patent infringement claims and revocation actions, and she has additional expertise in trade mark disputes. She has acted in multiple high-profile appellate proceedings, including before the Supreme Court.

    • Kathryn has very good attention to detail. She was a standout. She was very conscientious and very supportive.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • Kathryn Pickard's advocacy was really good. She was very calm, and she got her point across and got witnesses on her side. She is incredibly responsive and displays very good strategic thinking.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar
    • Kathryn is excellent and one of my go-to patent barristers. She has recently taken silk, and not before time.

      Intellectual Property respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at 11 South Square (17)

London (Bar)

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