Intellectual Property | UK Bar

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.

8 New Square is an outstanding IP set, home to top-flight barristers who are consistently instructed in the biggest cases in the field. One interviewee says: "They are simply the best IP set around," while another notes that 8 New Square has "a huge amount of experience and a very talented pool of barristers". The chambers has extensive patent expertise ranging from matters concerning key innovations in pharmaceuticals to major TMT FRAND cases, with Regeneron and Bayer v Formycon, Amgen and Samsung Bioepis, Pfizer v Uniqure and Interdigital v Oppo being among numerous impressive examples. Members are also well equipped to handle trade mark, copyright and design disputes for their impressive client list.

Ben Newham is chambers director.

Three New Square IP has a formidable presence in the IP field and is home to a deep bench of barristers with "great expertise at all levels". Members are instructed in many of the leading patent and trade mark cases, and one source notes: "Thanks to the experience of its tenants, there are no cases they cannot handle." The barristers regularly represent top life sciences, telecoms and manufacturing clients in high-profile patent litigation. Examples include Janssen Biotech v Samsung, Merck Serono v Comptroller General of Patents and Pfizer v Moderna. The set also has a strong practice in important trade mark and design rights work.

Hogarth Chambers offers a highly regarded practice in trade mark, copyright and designs, and can boast a particularly impressive roster of specialist juniors active in the field. The set is regularly instructed in widely publicised disputes in various industry sectors including media, fashion and manufacturing. The barristers have additional capability covering patent cases, including those arising in the context of cutting-edge TMT technology. The set has recently been involved in various notable cases involving trade marks and branding such as Shorts International v Google and Iconix v Top Glory Trading and Gap v Transport for London.

Adam Homes is chambers director.

Blackstone Chambers has a high-quality IP practice, offering a full range of services with a notable focus on the media and entertainment industry. One source says: "Blackstone Chambers is always our go-to for complex media cases." The chambers is regularly instructed in high-profile copyright and trade mark disputes, as well as FRAND litigation. Recently, barristers at the set defended BioNTech at a High Court trial concerning a well-publicised patent infringement claim brought by Moderna, and acted for Tesla against Avanci and InterDigital in a FRAND licensing dispute relating to 5G technology.

Derek Sutton and Adam Sloane are senior clerks at Blackstone Chambers.

One Essex Court is a well-renowned chambers that offers barristers who regularly act for claimants and defendants in complex trade mark cases, particularly those that cross borders both in and outside the EU. The set also offers considerable expertise in pharmaceutical patent disputes. One solicitor says: "In the toughest cases, they are the set to choose." Notably, members acted for Merck Sharp & Dohme concerning a breach of co-existence claim brought by Merck KGaa, and represented Boston Scientific in a European patent infringement case before the High Court against Edwards Lifesciences.

Darren Burrows is the senior clerk at One Essex Court.

Serle Court is increasingly prominent in the sphere, developing a reputation among solicitors as "a go-to set for high-quality, complex, intellectual property disputes". The chambers is noted to field a "good mix of expertise at different levels of seniority", and members are involved in an array of significant and high-profile disputes, including copyright, patent and trade mark infringement proceedings, as well as design rights and passing-off claims. Tenants regularly appear in cases before the IPO, IPEC, the High Court and Supreme Court. Recent notable examples of work include representing Aldi in a registered design dispute with Marks & Spencer and acting for EasyGroup in a trade mark infringement case against Easy Live Auction.

Nicholas Hockney and Daniel Wheeler are practice directors.