KEY INDIVIDUALS

Senior partner Keith Howick is best known for his trade mark work. He is marked out by sources as "client-friendly" and "an excellent communicator."

Cameron Marshall specialises in the biotech field and handles work for Novartis. Interviewees say he is "one of the best practitioners in Europe" and "extremely persuasive in his written work."

Chris Mercer also handles work for Novartis and is "very well equipped to provide high-level strategic advice."

Hugh Goodfellow "has outstanding technical knowledge and the ability to quickly identify and address any potential problems with a patent," according to market observers. He recently represented Neurim Pharmaceuticals at an oral hearing before the Intellectual Property Office regarding its application for a supplementary protection certificate