11 South Square is a leading set of barristers’ chambers specialising in the law of intellectual property. Chambers is also well known for its information technology and media and entertainment work.

Michael Silverleaf QC is the current Head of Chambers leading a total of 4 Queens Counsel and 12 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. Chambers and Partners, the Legal 500 and other specialist publications recommend 11 South Square as ‘one of the finest Chambers in the IP field’ providing a ‘consistent quality of advice and high standard of clerking’. As one of the leading intellectual property and information technology law sets, Chambers is regularly the recipient of awards for excellence including various as ‘IP/IT set of the year’. In addition to Chambers’ overall profile, the majority of Chambers’ individual members are recognised as leaders in their fields of practice and are often nominated for and recipients of awards.

As well as having a long and successful history, 11 South Square is proud that it has provided three of the past four Patents Court Judges. In 2008 Mr. Justice Arnold followed the path of Mr. Justice Floyd and the late Lord Justice Pumfrey from Chambers on to the High Court Bench. They are succeeded in Chambers by a team of barristers that contains a group of the IP Bar’s 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.

Members of chambers are frequently instructed in high-profile intellectual property, information technology and media cases and appear in courts and tribunals of all levels in the UK and other jurisdictions throughout the world, including the European Court of Justice. As litigants increasingly seek to resolve disputes through alternative means, members of Chambers have found themselves involved in many arbitrations and mediations, as advocates, mediators and members of the panel. A number of Chambers’ barristers, silks and juniors, are accredited mediators. The majority of cases mediated by 11 South Square barristers are in Chambers’ core specialist areas, although occasionally in other areas of law.

The clerking team at 11 South Square is led by Ashley Carr who has been with Chambers since 1994. He, together with the other clerks, is always on hand to deal with any queries, provide information about members of Chambers and assist generally.