JUVE Comment

Technical know-how and knowledge in fields connected to intellectual property distinguish 11 South Square from its competitors. The seven silks and eleven juniors of the chambers are highly regarded in all aspects of IP, but particularly recommended for telecommunications and electronics. Recent high-profile cases include the ongoing litigation between TQ Delta and defendant Zyxel, notable for being the first standard essential patent case in the UK after the Unwired Planet against Huawei decision. Here, a team led by highly recommended QCs Iain Purvis and Brian Nicholsons acted at both the High Court and Court of Appeal. The set also had a relationship with IPCom, representing the non-practising entity before the UK courts on numerous occasions. However, change of counsel in a recent case against Xiaomi saw 11 South Square’s barristers replaced by 8 New Square counsel. In life sciences the chambers are recognised at the highest levels, for example with recommended barrister Kathryn Pickard litigating for generic companies Mylan and Actavis in the Supreme Court dispute against Warner-Lambert. Setting it apart from its closest competitors is the set’s openness to a mixture of litigation. Its barristers regularly advocate and advise on cases in related areas such as media and IT. This flexibility is perhaps reflected in its track record in producing judges; current Court of Appeal judge Richard Arnold and Christopher Floyd, current IPEC judge Richard Hacon, and the late Henry Carr are all former tenants. The set has five female junior barristers, but currently no female QCs.

Recommended individuals

Piers Acland (“super bright and aggressive”), Brian Nicholson (“very good technical and legal background”), Kathryn Pickard (“authoritative infront of the courts”), Iain Purvis (“pragmatic and commercial, outstanding advocate in TMT patent litigation”)

Team

7 QCs, 11 juniors

Clients

Supreme Court: Warner-Lambert against Actavis and generics companies/Mylan (defendant; Kathryn Pickard) over pregabalin. Court of Appeal: TQ Delta against Zyxel (defendant; Iain Purvis, Brian Nicholson, David Ivison) over DSL technology. High Court London: IPCom (claimant; Piers Acland) against Vodafone over call technology (all public knowledge).