Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation | UK

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Kirkland & 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.

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.

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.

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.

Carpmaels & Ransford is a powerful patent litigation practice built on the solid foundations of one of the country's leading patent attorney firms. The firm draws on deep wells of knowledge across all conceivable scientific disciplines but has particularly cut a dash in life sciences.

EIP is a combined solicitors' and patent and trade mark firm and is highly regarded for its patent litigation arm. The team handles a number of high-profile cases for clients in telecommunications and life sciences, and is particularly noted for disputes concerned with FRAND licensing and SEP patents.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

WilmerHale 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.