United Kingdom (England) - Jurisdiction Review

Norton Rose Fulbright

Firm overview

Norton Rose Fulbright in Canada is unique in its ability to provide seamless IP advice on a truly national and global scale. We have one of the few IP practices with such a designation in Canada covering IP professionals in each of Québec City, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. The integration of Bull Housser Tupper was completed on January 1, 2017 and has added a particular depth in trademark prosecution and litigation, anti-counterfeiting, and trade secrets.

Litigation practice:
The team of IP litigators at Norton Rose Fulbright is ranked among the best in Canada. We provide offensive and defensive litigation counsel in all areas of intellectual property, including patents infringement and impeachment actions under the Patent Act and pursuant prohibition proceedings and section 8 damages actions under the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance Regulations), copyrights, trade-marks, trade-mark oppositions, trade secrets, counterfeit enforcement, and industrial designs. The team is particularly well known and regarded for its patent litigation work for pharmaceutical clients. Our roster of innovative pharmaceutical clients for which we act in litigation is second to none in Canada. As pharmaceutical patent disputes represent a significant part of patent litigation in Canada, our team is extremely active in this area. The patent litigation practice also includes mechanical patents, medical devices and oil and gas patents, among other technologies. More recently, several new partners with leading practices in trademark and copyright litigation have increased our capabilities, successes and client base in this area.

Patent practice:
Norton Rose Fulbright's Canada patent attorneys and agents have highly specialized degrees and provide comprehensive intellectual property advice and global portfolio strategy. We handle the Canadian and global patent work for a stellar cross section of Canadian and international clients. Our Canadian Patent Centre of Excellence complements notably the patent expertise within Norton Rose Fulbright in the United States.

We are one of the largest patent filers in Canada with a particular emphasis on drafting original patents and global portfolio strategy, as evidenced by the fact that we are consistently one of the top PCT filers in Canada. We are often selected over our competitors because our patent prosecution expertise is unrivalled and works seamlessly with our disputes and regulatory lawyers to provide strategic and holistic approach to patent portfolio management.

Trademark practice:
We assist clients with all aspects of the branding process. This includes providing overall branding strategy, the drafting and prosecuting of trade-mark applications, the provision of advice regarding availability and registrability of marks in Canada and globally. Our team provides strategic trade-mark advice including portfolio review, infringement surveillance, and advice on legal issues connected with introducing products and services to the market, such as branding, product information and advertising. We assist clients with all aspects of brands expansion into social media including acquisition of domain names, and enforcement of brands on all social media channels globally. Our litigation team acts for clients in opposition proceedings, infringement proceedings and expungement proceedings and trade libel actions.

Copyright practice:
Our copyright team has expertise in all aspects of copyright law including clearance, acquisition and registration, infringement and litigation, due diligence, licenses, assignments and transactional issues. We act for copyright owners working in various industries such as film, television, video, music, art, fashion, literature, software and evolving media including telecommunications and the Internet. Similarly, our trade-marks team works with clients to acquire, commercialize and safeguard their brands, including logos, product or container shapes and packaging. We advise on all aspects of the selection, registration, commercialization and protection of rights related to trade-marks and brands. We are regularly called upon to advise on the copyright aspects of advertising and marketing campaigns. Clients consistently call upon our professionals for wide industry coverage, the shared experience between the team and our large panel of services. Our litigation lawyers are also active in copyright disputes at both the trial and appellate levels in the software, media, communications, and entertainment sectors with clients including film studios, software and gaming developers, telecommunications companies, the television industry and the music business. We have extensive experience representing rights holders before the Copyright Board and assisting in the enforcement of tariffs, as well as in anti-counterfeiting mandates for fashion enterprises and standards organizations, including border seizures and rapid enforcement campaigns.

Commercial IP practice:
The IP team handles a wide range of commercial transactions relating to all areas of intellectual property. For example, our commercial IP team has assisted a major financial institution in developing key collaboration agreements, developed and negotiated licensing agreements with other financial institutions, developed blockchain consortium agreements, and very complex IP co-existence and ownership issues.

Last updated 31st July 2018

Rouse

Firm overview

About Us

Rouse was established in the UK in 1990, and is recognised as a global Intellectual Property leader operating as a closely integrated network with more than 600 people working out of 18 offices in 13 countries.

We focus exclusively on IP, from strategic consulting, patents and trade marks through to domain names, copyright, designs and geographical indications. And we’re experts in providing services for each stage of their life cycle.

We have a deep understanding of all jurisdictions around the world and a strong focus on more challenging markets such as Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Russia. Most importantly, we’re passionate about IP and enjoy working with clients who share that passion. We put clients at the heart of our business and build long standing relationships. From large multinationals that want our scale, quality and professionalism, to start ups that value our entrepreneurial spirit, the companies we work with come from a broad range of sectors with diverse business interests and needs.

The Rouse Difference

Rouse prides itself on its quality and professionalism, but we have also always dared to be different. We don’t believe that all firms should be the same. That’s why we’ll always challenge the traditional way of doing things if we think another way is better.

It also means we don’t just advise on the law - in many countries we help define and shape it. We have a practical, pragmatic and “unstuffy” approach, with teams of professionals who work closely together across functions and geographical borders in a non-hierarchical, creative and results-oriented environment.

Rouse people are full of energy and enthusiasm. We are passionate about IP, our business and our people, and we genuinely enjoy what we do. We believe that having fun provides a happier, more productive working environment.

The Rouse Network

“International reach, local expertise”

Whatever your needs, in whatever country, we have either an established Rouse office or a long standing relationship with a local firm.

All our offices have both local and international experts that have bilingual capability. Where we don’t have an office we have a relationship with a local firm that we believe offers the best service for our clients and is the best fit for the Rouse culture and and the best service for our clients. Working with Rouse internationally means you can have one point of contact as well as a team of people around the world supporting you in the necessary jurisdictions.

The Rouse Network consists of local subsidiaries of Rouse International Limited and closely aligned but independent firms which work seamlessly together on engagements. Which elements of work are done by which entity depends entirely on the country in which work is carried out, in compliance with relevant legal and regulatory provisions.

Venner Shipley

Firm overview

We are a prominent full-service international intellectual property firm, uniquely with a leading team of patent attorneys, trade mark attorneys, solicitors and barristers, providing a complete IP service to our client base. With offices in London, Cambridge, Guildford, Manchester, Tunbridge Wells and Munich, we work with clients from a variety of industry sectors ranging from major domestic and international corporations, to SMEs, universities and individual inventors playing a key role in nurturing innovation.

We have played a leading role in one of the most followed, high-tech European Court of Appeal cases held over the last two years. Our early involvement in the G1/19 case means that no other firm has the depth of expertise in the patentability of computer-implemented simulations. From preparing and filing the application, handling examination, right through to the appeal stage, Venner Shipley are the go-to firm for computer-implemented simulations in G1/19 (CONNOR/Pedestrian Simulation).

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have not only been at the forefront of technological developments but also the scientific challenge against the coronavirus pandemic and COVID-19. We are assisting our clients in their efforts through patenting various coronavirus vaccine strategies, including Imperial College’s self-amplifying RNA vaccine, invented by Prof Robin Shattock, and anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies, as well as other Covid-19 testing-related technology.

Our current portfolio has also seen us provide pioneering advice on artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, genome editing techniques (including CRISPR), battery technology for electric and driverless cars, machine learning, computer-simulated inventions, the Internet of Things, cyber-security, gene therapy inventions, precision medicines, 5G telecommunications, as well as augmented and virtual reality.

This means that our multi-disciplinary team is dealing with a hugely diverse and constantly evolving range of intellectual property issues with specialist teams in chemistry, biotechnology, materials and software, as well as all flavours of engineering, from heavy mechanical to electronics.

PATENTS

Our patent attorneys regularly advise on obtaining patent protection, potential patent infringement (whether the firm’s clients are asserting their rights or defending), challenging third parties’ patent rights on behalf of clients, and defending clients’ rights against such challenges. We have extensive experience and a deserved reputation in opposition and appeal proceedings before the European Patent Office, and can also represent our clients before the German Patent Office through our Munich office.

TRADE MARKS

Our dedicated trade mark team is composed of chartered trade mark attorneys, solicitors and barristers, bringing together a breadth of experience and skills to help clients protect and enforce their rights. We offer our clients an innovative, bespoke service from our team of expert UK and European trade mark attorneys, who are equipped with the relevant skills and experience to think commercially and always offer advice to ensure that clients reach their strategic goals, whilst maintaining brand protection. Our team also has extensive experience in opposition and appeal proceedings before the registries, as well as litigation in the UK and overseas; including before the EUIPO, the UKIPO and all levels of English courts. Our combination of opposition and litigation experience is rare in UK firms and is well regarded by foreign attorneys.
In November 2020 we merged with (formerly) Brookes IP who have a wealth of experience in the trade mark field strengthening our ability to offer a personal service and tailoring our services to our client’s individual needs, whether acting for multi-national corporations, SME’s or smaller businesses.

DESIGNS & COPYRIGHTS

Our attorneys regularly file and prosecute applications for registered designs. We also advise on unregistered design rights and copyright, rights that are relevant to all manner of products and that do not need to be applied for. Our specialist team also provides advice on the potential infringement of registered or unregistered design rights and/or copyright by its clients or by third parties. Our European design attorneys practise before EUIPO in connection with registered community designs. The attorneys also act before the UK Intellectual Property Office and the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) working with a network of international experts to obtain design protection worldwide.

LEGAL

Our clients can draw upon our full-service offering of IP solicitors and barristers, to handle all their legal and dispute needs. The legal team is on hand to work alongside the attorneys to advise on intellectual property rights, confidentiality agreements, licences, assignments, copyright and all associated contracts. Core to the legal team is our dispute resolution service, with experience in all UK courts and tribunals. Our lawyers have appeared in key cases from the Enterprise Court right through to the UK Supreme Court. Uniquely our team also has direct experience in overseas courts, especially Canada. Additionally, our lawyers are leading data protection experts having advised the UK Government on the Data Protection Act 2018. We routinely advise on global data transfers, ICO audits and investigations, data loss, direct marketing, processing agreements and outsourcing. The team has advised globally on data protection matters for many years, assisting several companies with their global compliance training, and have advised on transfers in Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and our legal team also prides itself on its expertise in government relations, advising clients on regulatory changes and responses to consultations.

Maucher Jenkins

Firm overview

Maucher Jenkins comprises UK, German and European patent and trade mark attorneys, attorneys at law and IP litigators, with offices in the UK, Germany, Switzerland and China. Its attorneys represent global clients in a range of industries who wish to identify, establish, protect, exploit and enforce their IP rights in the UK, Europe and worldwide.

Our reputation extends internationally, as does our expertise, covering a wide range of industry sectors.

The patent team’s expertise includes preliminary investigations and due diligence on securing a patent; drafting, filing and prosecuting patent applications before the UKIPO and European Patent Office; conducting searches to avoid infringement; defending patent infringement claims and pursuing infringement litigation when opposing, reviewing, evaluating and managing patent portfolios; monitoring competitors’ portfolios; and advising on how to obtain patent protection worldwide.

The trade mark team advises on the registrability of new brand names and logos, conducts searches to locate any potentially conflicting third-party rights, files and prosecutes trade mark applications and acts on behalf of clients in relation to any disputes.

Our attorneys can also look at design protection for new and innovative product shapes with an eye to identifying copyright and registrable or unregistered design matter that can strengthen an overall portfolio of rights. Our IP litigators handle disputes in the English Courts as well as managing multi-jurisdictional cases in Europe at the General Court and Court of Justice. The attorneys in Munich and Freiburg handle disputes in different regional courts across Germany and up to the level of the Bundesgerichtshof.

Network Memberships: Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA), Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA), International Trademark Association (INTA), International Association for the Protection of IP (AIPPI), Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA), American IP Law Association (AIPLA), BioIndustry Association (BIA), British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA), MARQUES, European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA), International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI)

Maucher Jenkins is the joint trading name of RGC Jenkins & Co in the UK (regulated by IPReg) and Maucher Jenkins Patentanwälte & Rechtsanwälte in Germany.

Last Updated 12th of April 2018

IP STARS Reviews

Addleshaw Goddard

Addleshaw Goddard is recognised in the UK market for transactional and soft IP work, with three partners ranked in both areas. Its IP practice is led by Emma Armitage. Co-head of IP Georgina Powling is one of the recommended IP transactional lawyers in the UK. Armitage and Powling are supported by other IP/commercial law partners, including James Whittaker, and a team of associates. The London-headquartered firm expanded in Europe in 2022 by merging with Irish law firm Eugene F Collins and launching new offices in Germany and Luxembourg. Eugene F Collins was previously ranked in IP STARS.

Appleyard Lees

Appleyard Lees is recommended for IP protection and portfolio management. It is one of the traditional patent and trade mark attorney firms in the UK that has a litigation practice. The firm has European patent attorneys in technical fields such as biotechnology, chemistry, and computer technology. The leading patent attorneys include Richard Bray, Dick Waddington, Bobby Smithson, Simon Bradbury, Julia Gwilt, Ean Davies, Barbara Fleck, and David Walsh. Waddington serves as managing partner. Howard Read, Parminder Lally, Chris Mason, James Myatt and Andrew McKinlay are the patent practitioners to watch.

Trade mark prosecution are handled by dual-qualified patent and trade mark attorneys like David Moy, Graham Johnson and Paul Brandon. IP disputes are led by senior lawyers Robert Cumming and Bill Lister; they are supported by a multidisciplinary team of patent and trade mark attorneys. Chris Hoole is a lawyer to watch. The lawyers also deal with trade mark strategy and prosecution.

Barker Brettell

Birmingham-based patent and trade mark attorney firm Barker Brettell is recommended for IP protection and portfolio management. The firm has experienced patent attorneys for areas such as mechanical engineering, chemistry, medical devices, computer technology and electronics.

It is led by European patent attorney Andy Tranter, who heads the automotive sector group. John Lawrence, Alan Wilson, Yvonne Johnson, Lucy Trueman, Jennifer Atkinson, Carrie Johnson, and Nicholas Braddon are the key patent contacts. Johnson, who specialises in computer technology work, oversees its designs practice. She was appointed to the firm’s leadership board in 2020. Other notable patent practitioners are Mark Thurston, David Combes, David Pearce, David Harris, Jonathan Myers, Robin Tyson and Neil Kilpatrick.

Catherine Wiseman leads its trade mark practice. She is supported by brands sector leaders Lucy Walker, Tracy Arch and Rosalyn Newsome. The other notable trade mark practitioners are Lisa King, Louis Pittortou, Ian Pearce, and Roseanne Farmer. The firm has a team in Sweden which is led by European trade mark attorney and lawyer Liselott Enström.

Bird & Bird

Bird & Bird is one of the leading law firms in the UK for contentious and non-contentious IP work. The firm is also recommended in European jurisdictions such as France and Germany, making it one of the most reliable firms for pan-European IP litigation. It has a representative US office in San Francisco, California, which is co-headed by soft IP lawyer Nick Aries.

The firm has specialists for patent disputes in key sectors such as life sciences and technology. Patent litigators Morag Macdonald, Robert Williams, and Katharine Stephens are leaders in the firm’s IP practice. Other key patent lawyers include Patrick Kelleher, Jane Mutimear, Richard Vary, and Mark Hilton.

Its soft IP practice is staffed with experienced lawyers such as Allan Poulter, Peter Brownlow, Mark Holah, and Phil Sherrell. Holah, Poulter, and Brownlow are the key contacts for trade mark protection and disputes. Sherrell is noted for copyright matters. Another notable lawyer is copyright scholar Eleonora Rosati. Generalist IP lawyer Ewan Grist is the key contact for designs. For IP transactions work, clients can rely on lawyers like Sally Shorthose and Tom Snaith.

Boult Wade Tennant

Boult Wade Tennant is highly recommended for IP protection and portfolio management. Market commentators respect the firm because of its experienced practitioners as well as its working culture, stability, and business strategy. Electrical engineering patent specialist Alex Frost is the firm’s managing partner.

The firm has European patent attorneys to advise on inventions and patents in areas such as engineering, life sciences and chemistry. Tessa Bucks, Nick McLeish, Adrian Hayes and Nina White are patent practice leaders in the firm. Other notable recommended European patent attorneys include Michelle Pratt, James Legg, Matthew Spencer, Jonathan Palmer, Daniel Weston, Simon Kahn, and Rohan Setna. The partners are supported by a team of associates and technical support staff. Edward Ronan, Edward Morse, Phil Merchant and Sarah Le Mesurier are among the patent attorneys to watch.

Rachel Conroy heads up the firm’s trade mark/domain names practice. Trade mark instructions in the practice are led by long-established trade mark attorneys such as Emma Pitcher, Catherine Wolfe, Felicity Hide and Tony Pluckrose. The partners are supported by experienced junior trade mark attorneys such as Aruna Arunasalam and Donna Trysburg.

In mainland Europe, soft IP lawyer Michael C Maier leads its Berlin office, from which the firm offers its new European trade mark litigation service, and IP lawyer Álvaro Cabeza is in charge of its Madrid office.

Bray & Krais

Bray & Krais is a boutique law firm that specialises in entertainment and media work. The firm is best known for advising companies and artists in the music industry. The lawyers for disputes are Andrew Forbes and Simon Goodbody, while contractual matters are dealt with by Simon Dixon, Richard Bray and Mark Krais.

Brown Rudnick

Brown Rudnick has an IP practice in London. IP litigator David Knight joined the practice in 2022 following the departure of its key IP team.

Browne Jacobson

Browne Jacobson is a full-service UK law firm with an active IP practice, which is led by Declan Cushley. The firm is recommended for soft IP, especially trade mark-related work. Cushley, who specialises in brand protection and management, is supported by partners such as Mark Daniels and Bonita Trimmer. Daniels handles both patent and soft IP disputes. The firm’s leading lawyers for commercial IP advice are Selina Hinchliffe and Paula Dumbill. Giles Parsons is one to watch.

Carpmaels & Ransford

IP boutique Carpmaels & Ransford is among the elite firms in Europe for patent and SPC protection. It has European patent attorneys for fields such as chemistry, life sciences, engineering, and ICT. The firm is also recommended for trade mark protection and IP disputes.

Life sciences specialist Hugh Goodfellow is the managing partner. Other notable senior European patent attorneys in the firm include Edward Oates, Harvey Adams, Gillian McGuire, Gary Small, Susan Kirsch, Daniel Wise, James Warner, Mark Chapman, Cameron Marshall, and John Brunner.

For patent disputes, the firm has a team of experienced litigators who strategically work alongside the patent attorneys. David Wilson, Camilla Balleny and Ian Kirby are the key senior litigators in the firm’s disputes practice. Wilson heads the disputes practice. Clients in need of IP transactions advice can go to Jake Marshall, who leads the firm’s commercial IP practice.

Roger Lush heads the trade mark department. Lush is supported by Jonathan Day, who is dual qualified as a solicitor and trade mark attorney.

CMS

CMS has one of the largest IP teams in the UK market. The firm has experienced lawyers for all areas of IP work and a strong team of patent attorneys for patent office proceedings and litigation support.

D Young & Co

D Young & Co is one of the leading UK firms for IP filing/prosecution, office proceedings and portfolio management work. In patents, the firm is particularly respected by rivals for its technical expertise in life sciences, electronics, and engineering. The experienced European patent attorneys in the firm include Anthony Albutt, David Alcock, Jonathan Jackson, Jonathan DeVile, Simon O'Brien, Garreth Duncan and Kirk Gallagher. Albutt and Gallagher are among the patent attorneys with litigation qualification. Other notable practitioners are Robbie Berryman, Rachel Bateman, and Alan Boyd.

For trade mark protection, clients have experienced trade mark attorneys such as Jeremy Pennant, Gemma Kirkland, Helen Cawley and Richard Burton. Pennant leads the trade mark practice.

As one of the pioneers of a one-stop shop for IP services, the firm has maintained its legal practice with a team of lawyers including soft IP litigators Tamsin Holman, Matthew Dick, and Anna Reid. They are supported by junior lawyers like Jake Hayes and former partners Richard Willoughby and Ian Starr, both of whom now serve as consultants.

The firm also has a team in Munich, Germany, led by European patent attorney Hanns-Juergen Grosse and soft IP lawyer Jana Bogatz.

EIP

UK IP firm EIP is recommended for patent prosecution and litigation. The firm’s patent litigation activities in the UK have cemented its reputation as one of the best firms for electronics patent work. The practice is led by Gary Moss. He is supported by litigation partners Matthew Jones, Robert Lundie Smith and Kathleen Fox Murphy and a team of junior lawyers.

The firm has also expanded its footprint, with offices in the United States, Sweden and Germany. Patent litigator Christof Höhne heads up its German office while entertainment lawyer Leigh Augustine leads the US office. In 2021, the firm hired former AWA CEO and lawyer Magnus Hallin to serve as its CEO and partnered with the brands law firm Stobbs to handle its European trade mark work. The firm launched in Sweden in September 2022 and, in November 2022, unveiled its UPC legal practice known as EIP Amar, a partnership with French IP firm Amar Goussu Staub.

In addition to its hi-tech patent expertise, the firm has experienced European patent attorneys for engineering, biotechnology, and chemistry work. The notable senior patent attorneys are Paula Flutter, Colin Lobban, Jerome Spaargaren, Matt Lawman, Heather McCann, Richard Gordon-Brown, Andrew Sharples, Darren Smyth, and Gareth Probert. Sharples is also qualified as a lawyer. The patent practitioners in the firm are supported by patent law scholar Derk Visser, a leading authority on the European Patent Convention. Mark Lubbock is the IP transactions specialist in the firm.

Fieldfisher

Fieldfisher is best known for its soft IP practice. The firm is recommended for trade mark protection and disputes work as well as copyright and IP transactions advice. John Linneker and Leighton Cassidy lead the firm's IP practice. Cassidy, who also leads the trade mark protection practice, is supported by brand protection specialists such as Hastings Guise and Harriet Seymour. The notable lawyers for soft IP disputes are Nick Rose and James Seadon.

The firm has experienced lawyers in other departments, such as media and technology, who can advise on copyright and related rights matters. Head of media Tim Johnson advises clients in the media and entertainment sectors. Gordon Drakes and David Bond are key lawyers for IP-related transactions work, especially franchising.

Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner

US-headquartered IP firm Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garret & Dunner has a European patent practice, with teams in the UK and Germany. Maeve O’Flynn and Nicholas Fox are key European patent attorneys in its London office. The firm also has a trade mark practice in London led by Clare A Cornell. Another notable trade mark practitioner in the practice is Judy McCullagh, who is registered as an Irish and European trade mark attorney. The partners are supported by a team of associates and technical specialists.

Gill Jennings & Every

Gill Jennings & Every has maintained its reputation as one of the leading UK IP firms for patent prosecution and portfolio management work. It acquired patent attorney firm Beresford Crump in March 2019, a move which expanded its practice. The firm covers a range of technical fields including biotechnology, computer technology, chemistry, and engineering.

The notable senior European patent attorneys are Lucy Samuels, John Fisher, Peter Arrowsmith, Arnie Clarke, Michael Lord, John Jappy and Stephen Haley. Lord and Haley also serve as managing partners. Samuels, who is now a patents director, and Clarke are highly recommended for EPO proceedings. Other notable patent attorneys are Heather Scott and Matthew Hoyles. Hoyles also holds a UK Higher Courts litigation certificate. The patent partners are supported by a team of associates and technical assistants.

The firm is also recommended for trade marks. Head of trade marks Alasdair MacQuarrie and Edward Carstairs are the key contacts for trade mark instructions. They are supported by a team of associates and paralegals. To supplement its traditional IP protection services, the firm offers consulting services through ConsultIP.

Gowling WLG

Gowling WLG is highly recommended for IP disputes and transactions in the UK. The firm has patent litigators with expertise in hi-tech and life sciences. It is among the few law firms with a notable design litigation practice. Gordon Harris, Patrick Duxbury, John Coldham, Alexandra Brodie, Huw Evans, and Kate Swaine are the leaders its IP practice. Toronto-based trade mark lawyer Shelagh Carnegie and Swaine lead the firm’s global IP practice.

Coldham and Swaine are the key contacts for trade mark and designs. Harris, Brodie, and Evans specialise in patent litigation. Other notable senior patent litigators in the firm are Paul Inman, Matt Hervey, Luke Kempton, and Jamie Rowlands. Hervey is a specialist on AI and IP matters. Duxbury is rated as one of the pre-eminent transactional IP lawyers in the UK and life sciences companies come to him because of his savvy commercial IP advice. Kempton is also recommended for IP transactions work.

The partners are supported by a team of associates and senior lawyers such as Nick Cunningham and Jenny Davies. This year's practitioners to watch are Inga-Marlene Pietsch, Mathilda Davidson, Christopher Freeth and Michael Carter. Davidson is noted for her IP transactions practice while Pietsch, Freeth and Carter specialise in litigation.

Greaves Brewster

Greaves Brewster is an agile, modern IP firm for patent protection work. The firm has experienced patent attorneys for technical fields such as chemistry, medical devices, and biotechnology. Some of its patent attorneys have in-house experience. Patent attorneys Jakob Bumke, Rachel Wallis, and David Spinner are leaders in the firm. The partners are supported by directors, associates and paralegals. Corinna Hiscox is a key trade mark attorney in the firm.

Herbert Smith Freehills

International law firm Herbert Smith Freehills is well-regarded in pharmaceutical and biotechnology patent litigation in the UK. Laura Orlando and Sydney-based litigator Rebekah Gay oversee the firm’s global IP practice. Sebastian Moore, who splits his time between London and Milan, leads its UK IP practice. Other notable litigation partners in the UK are Andrew Moir and Jonathan Turnbull. Moir also has a practice in IT/cybersecurity. They are supported by former partner and IP leader Sophie Rich, senior lawyers such as Laura Deacon and a team of associates. Deacon specialises in IP transactions work.

HGF

HGF maintains its position in the UK market as one of the leading firms for IP protection and portfolio management. The firm continues to expand in Europe: it opened new offices in Ireland and France and merged with Patronus IP in 2019. The senior leaders in the firm are Martyn Fish, who acts as CEO, and Jason Lumber, who serves as the chairman. Fish and Lumber are qualified solicitors.

In the UK, most of the firm’s IP practitioners are based in England. It has a large team of patent attorneys covering a range of technical fields including engineering, chemistry, life sciences and electronics. The patent practice leaders are Christopher Benson, Kate Taylor, Lucy Johnson, Andrew Wells and Chris Moore. Other notable senior European patent attorneys in the firm are Hsu Min Chung, Vanessa Stainthorpe, Jennifer Uno, Harry Hutchinson, and Richard Jenkins.

Its trade mark practice is led by David Potter. Stephanie Loeffler-Reading, Jonathan Thurgood, Geoffrey Smith and Lee Curtis are among the experienced trade mark attorneys at the firm. The firm also offers dispute resolution and commercial IP services through its sister law firm HGF Law, which is led by the experienced IP litigator Rachel Fetches. Other notable lawyers in the legal practice are Paul Sanderson, Janet Knowles, and Marie McMorrow. Knowles specialises in IP transactions.

Scotland

Chemistry specialist Gary Wilson oversees the firm’s operations in Scotland, where he is supported by sector practice leaders Jamie Thomson, Craig Watson, and Susan Keston. Other notable senior attorneys are life sciences specialists Douglas Drysdale and Craig Thomson. Patent and trade mark attorney Neil McKechnie, who serves as a consultant, looks after its trade mark practice in Scotland. Caroline Pigott is a key trade mark attorney in the practice.

Hoffmann Eitle

German IP firm Hoffmann Eitle is highly respected across Europe for patent drafting, prosecution and office proceedings. Biotechnology patent attorney David Miller joined the firm's London office in January 2023. Miller's arrival from Mathys & Squire strengthened the firm's UK practice, which now has more than 10 patent attorneys with expertise across fields like engineering and biotechnology. Pharmaceuticals specialist Toby Simpson also joined from Mathys & Squire in 2020.

J A Kemp

J A Kemp is a long-established patent and trade mark attorney firm that is highly recommended for IP protection and portfolio management. The firm has an excellent reputation in chemistry, life sciences and engineering. Its European patent attorneys are respected for their drafting and the results they achieve for clients in office proceedings.

The patent leaders in the firm are Patrick Campbell, Samuel Smith, Amanda Simons, Nigel Price, Ravi Srinivasan, Mark Roberts, and John Leeming. Other notable patent attorneys are Colin Merryweather, Sarah Roques, Henry Hunt-Grubbe, Stephen Hodsdon, and Celia Keen. The senior practitioners are supported by a team of associates, trainees, and support staff.

The firm still has a dispute resolution practice staffed with lawyers and several patent attorneys with court litigation qualification. Aaron Newell and James Fish are the key lawyers in the firm. Fish also heads up its trade mark practice. Other key trade mark attorneys in the practice area Tom Albertini, Ben Mooneapillay and Charlotte Stirling. Albertini leads the designs practice.

Kilburn & Strode

Kilburn & Strode is a top-tier patent and trade mark attorney firm. Unlike some of its rivals, the firm remains dedicated to the business of IP protection and portfolio management. The firm has expanded its team in the Netherlands and the liaison office in California, United States.

Its patent attorneys are respected for their drafting work and skill in IP office proceedings. The firm's technical coverage is broad, but market commentators pick out electronics, life sciences, chemistry, and engineering as strong practice areas.

Managing partner Richard Howson and chairman Gwilym Roberts lead the firm. The experienced senior European patent attorneys in the firm include Nick Bassil, Elizabeth Crooks, Gareth Fennell, Nick Shipp, Robin Lloyd and Jim Miller.

Carrollanne Lindley, Rowena Tolley, Ryan Pixton and Iain Stewart are the key contacts in the firm’s trade mark practice in the UK. Claudia Festen leads its trade mark practice in the Netherlands.

Lane IP

Lane IP is catching the eye of competitors in the UK market. The firm is led by Steve Lane, who is dual qualified as a lawyer and trade mark attorney, and trade mark attorney Natalie Clare. It is recommended for trade mark protection work.

Marks & Clerk

International IP firm Marks & Clerk needs no introduction in the field of IP filing and portfolio management. It has a large team of patent and trade mark attorneys across England and Scotland. The firm offers dispute resolution and commercial IP services through its sister law firm Marks & Clerk Law. Physics specialists Daniel Talbot-Ponsonby and Simon Mounteney are the top leaders in the firm. Talbot-Ponsonby serves as the firm’s chairman while Mounteney serves as the UK managing partner.

The firm has a large team of patent practitioners across the UK in several technical fields. David Robinson, David Ward, Will Nieuwenhuys, Angus Fairbairn, Thomas Prock, Steven Gurney, Jonathan Stafford, Sheila Wallace, Mark Kenrick and Philip Cupitt are among the key senior European patent attorneys in England. Kenrick is also qualified to conduct court litigation. Paul Chapman, Andy Docherty, and Richard Gibbs lead its Scottish operations. Other notable patent attorneys in Scotland are Graham McGlashan, Maureen Kinsler, David Murray and Tim Hargreaves.

London-based trade mark attorney Tom Farrand heads its trade marks filing and prosecution practice. Some of its key trade mark attorneys in England are Gareth Jenkins, Alison Melling, Michael Shaw and John Ferdinand. Jason Chester and Janice Morrison are the key trade mark attorneys in Scotland.

Kirsten Gilbert, Gina Lodge and Vicky Butterworth are the key soft IP lawyers in its law firm. The leading patent litigators are Mike Gilbert, Graham Burnett-Hall, Dafydd Bevan, and Charlie Balme. Michael Moore, who can also deal with soft IP disputes, leads its IP transactions and designs practice. Balme and Bevan also deal with soft IP disputes. Another transactional lawyer in the firm is Simon Portman. Patent litigator William Cook now serves as a senior counsel.

Mathys & Squire

Mathys & Squire is a well-established UK IP firm for IP protection and portfolio management. The firm is experienced in advising on IP issues in sectors such as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, IT and engineering. It has evolved over the years, putting together a team for IP disputes and opening offices in other European jurisdictions such as France and Germany. The firm also offers IP commercialisation advice thanks to its acquisition of Coller IP in 2017.

Its key European patent attorneys are Jane Clark, Alan MacDougall, Hazel Ford, Martin MacLean, Paul Cozens, and Christopher Hamer. MacDougall heads the firm’s Cambridge office while Cozens and Hamer have court litigation qualifications.

The firm’s trade mark practice is led by trade mark attorneys Margaret Arnott and Gary Johnston. Arnott is also qualified as a solicitor and leads the firm’s litigation practice. Johnston heads the firm’s Manchester office. Rebecca Tew, who heads the firm’s Midlands office, is another notable trade mark attorney in the firm.

Maucher Jenkins

In 2016, UK IP firm RGC Jenkins & Co merged with German IP firm Maucher Börjes to form Maucher Jenkins. The firm also has offices in Switzerland and China. It is recommended for IP protection and portfolio management work, with strong expertise in telecommunications, computer technology, life sciences and engineering.

The key European patent attorneys in the firm include James Cross, Felix Rummler, Philip Treeby, Alvin Lam, Holly Whitlock, Hugh Dunlop, and Reuben Jacob. Cross and Treeby are also qualified to conduct court litigation. Rummler leads the firm’s Munich office. European patent attorney and designs law specialist David Musker is still with the firm as a consultant.

The leading practitioners in its trade mark practice are Katie Cameron and Angela Fox. Cameron is a trade mark attorney with litigation qualification while Fox is dual-qualified as a solicitor and trade mark attorney. Fox oversees the disputes practice. The firm’s trade mark partners are supported by a team of junior practitioners and colleagues in Germany.

Mewburn Ellis

Mewburn Ellis is highly recommended for patent protection and portfolio management work, especially in life sciences and chemistry. The firm also has expertise in ICT and engineering. Biotechnology patent specialist Richard Clegg is the firm’s managing partner. The other leaders in the firm are Richard Johnson, Sean Jauss, Kate O’Rourke, Jeremy Webster, Graeme Moore, and Simon Kiddle.

The experienced European patent attorneys in the firm include Emily Hayes, Matthew Naylor, Nick Sutcliffe, Chris Denison, Stephen Gill, Simon Parry, and Robert Watson. Some of the patent attorneys, for example Sutcliffe and Naylor, are also qualified to conduct court litigation. Parry also deals with design protection work.

O’Rourke, who is dual qualified as a trade mark attorney and solicitor, leads its trade mark practice while solicitor Jauss is in charge of its legal services practice. Jauss deals with soft IP disputes and IP transactions. Other notable senior trade mark practitioners include Edmund Harrison.

Mishcon de Reya

Mishcon de Reya is recommended for IP disputes and trade mark protection work. It also has a team that deals with IP licensing work. In 2018, the firm launched MDR Brand Management, a service that supports brand owners on a range of issues in the global marketplace, and entered into a strategic partnership with brand consultancy ZAG. Its practice further expanded in 2023 following the merger with Taylor Vinters Via.

The firm's IP department is led by IP star Jeremy Herzog, who specialises in IP disputes. Patent litigation is handled by Campbell Forsyth and David Rose, an all-round IP litigator who leads IP disputes in the firm. Sally Britton is the key contact for trade mark instructions while Lewis Cohen is the IP transactions star in the department.

Morrison & Foerster

Morrison Foerster has a team of IP lawyers in London led by Steven James, who joined as a partner in the firm’s litigation department in 2022. James specialises in IP disputes. He is supported by Alistair Maughan, a partner who deals with tech/IP transactions, and a team of junior practitioners including Ruth Arkley and 2022 Rising Star Hattie Chessher.

Murgitroyd

International IP firm Murgitroyd is recommended for IP protection and portfolio management. The firm was previously owned by Murgitroyd Group PLC, a de-listed company which was acquired in December 2019 by private equity company Sovereign Capital Partners. Murgitroyd has expanded its market share in Europe by acquiring firms such as UDL Intellectual Property in the UK and Hanna Moore + Curley in Ireland.

Osborne Clarke

Osborne Clarke is a full-service law firm with a growing IP practice in the UK. The firm's reputation in the market has gone beyond soft IP and transactions - it is now recognised for patent disputes in the life sciences and technology sectors.

IP Star Arty Rajendra is the head of IP disputes. Rajendra, who deals with both trade mark and patent disputes, is supported by other practice leaders like Tim Harris and Will James, both of whom specialise in life sciences patent litigation.

Richard May and Robert Guthrie are among the experienced partners in the firm for trade mark protection and disputes work. Other notable senior lawyers for IP disputes is Trevor Crosse and commercial disputes specialist Clare Robinson. Media and entertainment lawyers such as Tom Harding and John Davidson-Kelly can advise on digital technology matters. Tamara Quinn is a key partner for IP transactions. The partners are supported by a team of directors and associates in the IP department.

Penningtons Manches Cooper

Penningtons Manches Cooper has an IP practice which is led by Anna Frankum. The firm is known for dealing with trade mark and commercial IP work. Frankum is supported by a number of partners including trade mark lawyers Daniel Berry and Gavin Stenton. The transactional IP leaders in the practice are Lisa Page and Chris Shelley.

Pinsent Masons

Pinsent Masons is recommended for contentious and non-contentious IP work in the UK. It is best known in the market for its IP work, especially patent and SPC litigation, in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector.

Clare Tunstall leads the firm's IP practice. In patent disputes in England, Tunstall is supported by partners Iain Connor, Charlotte Weekes, Christopher Sharp, David Lancaster, Gareth Morgan, Nicole Jadeja and Catherine Drew. The partners are supported by junior lawyers such as Mario Subramaniam, Tamsin Cornwell and Tracey Roberts. Tom Nener and Jules Fabre are practitioners to watch.

Brands protection specialist Florian Traub is in charge of the firm's trade mark practice. For IP-related transactions, it has lawyers such as Samantha Livesey, IP transactions practice head Allistair Booth and non-contentious practice head Cerys Wyn Davies. Emily Swithenbank is a junior soft IP lawyer to watch.

Potter Clarkson

Potter Clarkson is renowned for life sciences patent work in the patent office, but it also covers other technical fields such as chemistry, mechanics, and computer technology. The firm has made significant progress in its European expansion strategy, with new offices in Denmark and Sweden. The firm’s Copenhagen office is headed by Benjamin Hoffmann while Simon Curtis oversees the Stockholm office. In 2019, biotech patent attorney Stephen Smith took over from chemistry specialist Colin Baker as managing partner.

The firm strengthened its trade marks practice in 2018 by acquiring the London-based IP firm Wildbore & Gibbons, a move which increased the number of IP Stars and trade mark practitioners in the firm. Its dispute resolution and commercial team, established in 2016, has been involved in interesting IP disputes. The notable senior lawyers in the practice are Mark Kramer, Mark Snelgrove, Nick McDonald, Richard Roberts, and Oliver Laing. Kramer leads the firm's litigation and licensing practice in London. Snelgrove specialises in commercial IP.

Powell Gilbert

IP litigation boutique Powell Gilbert has featured in some of the most legally and technically complex patent disputes in the English courts in recent years. This stable firm is highly recommended for patent disputes, especially in the life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors.

Patent Stars such as Zoë Butler, Penny Gilbert, Simon Ayrton, and Tim Powell lead patent dispute instructions in the firm. Other notable practitioners include Peter Damerell, Bethan Hopewell, Siddharth Kusumakar, Ari Laakkonen, Tim Whitfield, and Alex Wilson.

Simkins

UK boutique firm Simkins is recommended for copyright disputes and commercial IP work in the creative industries. The firm can also advise on brand protection and disputes. The key contacts for soft IP disputes are Jim Dennis and Paddy Gardiner. The experienced transactional lawyers in the firm include Jonathan Blair, Ben Gisbey, Ed Weidman, and Stuart Smith. The partners are supported by a team of associates.

Simmons & Simmons

Simmons & Simmons is a full-service international firm with a UK IP team that can advise on IP disputes, protection and transactional matters. It is one of a handful of law firms in the UK that has patent attorneys. IP transactions specialist Michael Gavey heads the firm’s IP practice.

The most senior patent litigators in the practice are Michael Burdon, Kevin Mooney and Scott Parker. Other notable IP litigators are Andrew Hutchinson and Priya Nagpal. Kevin Cordina is the key contact for the firm’s patent prosecution work. The partners are supported by a team of junior lawyers, notably Amy Crouch (for litigation) and Lydia Torne (for transactional work).

Adrian Smith and Darren Meale are the key contacts for soft IP work, particularly trade marks. Another notable practitioner for trade mark work is Rebecca Heard, who is a qualified trade mark attorney. Angus McLean, who heads the FinTech group, is also recommended for IP transactions.

Venner Shipley

Venner Shipley is highly recommended for IP protection and management work. The firm has a broad range of clients and specialist patent teams for technical fields such as electronics, software, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. It also has an experienced team of lawyers to advise on disputes in and outside the UK courts. The firm’s practice, especially for trade marks, expanded in late 2020 thanks to the merger with UK IP firm Brookes IP.

Electronics and software specialist Pawel Piotrowicz is the firm’s managing partner. The firm hired Simon Pettinati in June 2022 to serve as its Chief Operating Officer. Former managing partner Jan Walaski is the leader of the electronics and engineering practice while Sian Gill oversees the chemical and life sciences department.Allie Elend is another leader in the chemical and life sciences department.

Ian Grey heads the mechanical engineering department, working alongside Alex Brown, who is the go-to person for design rights. Other notable patent attorneys are Kirsty Dolphin, Paul Derry, Simon Taor, Jonathan Hewett,Anton Hutter and Richard Kennedy. Taor is leading the firm’s SEP practice. Matthew Handley is a patent attorney to watch.

The trade mark practice is led by Clare Turnbull, with support from trade mark attorneys such as David Birchall and Jane Martin. Birchall is a non-practising solicitor. James Tumbridge leads the firm’s legal and disputes practice, which has other experienced lawyers like Robert Peake.

Wiggin

Boutique firm Wiggin is highly recommended for contentious and non-contentious soft IP matters, particularly copyright and trade mark work. IP Star Sara Ashby now leads the firm's IP practice. The key soft IP litigators in the firm are Rachel Alexander, John Colbourn and Michael Browne. Alexander specialises in copyright work. Another copyright specialist in the firm is Ted Shapiro, who heads the firm’s Brussels office. Ashby leads on patent instructions. Another notable lawyer in the practice is former in-house IP counsel Calum Smyth, who understands innovation and IP protection in the the financial sector. In November 2020, the firm strengthened its TMT offering by acquiring entertainment boutique Purewal & Partners and launching a new telecoms practice.

The firm is also recommended for IP transactions work. Alexander Ross and Charles Moore are recommended for IP-related transactions in the entertainment and media sector.