IP STARS 2024: Trade mark firm rankings released

This is the first set of firm rankings from the research for the 2024 edition of IP STARS, which started in September 2023. The rankings recognise the recommended firms for trade mark filing/prosecution and disputes work.

The rankings cover 51 jurisdictions across the world. We also released trade mark rankings for California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York and Texas. 

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 2024 trade mark rankings - you may need to scroll down the page to see them).

There are many ranking changes this year, including upgrades and additions. These changes have been analysed by our colleague, Rani Mehta, on Managing IP. The article highlighted some of the upgraded firms, why we made the changes, and the top 10 jurisdictions with the most ranking changes.

Firms entering the rankings in Europe include Penningtons Manches Cooper (UK) and Fieldfisher (Germany), while Ediplis Counsels, Ghows, and Catalyst Intellectual Property are among the firms that made their debut in the Asia-Pacific region.

Regrettably, as expected, some firms were downgraded or removed from our rankings. These decisions are not taken lightly, as we explained in the article.

All these ranking changes have been monitored for some time and were made using data available during the research period for the 2024 edition (October 2023 to February 2024). Please read about our research methodology below.

IP STARS is not a directory of all firms and individuals offering intellectual property services. Participation in our research does not guarantee a ranking. If you have questions, feedback or suggestions, please contact us or our research team here.

Congratulations to all the firms ranked this year.

We have more 2024 rankings to announce in the coming weeks and months. For example, we are planning to publish the 2024 IP Stars list, Top 250 Women in IP list and general intellectual property rankings at the end of this month. Until then, the 2023 rankings will still be displayed. Read and follow our publication timeline and updates here.

We will start the research for the 2025 edition of the IP STARS rankings and Managing IP Awards in September 2024. Any research information not used for this year’s edition will be considered for the 2025 edition.

Please read about why it is important to participate in our research and how to do so here.

We will publish updates concerning our research and results on this website. Sign up to receive our monthly newsletter (here) or keep an eye on our news page and social media channels (Twitter and LinkedIn) for updates.

Our marketing and business development team will contact all the firms ranked this year.

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. The guide has become the leading specialist ranking publication for the IP profession.

Research methodology

The research for our rankings is 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 conduct their own independent research, including analysing publicly available information such as court or IP office data and the existing data we have about firms. The aspects assessed for the firm rankings include expertise, workload, market reputation and record, outcomes achieved for clients, and unique strengths in each practice area. These are considered when deciding which firms to include in the rankings and which tier and practice area they should be in.

Firms are ranked alphabetically in tiers, or as highly recommended or recommended. The total number of firms ranked varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. For most jurisdictions, the rankings are split into prosecution and disputes 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 disputes 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 2024). Except for firm name changes, any subsequent developments or information that could influence our rankings will be considered during the research for the 2025 edition of IP STARS, which starts in September 2024.

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. Managing IP does not recommend or endorse any 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 participate in our research.

Our rankings are subject to change each year. Click here to learn more about our research.