"Allen & Gledhill is truly competitive," says a client. "Working with the people there allows confidence and a peace of mind for the client with their cohesive approach." This year, the firm cements its place as a high-quality "one-stop shop: with very personal and diverse expertise in IP matters," says a client. The team is headed by Stanley Lai, newly appointed to senior counsel in January 2010, of whom peers and clients alike have the highest regard. Peers unanimously agree that he is a leading lawyer in the city. "He possesses a wealth of knowledge both of technical and matters relating to the market... [There is] no doubt I would go to him for IP litigation work," says one client.
A high-profile case for the firm was its representation of German chip manufacturer Mühlbauer in a patent infringement matter. The client had begun a patent infringement trial against a competitor in the High Court through the representation of another firm. The High Court however found the client's patent to be invalid and it was revoked, with the client found to have also made groundless threats of patent infringement and liable for damages. Following this adverse decision, the client switched representation to the firm, and specifically to the IP team led by Lai, and appealed the decision to the Court of Appeal. The decision was handed down in February 2010 and reversed the findings at the High Court.