At 8 New Square Daniel Alexander QC has the unenviable task of stepping into the shoes of David Kitchin QC, who was promoted to the bench in September 2005. Other notable predecessors include Sir Hugh Laddie and Sir Robin Jacob, who also went on to star at the bench after glittering IP careers at the chambers. Early indications are that Alexander is ready to step up to the plate.

Alexander took silk in 2003 and has since garnered plaudits by acting on a variety of high-profile IP disputes. He has taken over from Kitchin on several - notably the appeal in the hugely important Cambridge Antibody Technologies v Abbott Laboratories (2004), which settled the morning it was due to be heard in the Court of Appeal. Ongoing cases include the Apple v Apple trademark dispute, which is set to come to court during 2006.