Barristers – UK 2022

Piers Acland 11 South Square

Strengths: “Easy to deal with; explains facts to clients well, and in detail”. Biotechnology and life sciences. Mechanical patents.

Clients: Akebia and Otsuka (respondents) against Astellas and FibroGen over anaemia treatment; Illumina (claimant) against Latvia/MGI over DNA sequencing.

Daniel Alexander 8 New Square

Strengths: “Very thorough and a great strategist”, “top of the game”. Digital communication, life sciences.

Clients: OnePlus, Oppo, OPlus, Xiaomi (defendants) against Mitsubishi and Sisvel over SEPs and FRAND licensing; Teva (claimant) against Bayer over drug sorafenib.

Thomas Hinchliffe 3 New Square

Strengths: “Very smart and easy to work with; makes excellent judgment calls on which points to run”. Pharma and biotechnology, digital communication.

Clients: Merck Sharp Dohme (respondent) against Wyeth over pneumococcal vaccines; Latvia/MGI (defendant) against Illumina over DNA sequencing; Lenovo (defendant) against Interdigital over 3G and 4G technology.

Lindsay Lane 8 New Square

Strengths: “Practical, responsive, robust and clever”. Pharma and biotechnology, SPC cases, digital communication.

Clients: Apple (defendant) against Optis over FRAND; Sky (defendant) against Promptu over subscription television service.

Andrew Lykiardopoulos 8 New Square

Strengths: Pharma and biotechnology, digital communication.

Clients: Wyeth (appellant) against Merck Sharp Dohme over pneumococcal vaccines; Coloplast (claimant) against Salts Healthcare over ostomy bags; OnePlus, Oppo, OPlus, Xiaomi (defendants) against Mitsubishi and Sisvel over SEPs and FRAND licensing; Philip Morris (defendant) against British American Tobacco/Nicoventures over heat-not-burn cigarette technology; Advanced Bionics (claimant) against MED-EL over cochlear implants.

Charlotte May 8 New Square

Strengths: “Smart and easy-going; an excellent IP all-rounder”. Pharma and biotechnology.

Clients: Warner Lambert and Pfizer (defendants) against Dr Reddy's, Teva, NHS England, Wales and Northern Ireland, NHS Scotland, Ranbaxy, et al., over compensation for cross-undertaking in damages in pregabalin trial.

Tom Mitcheson 3 New Square

Strengths: “Very bright and extremely clear in his advocacy; a very good client manner”. Pharma and biotechnology, digital communication.

Clients: Vodafone (respondent) against IPCom over access rights; Fibrogen (appellant) and Astellas against Akebia and Otsuka over anaemia treatment; Latvia/MGI (defendant) against Illumina over DNA sequencing.

Brian Nicholson 11 South Square

Strengths: “Thorough and excellent for electronics patents”, “hard-working and formidable”. Digital communication, electronics.

Clients: IPCom (respondent) against Vodafone over access rights; Apple (respondent) against Optis over FRAND and jurisdiction; Voxer (defendant) against Facebook over in-app technology.

Iain Purvis 11 South Square

Strengths: “One of the wisest counsel at the IP Bar in terms of judgment; his understated demeanour is highly-effective”. Digital communication, mechanics.

Clients: Ocado (appellant) against AutoStore over robotic warehouse systems; Akebia and Otsuka (defendants) against FibroGen and Astellas over anaemia treatment; Illumina (claimant) against Latvia and MGI over DNA sequencing; Dexcom (defendant) against Abbott over medical devices.

Adrian Speck 8 New Square

Strengths: “Formidable QC – the best for tech patents”. Pharma and biotechnology, medical devices, digital communication. Clients: Mitsubishi and Sisvel (claimants) against OnePlus, Oppo, OPlus, Xiaomi over SEPs and FRAND licensing; BAT/Nicoventures (claimants) against Philip Morris over heat-not-burn cigarette technology.

Michael Tappin 8 New Square

Strengths: “Excellent for life sciences and tech”, “one of the best around for technically-complex patent disputes”. Pharma and biotechnology.

Clients: Wyeth (appellant) against Merck Sharp Dohme over pneumococcal vaccines; Mitsubishi and Sisvel (claimants) against OnePlus, Oppo, OPlus, Xiaomi over SEPs and FRAND licensing; Roche (defendant) against Insulet over diabetic insulin monitoring device.