8 New Square Intellectual Property

What 8 New Square Intellectual Property does

8 New Square Intellectual Property is the largest specialist intellectual property barristers' chambers in the United Kingdom, operating from a single headquarters at 8 New Square, Lincoln's Inn, London, with a history of IP specialisation stretching back over a century. The chambers comprises 32 IP barristers — including 13 King's Counsel — plus 7 door tenants (among them two former High Court Judges) and is supported by a team of approximately 12 clerks, practice managers and administration staff led by a Chambers Director and Senior Clerk. Members hold university-level science qualifications across biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, electronics, telecommunications and engineering, enabling them to act in technically complex litigation from the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) through to the Supreme Court.

The chambers delivers advocacy and advisory services across thirteen formal practice areas: Patents & SPCs, Copyright & Databases, Trade Marks & Brands, Design Rights, Trade Secrets & Confidentiality, IT & Telecoms Disputes, Media/Sport & Entertainment, FRAND & Competition Law, Data Protection & Privacy, Jurisdiction & Remedies, Internet Law & Cybersecurity, Arbitration & Mediation, and Unusual Cases. Barristers are self-employed referral professionals; instructions are channelled through three regulated routes — Professional Client Access (via solicitors, patent and trade mark agents), Public Access (direct instruction by individuals and organisations) and Licensed Access (for entities with relevant sector expertise). Fees are negotiated by the clerking team and are typically structured as hourly rates, court-hearing brief fees with daily refreshers, or fixed fees for defined pieces of work. Pricing is bespoke to each barrister and engagement.

The chambers' underlying infrastructure is largely people- and reputation-led: its principal intangible assets are the leading IP textbooks authored by its members (including Kerly on Trade Marks, The Modern Law of Copyright, the Encyclopedia of UK and European Patent Law, Russell-Clarke & Howe on Industrial Designs, and The Liability of Internet Intermediaries), its long history of procedural innovation (members are credited with the Anton Piller Order, John Doe injunctions, post-expiry patent injunctions and the Arrow declaration), and its consistent Band 1 rankings across Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, Managing IP and JUVE. The technology footprint is modest — WordPress for the website, Google Analytics, Complianz cookie consent, iThemes Security and Wistia for video — reflecting a traditional professional services model rather than a software-platform business. Customer reach is global through named engagements with Apple, Tesla/InterDigital, Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna, Microsoft, Huawei, Nokia, Ericsson, Xiaomi, Getty Images, Lucasfilm, Adidas and high-profile individuals such as Ed Sheeran and Rihanna.

Name

8 New Square Intellectual Property

Legal name

8 New Square Intellectual Property Chambers

Website

https://8newsquare.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1900

Operating status

Operating

Short description

8 New Square Intellectual Property is the largest specialist IP barristers' chambers in the UK, with 32 IP barristers (including 13 King's Counsel) providing advocacy and advisory services across patents, trade marks, copyright, FRAND, data protection and related disputes to global corporates, public bodies and individuals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services - Intellectual Property Barristers' Chambers

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Intellectual Property (IP) Law (BPAHAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

IP Litigation & Dispute Resolution (BPAHAMAE), Standards-Essential Patents (SEP) & FRAND Advisory (BPAHAMAL), IP Due Diligence & Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Analysis (BPAHAMAG)

Keywords

• Intellectual property barristers
• Patent litigation services
• IP law advocacy
• Trade mark disputes
• Copyright legal services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Legal Services - Barristers: Barristers at 8 New Square practise as self-employed, referral professionals. The most commonly used pricing model is an hourly rate. Court hearings are usually dealt with by way of brief fee and daily refresher fee. Members of Chambers will also consider accepting instructions on a fixed fee basis. Each barrister's hourly rate can be discussed with their Practice Manager.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

8 New Square Intellectual Property is the largest specialist IP barristers' chambers in the United Kingdom, providing advocacy and specialist advice across the full range of intellectual property law. The chambers offers legal services spanning patents, supplementary protection certificates, copyright, trade marks, design rights, trade secrets, IT and telecoms, FRAND, data protection, media, and internet law, with representation in courts from IPEC through to the Supreme Court. Members also author leading IP legal textbooks and provide arbitration and mediation services.

Product overview

8 New Square Intellectual Property is the largest specialist intellectual property barristers' chambers in the United Kingdom, comprising 32 IP barristers including 13 King's Counsel. The chambers provides legal services across all areas of intellectual property law through its core practice areas: Patents & SPCs, Copyright & Databases, Trade Marks & Brands, Design Rights, Trade Secrets & Confidentiality, IT & Telecoms Disputes, Media/Sport & Entertainment, FRAND & Competition Law, Data Protection & Privacy, Jurisdiction & Remedies, Internet Law & Cybersecurity, Arbitration & Mediation, and Unusual Cases. The chambers also produces authoritative legal publications including Kerly's Law of Trade Marks, The Modern Law of Copyright, the Encyclopedia of Patent Law, The Liability of Internet Intermediaries, and Russell-Clarke & Howe on Industrial Designs. Members represent clients in all IP courts from IPEC through to the Supreme Court, and provide alternative dispute resolution through arbitration and mediation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Patents & SPCs Legal Services Comprehensive patent litigation and advice services covering Patent Office oppositions, entitlement disputes, revocation and infringement actions in the Patents Court, IPEC, and appellate courts, plus references to the European Court of Justice. Spans all technical disciplines including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, electronics, telecommunications, engineering and consumer products.
• Copyright & Databases Legal Services Full range of copyright law services covering music, film, television, sports broadcasts, literary and publishing cases, artistic copyright, software copyright, and database rights, before all relevant UK and European courts and tribunals.
• Trade Marks & Brands Legal Services Complete trade mark law services from registration and opposition hearings through to Supreme Court proceedings. Covers online use of trade marks, blocking injunctions, comparative advertising, merchandising, celebrity endorsements, counterfeiting, parallel imports, and passing off.
• Design Rights Legal Services Legal services covering UK and Community registered and unregistered design rights, handling cases in IPEC, Shorter Trial Scheme, High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Members authored the textbook Russell-Clarke and Howe on Industrial Designs.
• Trade Secrets & Confidentiality Legal Services Legal services for breach of confidence and misappropriation of trade secrets, privilege issues, data protection, and confidentiality in intellectual property claims across various technical disciplines.
• IT & Telecoms Disputes Legal Services IT and telecommunications dispute resolution including patent disputes, FRAND rate determinations, and internet intermediary liability. Handles cases involving AI technology, software disputes, and blocking injunctions.
• Media, Sport & Entertainment Legal Services Specialist legal services for the media and entertainment industry including television, film, broadcasting, gaming and advertising sectors. Handles IP disputes, copyright, and high-profile entertainment cases.
• FRAND & Competition Law Legal Services Legal services for intellectual property disputes encompassing competition law and commercial law elements. Specializes in FRAND rate determinations and telecoms licensing cases.
• Data Protection & Privacy Legal Services Civil matters related to data protection, information and privacy law including claims under the Data Protection Act 2018, misuse of private information, and GDPR compliance advice.
• Jurisdiction & Remedies Legal Services Expertise in private international law and jurisdiction for IP disputes, innovative remedies including Norwich Pharmacal orders, Anton Piller orders, John Doe injunctions, and Arrow declarations.
• Internet Law & Cybersecurity Legal Services Legal services for internet law and cybersecurity matters including website blocking injunctions, targeted advertising disputes, and software-related disputes. Chambers has technical expertise in multiple programming languages.
• Arbitration & Mediation Legal Services Alternative dispute resolution services including international commercial arbitration under ICC, LCIA rules, and mediation. Handles patent, trade mark, and commercial disputes across multiple sectors.
• Unusual Cases Legal Services Legal services for novel and innovative matters across various subject matters and tribunals, including mock trials, expert determinations, and cases before specialized forums like the Community Plant Variety Office.

Quantifiable outcome

• Only UK set to receive 5-star rating in JUVE Patent Rankings for consecutive years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 10,000 Black Interns ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChambers has hosted an intern on a shared basis with other contributing Chambers and Government Departments as part of the Bar's collective participation in the 10,000 Black Interns Programme. The Programme aims to transform the horizons and prospects of young Black people in the UK by offering paid work experience across a wide range of industries, as well as world-class training and development.
• Bridging the BarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChambers is a sponsor and partner of Bridging the Bar, a charity committed to the promotion of diversity and equal opportunities at the Bar. The charity aims to increase equality of access to opportunities in the legal profession across all underrepresented groups through mini-pupillage schemes, mentorship, and transparency initiatives.
• IP InclusivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChambers is an active member of IP Inclusive, a collection of individuals and organisations in the IP sector working to make the community more inclusive, diverse, open and fair. James St.Ville KC is the current Chair of IP Inclusive and Iona Berkeley is an Advisory Board member.
• Pupillage GatewaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAll pupillage recruitment is via the Pupillage Gateway, the central application system for aspiring barristers to search for and apply to pupillage vacancies.
• Richard Huish Sixth Form College, SomersetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChambers supports this Sixth Form College in Somerset that is in an area with one of the lowest rates in the country for participation in higher education. Jessie Bowhill KC assists the students by giving talks, mentoring students and assisting with preparations for the Bar Mock trial. Chambers additionally provides financial assistance to make the competition accessible.
• Advocate (Pro Bono Patron)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChambers is a Bronze Pro Bono Patron of Advocate, a charity that finds free legal advice help from barristers. Some barristers are members of CLIPS (Channery Bar Litigants in Person Support Scheme).
• Oxford University International IP MootminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChambers is proud to support Oxford University every year with its International moot trial. Financially supporting the moot enables the competition to remain accessible and inclusive.
• The Bar and Mooting Society of King's College LondonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChambers sponsors the annual IP Moot of The Bar and Mooting Society of King's College London. In addition to financial support, each year chambers provides a judge for the final of the moot.
• UCL Institute of Brand & Innovation Law (IBIL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChambers is proud to sponsor The Institute of Brand and Innovation Law at UCL Law. The Institute provides a unique forum for academics, the judiciary, policy-makers, professions and users of the IP system to exchange ideas on cutting-edge IP issues. Professor Sir Robin Jacob is the inaugural holder of the Sir Hugh Laddie Chair in Intellectual Property Law.
• Inns of Court Student Mentoring SchememinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVarious members of Chambers are mentors on the Inns of Court Student Mentoring Scheme, which matches people seeking pupillage with a Barrister practising in their area of law.
• BAILII (British and Irish Legal Information Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChambers is happy to support BAILII, which provides free internet access to British and Irish primary legal materials. BAILII is an essential part of the rule of law fabric.
• London Legal WalkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEach year, a team of walkers from 8 New Square participate in the annual 10K London Legal Walk, sponsored by The Law Society and LexisNexis, to help raise funds for the London Legal Support Trust.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• 11 South Square: London barristers' chambers specialising in intellectual property (including patents and FRAND) and insolvency/restructuring. Closest UK competitor to 8 New Square in specialist IP advocacy and frequently instructed on the same high-value patent and technology disputes.
• Three New Square: Specialist intellectual property barristers' chambers in London with deep experience in patent litigation across life sciences, chemistry, physics and engineering. Directly comparable in practice mix, court-level representation, and instruction channels to 8 New Square.
• Hogarth Chambers: London set of barristers with a strong intellectual property and commercial practice covering patents, trade marks, copyright and designs. Comparable in size, specialism and London referral market positioning to 8 New Square.
• 4 New Square: London barristers' chambers specialising in commercial disputes including professional negligence and insurance, with a notable intellectual property overlap. Competes for the same complex, high-value UK disputes that 8 New Square handles.
• Monckton Chambers: London set specialising in EU and competition law with significant FRAND and IP overlap. Regularly instructed alongside or against 8 New Square in major telecoms FRAND matters (e.g., Unwired Planet/Huawei ecosystem).
• Selborne Chambers: London barristers' chambers with a focused intellectual property practice covering patents, trade marks and designs. Similar referral-driven model and specialisation profile to 8 New Square, though smaller in bench size.

Broad incumbents

• Maitland Chambers: Major London commercial/chancery set with established intellectual property expertise. Wider portfolio than 8 New Square (insolvency, company, commercial) but regularly instructed on IP and IP-adjacent disputes.
• Brick Court Chambers: Leading London commercial and competition set that acts in significant IP and FRAND matters (including telecoms). Larger and more diversified than 8 New Square, but overlapping on high-stakes technology disputes.
• One Essex Court: Top-tier London commercial arbitration and litigation set with intellectual property capability. Comparable on cross-border commercial matters and complex IP-related disputes, though broader in practice scope than 8 New Square.

Others

• Marks & Clerk: Large international IP firm combining patent/trade mark attorney services with IP litigation support. Adjacent rather than directly competing on advocacy, but frequently co-instructed with 8 New Square barristers on patent matters.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 8 New Square Intellectual Property