8 NEW SQUARE - Key Persons
Adrian Speck's practice covers all aspects of Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment and Information Technology law.
Andrew has been involved in some of the leading recent IP cases including Unwired Planet v Huawei (FRAND), the Abbvie litigation (Arrow declarations), Idenix v. Gilead (priority), Assos v ASOS (own name defence), Pasternak v Prescott (copyright), NLA v Meltwater (copyright) and Servier v Apotex (Illegality defence). Legal 500 called him a "go-to choice for high value cases". Andrew also regularly appears at the EPO.
Experience
Patents & SPCs
Barry McKay v Harris & ors (2020): Acted for Barry McKay in an authorship dispute over the lyrics of various songs performed by Iron Maiden.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Chambers Director
Ben Newham has overall responsibility for the management of chambers and is well placed to assist with enquires for all members of chambers, from the most senior to the most junior. Ben works closely with the various chambers committees to ensure that our high standards of client service and compliance are maintained.
He joined chambers in 2006 after graduating with a degree in geography. He has an excellent knowledge of our members' practices and very good relationships with the court listing offices.
When he is not working, Ben enjoys motorcycles, music and technology.
Call: 2016 Beth specialises in all areas of intellectual property law including patents, trade marks, copyright, and design rights; as well as related areas of contract law, breach of confidence and commercial matters. Beth has also acted in a number of cases that involve aspects of competition law. Beth has considerable experience in the Intellectual Property Enterprise […]
Brian Belo v Lime Pictures: Big Brother winner, Brian Belo, claimed he devised the format for The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE), the hit dramality soap. Lime Pictures, who are also responsible for Hollyoaks, hotly disputed the claim, contending it was their own development of the reality genre; that it was "Big Brother without Walls".
Daniel Alexander KC Call: 1988 | Silk: 2003 Daniel also sits part-time as a judge (High Court, Chancery Division and Patents Court and as an Appointed Person). He sits as an arbitrator, including as chair, under various rules. He is also a member of the Football Association Premier League appeals panel. In his judicial/arbitral capacities he has written over 80 decisions, of which […]
Fiona Clark is a very experienced senior junior with extensive legal knowledge, highly rated advocacy skills, good legal instincts and sound common sense.
Fiona's practice covers all aspects of intellectual property law, but she has a particular interest in trade marks and designs. She has extensive experience of branding, comparative advertising and media and entertainment disputes and often acts in design cases with significant technical content. Fiona is also the Editor of specialist law reports and Editor and/or co-author of various practitioner textbooks.
Experience
Trade marks & Brands
Job Titles:
- Business Development and Administration Manager
Harri joined chambers in 2012 having previously been a clerk for 16 years, following her graduation from Southampton University with a degree in Law. She is a member of the LPMA and her responsibilities cover the non-clerking side of management and administration including, but not limited to, governance support, pupillage and mini pupillage processes, administration and business development.
Harri enjoys spending time with family and friends and various forms of exercise.
Iona Berkeley has an excellent reputation as a leading Senior Junior in Intellectual Property matters.
She specialises in every aspect of IP, including trade marks, passing off, patents, copyrights, designs, confidential information, and associated areas such as media and entertainment, IP related international arbitrations and, contractual disputes and media and entertainment. She is a co-author of Kerly's law of Trade Marks (16th and 15th Ed and associated supplements) and Laddie, Prescott and Vitoria, The Modern Law of Copyright (5th and 4th Ed).
The legal directories describe her as: "..very bright, extremely practical, user friendly and commercial" (Legal 500 2022); "..an excellent advocate who has the respect of opponents and the bench (Chambers & Partners 2018); and as having "..a brilliant mind and a wonderful manner with clients. She is enthusiastic and proactive and recognises issues quickly." (Chambers & Partners 2021)
Experience
Trade marks & Brands
Iona Berkeley Call: 1999 She specialises in every aspect of IP, including trade marks, passing off, patents, copyrights, designs, confidential information, and associated areas such as media and entertainment, IP related international arbitrations and, contractual disputes and media and entertainment. She is a co-author of Kerly's law of Trade Marks (16th and 15th Ed and associated supplements) and Laddie, […]
Isabel Jamal is an extremely sought-after junior with significant experience. Her practice focuses particularly on large and technically complex patent cases and FRAND disputes. Isabel's practice also covers other areas of intellectual property law including trade marks, passing off, copyright and registered and unregistered design rights. Recent highlights include representing Unwired Planet and Conversant in the Supreme Court in their respective FRAND disputes and representing Actavis at the Supreme Court in Actavis v Lilly.
Described in the directories as "a super star" and "an extremely conscientious and talented junior who impresses instructing parties with her commercial focus and responsiveness", Isabel specialises in all areas of intellectual property law, with a particular focus on technically complex patent cases. Who's who legal states that "no list of good patent juniors would be complete without Isabel".
He has a technical background in computer science, and acts in both IP and commercial disputes involving computer software and telecommunications. Jaani is regularly instructed as sole and junior counsel in the High Court and Court of Appeal, and has appeared in the leading case on website blocking injunctions in the Supreme Court.
Jaani has substantial experience in all fields of intellectual property law, as well as disputes involving questions of jurisdiction, FRAND licensing, interim injunctions, and data protection.
He also holds a PhD in law from the University of Oxford, where his research examined internet wrongdoing.
Jaani is the author of The Liability of Internet Intermediaries (2016, Oxford University Press).
Experience
Patents & SPCs
Jaani Riordan Call: 2012 He has a technical background in computer science, and acts in both IP and commercial disputes involving computer software and telecommunications. Jaani is regularly instructed as sole and junior counsel in the High Court and Court of Appeal, and has appeared in the leading case on website blocking injunctions in the Supreme Court. Jaani has […]
James Abrahams KC Call: 1997 | Silk: 2016 He has wide experience in all areas of IP, including patents, trade marks and passing off, copyright, designs and confidential information. James is particularly well-known for his work in high-tech patent litigation, in fields such as telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, advanced medical devices and engineering. Clients particularly appreciate his strategic focus on their business objectives, whether by […]
James Whyte is a leading junior in patent disputes, with a strong command of a range of sciences and technology.
He specialises in technically complex disputes, particularly in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and electronics/IT, building on his background in natural sciences, molecular biology and as a computer programmer.
He also practises in the fields of copyright, confidential information, database rights and registered and unregistered design rights.
Experience
Patents & SPCs
Janet has responsibility for chambers financial affairs.
She is responsible for financial planning and weekly accounts and for submitting budgets to the Head of Chambers and the Treasurer.
She has worked within the Inns of Court for a number of years, initially in the clerking profession.
Mark Chacksfield KC Call: 1999 | Silk: 2019 Mark has appeared in many of the leading patent cases over recent years, where he has a stellar reputation, but also attracts a loyal following across the entire range of IP and media cases. He is praised for his deep understanding of the law, innovative and inventive mind, and his impressive work ethic.
Martin started as a junior clerk straight from sixth form college in 1990 at South Square Chambers, the specialist insolvency set, and joined chambers in 1999. Martin manages the practices of the majority of our silks, although as with all our support team he is well informed of the practices of all barristers and will provide assistance where information barriers permit.
Martin has more than twenty five years' experience listing cases and maintains excellent links with the various courts. He is also the first point of contact for Public Access enquiries.
Job Titles:
- Student Prize for Outstanding Achievement in a PhD, Lab of Molecular Biology, Cambridge
Michael Fysh was born in the USA where his early education was undertaken. His later education was undertaken in England. He is a British national. After a year at Grenoble University (France), he read Natural Sciences (Chemistry) at Oxford (BA 1962, MA 1969). He is fluent in French.
Michael Fysh was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in 1963 and for some 25 years practised as a barrister in the field of Intellectual Property in England and Ireland. He was appointed QC in 1989, QC in Northern Ireland (1990), SC in Trinidad & Tobago (1990) and SC in Dublin in 1994 (where he was a subscribing member of the Bar Library for many years). Mr Fysh has also practised extensively in Commonwealth countries having been called to the Bar in New South Wales and admitted to practise as an advocate in both India and Pakistan. He has acted as an arbitrator and has lectured extensively for inter alia WIPO, Geneva, EPO, OHIM and the UK Foreign Office. He also participates from time to time in judicial training at the Indian Institute of Judicial Studies, Bhopal.
He was author of Russell-Clarke on Registered Designs (5th Edn.) and for over 20 years was editor of the specialist Reports of Patent Cases and Fleet Street Reports. He was author of The Spycatcher Cases (The European Law Centre 1989), The IP Citator (Sweet & Maxwell 1982 and continuing) and is Editor of Butterworth's Modern Law of Patents (2005 and 2010). He has contributed articles to both British and overseas legal journals.
Michael Fysh served on the International Relations Committee of the Bar Council for some years, visiting the then newly-emergent states of Eastern Europe on its behalf. He was a founder of BELLA, a group which furthers legal co-operation with the Baltic States.
He became head of the Intellectual Property chambers at 8 New Square, Lincoln's Inn in 1993 succeeding Thomas Blanco-White KC and Robin (later, Lord Justice) Jacob KC in that position.
Michael Fysh received an Honorary Doctorate in Laws from the University of Wolverhampton in 2007 in recognition of his work at the Patents County Court. He also became a fellow of the Institute of Intellectual Property Law at the University of Oxford in 2010. He is currently a visiting Professor at the Indian Institute of IP Law, New Delhi. In April 2012, he was elected an Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys in London.
Michael Fysh became an accredited CEDR mediator in 2011 and has also attended the WIPO mediation course in Geneva. In July 2011, he was appointed President of the UK Chapter of GEMME[2], the international association of judges and retired judges who are interested in promoting mediation as a means of dispute resolution. In April 2012, he was elected to the Board of GEMME. In 2018 he joined the Judicial Board of CEIPI at the University of Strasbourg.
In 2014, Michael Fysh was invited to join the team drafting the rules of operation of the Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre under the Agreement for a Unified Patent Court [see Art 35]. This work continued for over a year and the final drafts were submitted in February 2016.
Michael Jackson v Flying Music: Thriller Live is a spectacular West End concert show. The issue is whether various of Michael Jackson's rights have been properly accounted for and licensed or whether the producers are just cashing in on Jackson's popularity.
Paul is responsible for the management and development of the middle juniors in chambers, although with over 12 years of experience is well informed regarding the practices of all of our barristers and can provide assistance where information barriers allow.
After holding various roles in the nuclear industry including having worked on the Joint European Torus in Culham, Oxfordshire, he graduated from Keele University with an LL.B in Law and Criminology.
In his time away from chambers, Paul keeps to a strict kettlebell routine, attempts to learn the piano, volunteers at a local hospice, and enjoys reading non-fiction.
Philip joined chambers in July 2013 having previously co-managed a Private Investigation and Consultancy firm following his graduation from Bristol University with a degree in Law. Philip manages the practices of the junior end of chambers and has an excellent knowledge of all our barrister's practices. He is able to advise on fee levels and expertise across the whole of chambers.
Outside of chambers, Philip's interests cover all things sport related - including football and American football supporting both Tranmere Rovers and the Miami Dolphins.
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Administration Executive
Sienna Miller v Big Pictures and Darryn Lyons: Ms Miller claimed she was being harassed by the paparazzi and her rights of privacy infringed. She sought injunctive relief and damages. Big Pictures had sold some photographs to newspapers but contended that their actions were normal and reasonable in the context of celebrity news gathering.
Tony is a dedicated and valuable member of 8 New Square whose chambers experience covers more than 40 years. As Head of Operations, Tony is responsible for the efficient management of facilities, billing and credit control and works very closely with the Chambers Director and members of chambers. Tony is a self-confessed travel enthusiast and enjoys socialising.