
Intellectual Property
UK Guide 2026 : London (Firms)
Rankings

Ranked Individuals
Ranked Individuals
About
Provided by CMS
Please visit the CMS website for more details about the practice and our work:
Law firm specialised in Intellectual Property - CMS in the UK
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Work Highlights
Provided by Chambers
CMS successfully defended HydraWell in proceedings in the UK and Norway relating to patents for oil well tooling and the subsequent decommissioning of oil wells.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
CMS combines deep legal expertise, exceptional client service and a thorough understanding of the client's business, offering advice that goes beyond the legal to support broader commercial goals.
Intellectual Property respondentUKThey've not only maintained their grasp of our core technology but have anticipated emerging areas of innovation. This level of technical partnership goes well beyond traditional IP counsel.
Intellectual Property respondentUKCMS are highly responsive, efficient and concise in their correspondence. They provide thoughtful, creative and strategic advice.
Intellectual Property respondentUKCMS London are excellent at identifying the key issues and producing materials to address these often complex issues with elegant solutions.
Intellectual Property respondentUKCMS are excellent at explaining complicated technologies in understandable and effective terms. They offer creative solutions and provide practical advice that gets results.
Intellectual Property respondentUK
Notable Practitioners
Provided by Chambers
Senior Statespeople 
Senior Statespeople 
Mark Shillito
Mark Shillito is renowned for his experience handling a broad array of intellectual property disputes covering all core rights. He also advises blue-chips on crisis management and IP-driven transactions. Band 2 
Band 2 
Tom Scourfield
Tom Scourfield is well respected for his practice representing corporate clients in trade mark and copyright disputes before the courts and UK and EU registries. He counts leading brands in myriad sectors among his clients, including cosmetics companies, broadcasters and sporting bodies. Tom is one of the finest international trade mark lawyers I've worked with in 30 years.
Intellectual Property respondentUKTom Scourfield is very thorough and level headed. He understands the commercial context, he doesn't just look at problems through a legal theoretical lens.
Intellectual Property respondentUK
Band 3 
Band 3 
Joel Vertes
Joel Vertes represents clients on a wide variety of intellectual property matters. He is adept at handling copyright, technology, data protection and brand-related disputes on behalf of his clients.
Joel Vertes is outstanding all around.
Intellectual Property respondentUKJoel Vertes is great and always very sensible.
Intellectual Property respondentUK
Band 3 
Band 3 
Sarah Wright
Sarah Wright is well-known for her brand and portfolio management work, assisting high-profile brands with IP strategy and enforcement. She often receives instructions from major players in the technology and entertainment sectors.
Sarah Wright at CMS is an absolute rockstar, an excellent lawyer and a fantastic business person. She is a really kind, warm and thoughtful business partner to us.
Intellectual Property respondentUK
Band 4 
Band 4 
Ben Hitchens
Ben Hitchens has an active contentious IP practice focusing on trade mark and copyright enforcement for major brands in the technology sector. He handles disputes across the UK and EU, and is particularly well versed in the intricacies of the EU AI Act.
Ben Hitchens is really excellent; his advice is practical and useful.
Intellectual Property respondentUKBen Hitchens is a superstar.
Intellectual Property respondentUK
Ranked Individuals at CMS (5)
Members
Provided by CMS


Joel Vertes
View profile of Joel Vertes
Mark Shillito
View profile of Mark Shillito
Tom Scourfield
View profile of Tom Scourfield
Ben Hitchens
View profile of Ben Hitchens
CMS has rankings in the following guides
Band 2 Europe 2026
Practice area: Intellectual Property
Location: Austria
View department profile for Europe 2026Band 2 Europe 2026
Practice area: Intellectual Property
Location: Poland
View department profile for Europe 2026Band 3 Europe 2026
Practice area: Intellectual Property
Location: Belgium
View department profile for Europe 2026Band 3 Europe 2026
Practice area: Intellectual Property
Location: Europe-wide
View department profile for Europe 2026Band 3 Europe 2026
Practice area: Intellectual Property
Location: Portugal
View department profile for Europe 2026Band 3 Europe 2026
Practice area: Intellectual Property
Location: Hungary
View department profile for Europe 2026
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