Ranking tables
Intellectual Property | Global
UK
Rankings overview for Departments
Band 1
Bird & Bird 14 Years Ranked- Bristows LLP
Band 2
A&O Shearman 14 Years Ranked
CMS 14 Years Ranked
Hogan Lovells 14 Years Ranked
Taylor Wessing LLP 14 Years Ranked- Gowling WLG (UK) LLP
- Mishcon de Reya LLP
Band 3
Baker McKenzie 14 Years Ranked
Herbert Smith Freehills 14 Years Ranked
Linklaters 14 Years Ranked
Pinsent Masons 14 Years Ranked
Simmons & Simmons LLP 14 Years Ranked- Fieldfisher
- Osborne Clarke LLP
- Powell Gilbert LLP
- Wiggin LLP
Band 4
DLA Piper LLP 14 Years Ranked
Freshfields 14 Years Ranked
Reed Smith LLP 14 Years Ranked
Stephenson Harwood LLP 10 Years Ranked- Lewis Silkin
- Marks & Clerk Law
- RPC
Band 5
Brandsmiths 1 Years Ranked- Norton Rose Fulbright 3 Years Ranked
Slaughter and May 11 Years Ranked- Charles Russell Speechlys
- Hansel Henson
- Harbottle & Lewis LLP
- Waterfront Solicitors LLP
Band 6
Dentons 4 Years Ranked
Jones Day 2 Years Ranked- Briffa
- Deloitte Legal
- Fox Williams LLP
- Keystone Law
- Wedlake Bell LLP
Senior Statespeople
Eminent Practitioners
Simon Levine DLA Piper LLP18 Years Ranked- Margaret BriffaBriffa
Band 1
David Stone A&O Shearman15 Years Ranked
Neville Cordell A&O Shearman16 Years Ranked- Peter Brownlow Bird & Bird19 Years Ranked
- Roland Mallinson Taylor Wessing LLP18 Years Ranked
- David RoseMishcon de Reya LLP
- Sara AshbyWiggin LLP
Band 2
- Ben Allgrove Baker McKenzie12 Years Ranked
- Hiroshi Sheraton Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP12 Years Ranked
Joel Smith Simmons & Simmons LLP13 Years Ranked- Mark Owen Taylor Wessing LLP15 Years Ranked
- Tom Scourfield CMS10 Years Ranked
- Arty RajendraOsborne Clarke LLP
- Jeremy BlumBristows LLP
- Jeremy DrewRPC
- Jeremy HertzogMishcon de Reya LLP
- Simon AyrtonPowell Gilbert LLP
Band 3
Alexandra Pygall Stephenson Harwood LLP5 Years Ranked- Andrew Lee Brandsmiths2 Years Ranked
- Arthur Artinian K&L Gates2 Years Ranked
Darren Meale Simmons & Simmons LLP4 Years Ranked- Ian Karet Linklaters22 Years Ranked
Jim Ford A&O Shearman1 Years Ranked- Katharine Stephens Bird & Bird16 Years Ranked
Michael Skrein Reed Smith LLP18 Years Ranked
Nicholas Bolter Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP4 Years Ranked
Ruth Hoy DLA Piper LLP13 Years Ranked- Sarah Wright CMS1 Years Ranked
- Iain ConnorMichelmores LLP
- Ian KirbyCarpmaels & Ransford LLP
- John ColdhamGowling WLG (UK) LLP
- John LinnekerOsborne Clarke LLP
- Mary BagnallCharles Russell Speechlys
- Matthew HarrisWaterfront Solicitors LLP
- Nick RoseFieldfisher
- Rachel AlexanderWiggin LLP
- Shireen PeermohamedHarbottle & Lewis LLP
- Simon BennettFox Williams LLP
- Simon ChapmanLewis Silkin
- Simon ClarkBristows LLP
Band 4
- Beatriz San Martín Arnold & Porter1 Years Ranked
- David Ives Slaughter and May1 Years Ranked
- David Wilkinson Eversheds Sutherland1 Years Ranked
- Florian Traub Pinsent Masons1 Years Ranked
- Giles Crown Taylor Wessing LLP1 Years Ranked
- Giles Pratt Freshfields1 Years Ranked
- Joel Vertes CMS1 Years Ranked
- Jonathan Ball Norton Rose Fulbright6 Years Ranked
Neil Coulson Baker Botts UK LLP7 Years Ranked- Nicole Jadeja Bird & Bird1 Years Ranked
Rebecca Swindells Jones Day2 Years Ranked- Rob Jacob Stephenson Harwood LLP1 Years Ranked
- Sahira Khwaja Hogan Lovells1 Years Ranked
Simon Miles Edwin Coe LLP1 Years Ranked- Vanessa Marsland Clifford Chance LLP15 Years Ranked
- Yohan Liyanage Linklaters1 Years Ranked
- Ben MarkRPC
- Carl RohslerKeystone Law
- David CranRPC
- David HanselHansel Henson
- Georgie CollinsIrwin Mitchell
- James SeadonFieldfisher
- Kostyantyn LobovHarbottle & Lewis LLP
- Luke KemptonGowling WLG (UK) LLP
- Michael GardnerWedlake Bell LLP
- Piers StricklandWaterfront Solicitors LLP
- Rebecca Halford-HarrisonKeystone Law
- Richard DickinsonBristows LLP
- Robert J GuthrieOsborne Clarke LLP
- Rosie Burbidgegunnercooke
- Sally BrittonMishcon de Reya LLP
- Simon ChalkleyKeystone Law
Up and Coming
- Stella Wong Hogan Lovells1 Years Ranked
- Daniel LimKirkland & Ellis International LLP
- Ellen LambrixBristows LLP
- Oliver FairhurstLewis Silkin
- Rachael BarberDeloitte Legal
Associates to watch
- Will HolmesHansel Henson
All Departments profiles
Band 1
1 Bird & BirdIntellectual Property2025 | Band 1 | 14 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.
Band 2
2 A&O ShearmanIntellectual Property2025 | Band 2 | 14 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 CMSIntellectual Property2025 | Band 2 | 14 Years RankedCMS 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.2 Hogan LovellsIntellectual Property2025 | Band 2 | 14 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 Taylor Wessing LLPIntellectual Property2025 | Band 2 | 14 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 Baker McKenzieIntellectual Property2025 | Band 3 | 14 Years RankedBaker 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.3 Herbert Smith FreehillsIntellectual Property2025 | Band 3 | 14 Years RankedHerbert 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.3 LinklatersIntellectual Property2025 | 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 Pinsent MasonsIntellectual Property2025 | Band 3 | 14 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.3 Simmons & Simmons LLPIntellectual Property2025 | Band 3 | 14 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 noted for trade mark disputes. Members of the team are regularly instructed to assist with the IP aspects of corporate transactions.
Band 4
4 DLA Piper LLPIntellectual Property2025 | Band 4 | 14 Years RankedDLA 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.4 FreshfieldsIntellectual Property2025 | Band 4 | 14 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.
4 Reed Smith LLPIntellectual Property2025 | Band 4 | 14 Years RankedReed 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.4 Stephenson Harwood LLPIntellectual Property2025 | Band 4 | 10 Years RankedStephenson 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.
Band 5
5 BrandsmithsIntellectual Property2025 | Band 5 | 1 Years RankedBrandsmiths 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.5 Norton Rose FulbrightIntellectual Property2025 | Band 5 | 3 Years RankedNorton 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.5 Slaughter and MayIntellectual Property2025 | Band 5 | 11 Years RankedSlaughter 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.
Band 6
6 DentonsIntellectual Property2025 | Band 6 | 4 Years RankedDentons 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.6 Jones DayIntellectual Property2025 | Band 6 | 2 Years RankedJones 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.