About Us

11 South Square is a leading set of barristers’ chambers specialising in all areas of intellectual property law.

The current Head of Chambers, Michael Silverleaf QC, leads a total of 5 Queen’s Counsel and 13 juniors, each specialising primarily in intellectual property law. Many of the barristers at 11 South Square have extensive previous experience in science and industry which puts Chambers in a position to offer legal advice and advocacy of the highest standard in this field.

Chambers is made up of a team of barristers that contains some of the most highly rated silks, strength at senior junior level with many leading on cases and junior members that are recognised as current and future stars. This reputation has meant that 11 South Square is consistently recognised in the legal directories for “The results and service you get from these barristers are of top quality, and their clerks are very accommodating.” (Chambers and Partners 2012) as well as being “riven with such quality” (Chambers and Partners 2012).

Our members frequently act in leading cases in the areas of intellectual property, information technology and media and have appeared in courts and tribunals of all levels in the UK and other jurisdictions throughout the world, including the Court of Justice of the European Union. With increasing amounts of litigants seeking to resolve disputes through alternative means, members of Chambers have found themselves involved in many arbitrations and mediations, as advocates, mediators and members of expert panels both in Chambers’ core areas as well as other areas of law. A selection of both silks and juniors in chambers are accredited mediators.

We are proud to have provided three of the past four High Court Patents Judges. In 2008 Mr. Justice Arnold followed the path of Mr. Justice Floyd and the late Lord Justice Pumfrey from Chambers to the High Court Bench.

Members of chambers are also actively involved with the Bar Pro Bono unit’s “Friends in Law” initiative. 11 South Square has continued to provide sponsorship for the scheme which helps provide assistance to applicants who have a meritorious case but cannot afford to pay for the assistance sought or cannot obtain public funding. Individual members of chambers have also contributed their own time to the scheme by advising applicants brought to them by the unit. Through involvement in this scheme, junior members of chambers have been able to further their advocacy experience.

All enquiries regarding instructing a barrister should, in the first instance, be directed to the clerks. The clerking team at 11 South Square is led by Ashley Carr. He, together with the other clerks, is always on hand to deal with any queries, provide information about members of Chambers and assist generally.