JUVE Comment

This market-leading barrister set is the largest at the IP bar. Its 13 QCs and 17 juniors specialise in the core areas of patent law including telecommunications and pharmaceuticals, as well as SPC regulation and emerging areas such as medical devices. 8 New Square barristers are regularly seen at all levels of UK courts, including acting as advocates at the Supreme Court in cases which have the potential to shape Europe-wide patent law. An example is the parallel and high-profile Unwired Planet against Huawei, and Huawei and ZTE against Conversant cases, where a thorough grasp of FRAND complexities set 8 New Square apart from its competitors. Such knowledge is crucial as telecommunication litigation over FRAND steps up in the UK courts. In these cases the chambers also proved the versatility of its barristers, with Daniel Alexander leading the advocacy for technology company Huawei against fellow 8 New Square tenant Adrian Speck for Unwired Planet and Conversant. Pharmaceutical work also forms a major part of 8 New Square’s output, with other top-rated barrister Richard Meade acting for Pfizer in the recent High Court dispute against defendant Hoffman-La Roche. Both barristers are frequently recommended as being “judge material” due to their calm approach and highly intellectual grasp of IP law. They also sit as deputy judges at the High Court and IPEC, demonstrating the respected status of 8 New Square’s senior barristers. The set also boasts a former QC as the current and sole patent specialist Supreme Court judge, David Kitchin. However, despite its size, only two QCs are female.

Recommended individuals

James Abrahams (“personable, commercial, practical and insightful”), Daniel Alexander (“one of the best story-tellers at the bar”), Mark Chacksfield (“builds real rapport with clients and always comes up with the goods”), Isabel Jamal, Lindsay Lane (“pragmatic, commercial and a real team player”), Andrew Lykiardopoulos (“intelligent and client-oriented”), Charlotte May (“an easy manner and formidable intellect make her a firm favourite”), Richard Meade (“quite simply the star of the IP bar”), Jaani Riordan, Adrian Speck (“a great talent”), Tom Moody-Stuart (“flexible and creative, keeps the client‘s commercial needs front and centre”), Michael Tappin (“an intellectual powerhouse who is fantastic on his feet”)

Team

13 QCs, 17 juniors

Clients

Supreme Court: Huawei (claimant; Daniel Alexander) against Unwired Planet and Conversant (defendant; Adrian Speck) over SEPs and FRAND. Court of Appeal: Olaplex (claimant; Mark Chacksfield) against L’Oréal over hair treatment. High Court London: Pfizer (claimant; Richard Meade, Thomas Jones) against Hoffman-La Roche (defendant; Andrew Lykiardopoulos, Mark Chacksfield) over cancer biosimilar. Conversant against Apple (defendant; Charlotte May, Lindsay Lane) over smart phone capabilities (all public knowledge).