"Powell Gilbert LLP is a new IP boutique founded by a breakaway group of five partners and five associates from market-leading firm Bristows. Name partners Tim Powell and Penny Gilbert have excellent reputations and strong track records, particularly for patent litigation. Clients express their "full confidence" in a firm which is "very knowledgeable in both science and law", and add that "the quality of work rendered so far is excellent". The team has being advising Human Genome Sciences on a major patent action in the genomics field – work that moved with the team from their former firm – and also advised Monsanto, a leading player in the area of GM crops, on a multinational dispute which is scheduled for a major Patents Court trial. On the soft IP side Simon Ayrton is described as "very service minded and an expert".