Intellectual Property | UK

Bird & Bird is known for its highly skilled practitioners who handle a wide range of patent litigation for market-leading innovators, with additional capabilities in copyright and data rights. The team is recommended for licence agreements of all kinds, and trade mark and designs prosecution. In addition, the team is noted for deep reserves of hi-tech and life sciences expertise, and its offering of a bespoke in-house patent valuation tool.

Bristows is known for its deep bench of high-calibre litigators with supreme expertise in contentious patent, trade mark, designs and copyright matters. The team is particularly sought after for biosimilars and telecommunications litigation, and is frequently instructed for standard-essential patent-related disputes. The Bristows IP team is also distinguished for its work on the commercialisation of IP at the vanguard of life sciences and technology, and is additionally recommended for its trade mark prosecution service.

On 1 May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman. The firm has a powerful patent litigation arm and deep resources for IP-heavy corporate deals. The firm is recommended for licensing transactions in high technology and life sciences, and for trade mark, copyright and designs litigation.

CMS provides a comprehensive IP service capable of handling any dispute, transaction or prosecution strategy. The team is celebrated for hi-tech and digital expertise, with important resources devoted to life sciences clients. CMS is also one of very few firms with in-house patent attorneys.

Gowling WLG's Intellectual Property team has a hi-tech and pharmaceutical patent disputes offering with international reach. The team is highly regarded for its comprehensive commercial and litigation support on copyright, design right and trade marks. It is also highly sought after for advice on UK and European IP portfolio management and protection, and is regarded as a leading destination for major IP-led transactions in life sciences.

Hogan Lovells is recognised for its full-service offering capable of marshalling resources in every conceivable area of IP law and scientific discipline. The team is capable of coordinating the most complex international disputes, licensing strategies and IP-rich corporate transactions, and has become a leading destination for heavyweight telecommunications and life sciences patent litigation. Members of the IP team also advise household-name brands on all aspects of trade mark law.

Mishcon de Reya is noted for a formidable litigation team whose recent work includes patent and copyright infringement claims, misuse of trade secrets allegations and licensing disputes. The team is particularly skilled at obtaining injunctive relief for clients, and also advises on trade mark and design registrations and IP-led transactions. The Mishcon de Reya IP team is regularly instructed by market leaders in luxury brands, life sciences, media and hi-tech.

Taylor Wessing is renowned for its powerful electronics and life sciences patent litigation offering, alongside high-quality commercial, contentious and corporate support work involving all core IP rights. The team also has a heavyweight brand protection offering for major fashion and retail clients, and is noted for the quality of its trade mark and patent prosecution service.

Baker McKenzie stands out for its international presence and management of global trade mark portfolios. Its team is often called on to handle complex IP-driven joint ventures, acquisitions and disposals, and is highly experienced with regard to licensing agreements. The Baker McKenzie IP department houses additional expertise in patent protection and patent infringement disputes across a wide range of technical disciplines.

Fieldfisher provides expert counsel on IP portfolio matters such as brand strategy, trade mark registrations and oppositions. The team is often called on for advice on digital copyright, confidential information, database rights and television programme formats. It offers additional capabilities in patent litigation.

Herbert Smith Freehills has a high-quality life sciences and TMT patent litigation practice. The firm is highly regarded for its assured handling of complex licensing and IP-rich corporate transactions, and is also recommended for trade mark, copyright and database rights litigation on behalf of media and fast-moving consumer goods companies. Members of the team are known to be highly adept at advising on pan-European dispute strategy.

Linklaters is acclaimed for advising on complex IP-driven corporate and commercial transactions. The team demonstrates extensive experience in cross-border patent litigation as well as copyright and trade mark disputes. It has also been called upon to act for market leaders in life sciences, telecommunications and financial services.

Osborne Clarke advises on licensing and IP-rich corporate transactions as well as copyright, trade mark and patent litigation. The team is also recommended for design right disputes, and clients are drawn largely from the creative, life sciences and technology industries. Members of the team act directly for clients before the UK and EU trade mark registries.

Pinsent Masons' IP team is a full-service IP practice with a powerful patent litigation offering, and is particularly noted for generic pharmaceutical cases. The team is recommended for commercial and contentious matters concerning copyright, trade marks, database rights and designs. Further, Pinsent Masons has the resources and know-how to handle the weightiest IP-led corporate transactions.

Powell Gilbert is regarded as one of the best patent litigation practices in the world. The firm has a comprehensive IP practice which advises on the registrability, protection and commercialisation of all core rights. Its team is regularly instructed to handle the most cutting edge of life sciences and hi-tech disputes, and is recommended for trade mark, passing-off and copyright instructions.

Simmons & Simmons is highly regarded for its excellent patent litigation practice acting for leading life sciences and technology companies. The team also has comprehensive commercial IP, prosecution and rights strategy offerings, and is also noted for trade mark disputes. Members of the team are regularly instructed to assist with the IP aspects of corporate transactions.

Wiggin is a specialist IP firm with the resources to handle the most complex commercial and contentious matters involving all rights. The firm also has trade mark prosecution and patent litigation offerings. It is also noted as a leading destination for online anti-piracy and copyright infringement efforts.

DLA Piper offers a comprehensive IP service at the centre of a truly global platform. The IP team is acclaimed for its excellent handling of litigation concerned with all core rights, as well as licensing and IP-rich corporate transactions. The team also advises clients on the protection and commercialisation of their proprietary data and on questions of third-party data use. Members of the team also assist with international trade mark registration efforts.

Freshfields is a magic circle firm with the corporate and commercial power to lead on the weightiest, most sophisticated IP-rich transactions. Its clients include global giants in the fields of finance, life sciences, telecommunications, media and hi-tech. The team has additional strength in patent litigation, particularly disputes concerning medical devices and pharmaceuticals.

Lewis Silkin is recognised for notable successes in trade mark infringement disputes and is sought after by well-known brands and creative sector clients. The team is distinguished for its handling of litigation relating to advertising campaigns and contentious copyright matters. The team is also recommended for designs instructions and all facets of trade mark prosecution, commercialisation and patent prosecution.

Marks & Clerk is a dedicated IP firm noted as a regular presence in the patent courts, fighting cases for leading electronics, engineering and pharmaceutical companies. The firm is also recommended for disputes involving all non-patent rights, trade marks in particular. Clients benefit from the firm's strong relationship with its sister patent and trade mark attorney firm.

Reed Smith has deep sector knowledge of media, life sciences and luxury brands. The team is strong on copyright and trade mark disputes and also technology licensing. The IP practice is also recommended for anti-counterfeiting campaigns and litigation involving digital platforms and internet service providers, with additional expertise in patent litigation.

RPC is recognised for its long-standing expertise in apparel, consumer goods, media and retail. The team has strong capabilities in copyright and trade mark litigation, and is also recommended for database rights and designs disputes. Members of the team advise on clearance, brand management and licensing strategy.

Stephenson Harwood acts for market-leading brands in financial services, energy, fashion, life sciences and luxury goods. The practice is rated for its powerful trade mark litigation offering and recommended for licence agreements involving all core rights. The team is regularly instructed to assist with the coordination of IP disputes with parallel proceedings in multiple jurisdictions, and is acclaimed as a leading destination for anti-counterfeiting and passing-off disputes.

Brandsmiths is recognised for its expertise in trade mark and copyright litigation concerning infringement, domain name disputes and counterfeit goods. The team is regularly instructed by household brands in the electronics, fashion and leisure sectors.

Charles Russell Speechlys is highly regarded for trade mark prosecution and IP-led transactions such as licence agreements and joint venture formations. The team also assists with the treatment of IP assets in M&A deals. The team is also well known for misuse of confidential information disputes, and particularly litigation concerning non-traditional trade marks.

Hansel Henson's lawyers are rated as digital media and brands specialists particularly noted for copyright, trade mark and designs law expertise. The team advises on portfolio management and rights transfer deals, and is also recommended for IP infringement litigation and domain name disputes.

Harbottle & Lewis is steeped in the media, luxury brands and technology sectors, and the team has extensive resources for brand management and protection. It is recommended for online, software and print copyright licensing and disputes. The firm is also recognised for its expertise in software patents and its trade mark attorney offering.

Morgan Lewis & Bockius in London has longstanding expertise in trade mark and design prosecution, management and enforcement. The team of experienced partners also advises on patent litigation, collaboration agreements and licensing in pharmaceuticals and biotech.

Norton Rose Fulbright is acclaimed for its full-service commercial and contentious brands practice, which is particularly recommended for trade mark, copyright, database and designs-related disputes and transactions. The team also advises well-known brands on IP portfolio management, and has additional expertise in technology licensing and electronics, chemical and pharmaceutical patent litigation.

Slaughter and May advises on the treatment of IP rights in complex corporate transactions, licence agreements and sponsorship deals. The firm has a strong track record in trade mark litigation, and represents household names in the life sciences, retail, sports and media sectors. It also offers a programme advising innovators on the protection and exploitation of fintech rights.

Deloitte Legal has a powerful litigation offering which takes in copyright, design, trade mark and patent disputes. The team is also regarded for its sophisticated non-contentious offering and is noted for advice on the IP implications of corporate transactions and licensing arrangements of all kinds. The firm's clients include leading technology companies, retailers and luxury brands.

Dentons is a full-service IP law practice handling commercial and contentious matters involving all core rights, including patent litigation. The firm is praised for its deep expertise advising technology, FMCG and life science sector clients. The firm also offers patent and trade mark prosecution services.

Fox Williams handles trade mark and design infringement claims for clients in the fashion industry, as well as non-contentious IP matters. Its other clients include automotive companies, restaurants and healthcare providers. The team has additional expertise in copyright disputes.

Jones Day is valued for its global network with capabilities across all rights in contentious, commercial and corporate IP matters. The IP team is noted for its expertise in branding matters and trade mark disputes. Its distinguished client roster is drawn from sectors such as technology, aviation, entertainment and healthcare.

Keystone Law is well-known for bringing partner-level expertise into its IP matters. The firm represents clients on complex disputes across IP rights, and advises on commercial transactions with an IP focus.

Wedlake Bell is noted for its comprehensive IP practice, and is equally expert on commercial and contentious matters involving all core IP rights. The team advises clients large and small on IP issues connected with business on the internet and has additional expertise in copyright matters concerning royalties.