Simon Ayrton is recommended for IP/General

Penny Gilbert, Tim Powell, Zoë Butler and Ari Laakkonen are recommended for IP/Patent Litigation

Powell Gilbert is one of the leading dedicated IP firms in the UK. The lawyers in this team have technical and scientific backgrounds, and so are fully up to date with the latest developments in the market. The firm is best known for its expertise in patent litigation, wherein it successfully defended Human Genome Sciences against a patent revocation brought by Eli Lilly over the gene treatment Neutrokine, a matter which was the first action of its kind brought before the UK Supreme Court. The firm is equally adept at complex and high-value branding work and soft IP litigation.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Penny Gilbert is one of the country's leading patent litigators. She operates almost exclusively in the biotechnology, medical devices and pharmaceuticals spheres.

Tim Powell is a patent litigator and qualified solicitor advocate who has represented giants of the pharmaceuticals and high technology sectors in the UK and European patent courts, as well as most other levels of jurisdiction in this country and on the continent.

Simon Ayrton counsels on breach of confidence, copyright, design rights, patents, trade marks and passing off, and he is a seasoned litigator and arbitrator. He is praised by peers for his "high level of skill."

The "excellent" Zoë Butler is best known for the quality of her work in patent litigation, although she advises on litigious matters across the spectrum of IP rights. Some of her key areas of expertise include acting for clients on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms (FRAND) litigation and in matters at the interface between competition and IP law.

The "fiercely intelligent" Ari Laakkonen is an expert on mobile telephony, and brings experience gained from an in-house role at Nokia. He is much sought after for smartphone, electronics, software and hardware disputes.