8 NEW SQUARE is the largest specialist intellectual property chambers in the United Kingdom. Chambers has 25 members, including eight QCs. We have strength from the most senior silks to the most junior members. 8 New Square is also home to several of the most highly-rated senior juniors in the country.
At 8 New Square you will find hard-hitting but approachable intellectual property advocates with depth of knowledge and breadth of experience. As well as being lawyers, many members of 8 New Square are scientifically qualified or have developed considerable industry expertise in particular sectors. Clients range from the largest commercial undertakings to individual artists and musicians, government departments, universities and institutions. We have considerable experience in dealing with the IP issues facing small and medium-sized businesses.
Barristers from 8 New Square appear in courts and tribunals at all levels in the UK as well as the European Court of Justice, Court of First Instance, European Patent Office and in international arbitrations (International Chambers of Commerce and others). We have experienced and well-regarded mediators. A significant part of chambers' work involves international elements.
Commentators have acclaimed 8 New Square's "evident IP dominance" (Chambers & Partners 2006) referring to chambers as "at the forefront of IP matters" (Chambers & Partners 2007). Barristers from 8 New Square have been in involved in some of the highest profile cases of recent years including Kirin-Amgen, The Da Vinci Code, Pop Idol, Apple and Blackberry as well as many cases of importance which do not hit the headlines.
Chambers appears in the first rank for intellectual property law in all the major directories with 28 recommendations in one of the most prominent guides for 2006, covering intellectual property, media and entertainment and information technology. They comment that 8 New Square is a "sophisticated set" with "bright, resourceful and intellectually clued up" barristers. In media and entertainment law, 8 New Square is described as "excellent" and "…the best chambers for the interaction between media and technology" (Chambers & Partners 2006). "Anyone who doesn't use them is insane" (Chambers & Partners 2007).
AREAS OF WORK
We undertake work in the following areas:
PATENTS, DESIGNS AND TRADE SECRETS including patent infringement, validity and entitlement cases in the UK and European Patent Office, registered and unregistered designs (UK and EU), trade secrets, technology transfer and licensing agreements.
MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT LAW and law relating to the creative industries including copyright and performers'/recording rights, licensing of rights, Copyright Tribunal disputes, music, film and publishing rights, fashion and design industry cases, law relating to sports merchandising and internet law.
BRANDING AND ADVERTISING LAW including trade marks, passing off, and product and packaging design.
COMMERCIAL LAW IN SPECIALIST AREAS including information technology, computer contracts, other contractual disputes with significant technical content and those relating to the creative industries.
INFORMATION LAW including confidential information, freedom of information, data protection and privacy..
EU LAW including free movement of goods and services and EU/UK competition law relating to intellectual property and for the research-based and creative industries.
INTERNATIONAL LAW relating to intellectual property and relating to particular sectors, including conflicts of law, the Brussels Regulation and Rome Convention, multi-jurisdictional litigation, and litigation, arbitration and mediation under foreign IP laws.
For more details, see the Areas of Practice page
8 New Square's long tradition of leading work in the field is reflected in the four out of five of the most recent patents judges who are former members of 8 New Square: Lord Justice Jacob, Professor Sir Hugh Laddie, Mr Justice Kitchin and His Honour Judge Fysh QC.
