The 2021 trade mark rankings recognise the leading firms for trade mark filing/prosecution and contentious work in more than 50 jurisdictions. The rankings were first published in the spring edition of the Managing IP magazine, which went to press in February.
These are the first confirmed ranking results from the research for the 2021 edition of IP STARS, which started in September 2020. Read about our research here. We have more 2021 rankings to announce this year (see the timeline below).
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 2021 firm rankings).
IP STARS is not a directory of all firms and individuals offering IP services. Participation in our research does not guarantee ranking.
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 therefore we will continue with our research. Below is a snapshot of the 2021 edition content publication timeline. Any research information not considered or used for this year’s edition will be used for the 2022 edition. We will start the research for the 2022 edition of the IP STARS rankings and Managing IP Awards in September 2021.
Readers should particularly note that our editorials (i.e. content under the 'Review' tab) are from the previous edition of IP STARS. We are working towards updating and publishing our editorials in August. However, firms should contact us if there is something urgent we need to update or correct immediately.
IP STARS 2021 rankings and content*
April: Intellectual property practice rankings for firms**
May: IP Stars lists, i.e. individual practitioner rankings
June: Patent practice rankings for firms
July: Copyright practice rankings
July: IP transactions practice rankings for firms (UK and US only)
August: Firm reviews updated/published
September: Rising Stars list
* As usual, the 2020 firm rankings for a practice area and the 2020 individual practitioner rankings will remain on this site until we publish the 2021 rankings. We will update the year of the new rankings to say '2021'.
** The 'Intellectual Property' ranking tables are only available for certain jurisdictions such as Dominican Republic, Egypt, Iceland, Saudi Arabia and several US states. We will also publish special US national rankings such as ITC litigation.
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
About IP STARS
Managing IP published its first legal directory in 1994 and rebranded it in 2013 as IP STARS. The publication quickly established itself as the leading specialist guide to IP law firms and practitioners worldwide. The research for IP STARS covers a variety of IP practice areas and more than 70 jurisdictions, making it the most comprehensive and widely respected guide in 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/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/prosecution work.
These rankings are based on information available at the time the research was completed (February 2021). Except for firm name changes, any subsequent developments or information that could influence our rankings will be considered during the research for the 2022 edition of IP STARS, which starts in September 2021.
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.
Read more about the practice areas and methodology here.