Ranking tables
Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation | Global
UK
Rankings overview for Departments
- Bristows LLP
- Powell Gilbert LLP
A&O Shearman 15 Years Ranked
Bird & Bird 19 Years Ranked
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP 19 Years Ranked
Hogan Lovells 19 Years Ranked- Kirkland & Ellis International LLP 6 Years Ranked
Pinsent Masons 11 Years Ranked
Simmons & Simmons LLP 19 Years Ranked
Taylor Wessing LLP 19 Years Ranked- Osborne Clarke LLP
Freshfields 11 Years Ranked
Linklaters 14 Years Ranked
WilmerHale 6 Years Ranked- Carpmaels & Ransford LLP
- EIP
- Gowling WLG (UK) LLP
- Marks & Clerk Law
All Departments profiles
Band 1
Band 2
2 A&O ShearmanIntellectual Property: Patent Litigation2026 | Band 2 | 15 Years RankedOn 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.
2 Bird & BirdIntellectual Property: Patent Litigation2026 | Band 2 | 19 Years RankedBird & 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.2 Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLPIntellectual Property: Patent Litigation2026 | Band 2 | 19 Years RankedHerbert Smith Freehills Kramer 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.
2 Hogan LovellsIntellectual Property: Patent Litigation2026 | Band 2 | 19 Years RankedHogan 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.2 Kirkland & Ellis International LLPIntellectual Property: Patent Litigation2026 | Band 2 | 6 Years RankedKirkland & Ellis has an expert team for revocation and infringement disputes with impressive command of second medical use and standard-essential patents. It has a particularly strong focus on the life sciences sector, regularly acting for medical device, biotech and pharmaceutical companies. The team is also highly recommended for electronics patent litigation, and is often called on to advise on non-contentious IP matters.2 Pinsent MasonsIntellectual Property: Patent Litigation2026 | Band 2 | 11 Years RankedPinsent 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.2 Simmons & Simmons LLPIntellectual Property: Patent Litigation2026 | Band 2 | 19 Years RankedSimmons & 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.2 Taylor Wessing LLPIntellectual Property: Patent Litigation2026 | Band 2 | 19 Years RankedTaylor 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.
Band 3
3 FreshfieldsIntellectual Property: Patent Litigation2026 | Band 3 | 11 Years RankedFreshfields 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.
3 LinklatersIntellectual Property: Patent Litigation2026 | Band 3 | 14 Years RankedLinklaters 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.3 WilmerHaleIntellectual Property: Patent Litigation2026 | Band 3 | 6 Years RankedWilmerHale is a formidable IP practice focusing on patent litigation. The WilmerHale team is particularly adept at handling patent infringement disputes concerning standard-essential patents and FRAND licensing. Members of the team frequently represent telecommunications, engineering, medical device and pharmaceutical companies in litigation spanning multiple jurisdictions.