Welcome to the 2022 edition of IP STARS.
We are delighted to release this year’s trade mark rankings, which cover more than 50 jurisdictions. These rankings, which were first published in the spring edition of Managing IP's digital magazine, recognise the leading firms for trade mark filing and prosecution and contentious work.
This is the first set of ranking results from the research for the 2022 edition of IP STARS, which started in September 2021. We have more 2022 rankings to announce this year (see the timeline below). The trade mark rankings are based on information available during the research period (September 2021 to February 2022).
To check if a firm has been ranked this year for trade mark work, enter the name in the search bar or use the regional navigation tab above to select the jurisdiction (click on 'Rankings' to see the 2022 trade mark rankings).
IP STARS is not a directory of all firms and individuals offering IP services. Participation in our research does not guarantee ranking. Read our research methodology below.
Congratulations to all the firms ranked this year.
What to expect next
We have more rankings to announce in the coming weeks and months and we will therefore continue with our research. Below is a snapshot of the 2022 edition content publication timeline. Any research information not considered or used for this year’s edition will be used for the 2023 edition. We will start the research for the 2023 edition of the IP STARS rankings and Managing IP Awards in September 2022.
IP STARS 2022 rankings
Managing IP's firm and practitioner rankings are published on this website; use the regional drop-down menu to see the jurisdictions we cover and their latest rankings.
March: Trade mark practice rankings for firms (including US states such as California)
April: Intellectual property rankings for firms (only available in jurisdictions without trade mark or patent rankings)
May: IP Stars list
May: Managing IP’s Top 250 Women in IP list (read about it here)
June: Patent practice rankings for firms (including US states such as California)
July: IP transactions practice rankings for firms
July: Copyright practice rankings for firms
September: Managing IP's Rising Stars list (learn more here) and Corporate IP Stars list (learn more here)
Read about the 2021 rankings here.
As usual, the 2021 firm rankings for a practice area and the 2021 individual practitioner rankings will remain on this site until we publish the 2022 rankings. After our official announcement, we will change the year of rankings to say '2022'.
The 'Intellectual Property' ranking tables are only available in jurisdictions without trade mark or patent rankings. The majority of our IP ranking jurisdictions are in the Americas; for example, we have IP rankings in more than 30 US states. We will also publish special US national rankings such as ITC litigation.
Firm editorials
Readers should that any firm editorial (i.e. content under the 'Review' tab) found on this website is from the previous edition of IP STARS. We are working towards publishing the latest editorials before or on August 31. Firms can contact us if there is information we need to update or correct sooner rather than later.
Our marketing/business development team will contact the relevant ranked individuals directly in due course.
If you have any feedback or questions about IP STARS, please contact us at research@managingip.com
Russia and Ukraine
We are deeply saddened to see the destruction of lives and property in Ukraine and the displacement of millions of its people. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Ukraine, including its IP community.
Managing IP has decided to suspend its research and publication of research content for Russia and Ukraine until further notice. In the meantime, we have republished the 2021 rankings for Ukraine here. We pray for peace and a swift end to the war.
About IP STARS
Managing IP published its first legal directory in 1994 and rebranded it in 2013 as IP STARS. The research for the IP STARS guide has expanded over the years, covering over six IP practice areas and more than 70 jurisdictions, and has become the leading specialist rankings publication for the IP profession.
Research methodology
The research for these rankings was conducted rigorously and impartially by our team of research analysts in London, New York, and Hong Kong. Each year, we request information from thousands of firms, IP practitioners and their clients through interviews, email, and online surveys.
Before compiling the rankings, our analysts also conducted their own independent research, including an analysis of publicly available information (such as court or IP office data) and existing data we hold on firms. The aspects assessed for the firm rankings include expertise, workload, market reputation and record, outcomes achieved for clients, and unique strengths in a given practice area. Judgements about which firms to include in the rankings, and which tier and practice area they should be in, take account of all this information.
Firms are ranked alphabetically in tiers, or as highly recommended or recommended. The total number of firms listed varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. For most jurisdictions, the rankings are split into prosecution and contentious work. However, in certain jurisdictions, we evaluated and ranked firms for their trade mark practice as a whole.
The prosecution ranking takes account of pre and post-registration work, including office proceedings and portfolio management advice. The contentious ranking covers trade mark-related disputes (in and outside the courts) and anti-counterfeiting work. Where appropriate, some firms have been ranked for both practice areas, and in a few European jurisdictions, we have a separate table for law firms that do trade mark filing and prosecution work.
These rankings are based on information available at the time the research was completed (February 2022). Except for firm name changes, any subsequent developments or information that could influence our rankings will be considered during the research for the 2023 edition of IP STARS, which starts in September 2022.
For the avoidance of doubt, the ranking tables do not suggest or indicate that the expertise or services of the listed firms are limited to the practice area in question, and Managing IP does not recommend or endorse any particular firm for IP work. No firm can pay to be included or to influence the results.
The IP STARS rankings are not influenced by any commercial relationship, including advertising, with Managing IP or IP STARS. There is no fee to pay to participate in our research. The rankings are subject to change each year.
Click here to learn more about our research.