Legal500

Biotechnology

1
- Taylor Wessing LLP Cambridge
2
- Eversheds LLP Cambridge
- Mills & Reeve LLP Cambridge
- Taylor Vinters Cambridge

Taylor Wessing LLP is one of Europe’s leading life sciences firms, thanks in no small part to the Cambridge team of Malcolm Bates and Tim Worden. Bates is company secretary of One Nucleus, the UK’s largest biotechnology trade association. Oxford Biomedica is one of many prominent clients.

Eversheds LLP has Simon Crossley, whose biochemistry background and in-house pharmaceutical company experience make him a natural choice for biotechnology firms in Cambridge. The firm handles regulatory and contractual/commercial matters, for clients including Roche.

‘Much more competitive than its City rivals’, Mills & Reeve LLP’s life sciences team features Isabel Napper (‘a true gem’), Alasdair Poore and Zickie Lim, and stands out for its expertise in stem cell research and regenerative medicine. It assisted on 30 funding deals in 2010, totalling over £28m.

IP partner Patrick Farrant at Taylor Vinters continues to work with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and its sponsored research institutes, including on the establishment of the Genome Analysis Centre.

IT and telecoms

1
- Eversheds LLP Cambridge
- Mills & Reeve LLP Cambridge, Norwich
- Taylor Wessing LLP Cambridge
2
- Hewitsons LLP Cambridge
- Taylor Vinters Cambridge
3
- Greenwoods Solicitors LLP Peterborough
- Leathes Prior Norwich

Eversheds LLP’s advice is ‘thoughtful, thorough and practical’. Simon Crossley heads the firm’s national IP team, and has been advising British Gas on its smart metering project and IT procurement documentation. Adrian Toutoungi’s advice to BAE Systems and Sepura also stands out. The team has a national focus, but also advises emerging technology companies around Cambridge including Plastic Logic.

With one of the largest technology teams outside London, Mills & Reeve LLP provides an ‘exemplary service focused on results, and has an impeccable level of knowledge’. Kevin Calder

and the team handle public sector and national IT work, with recent examples including large funding deals around Cambridge and advice to the British Library. Calder is ‘always a joy to talk to, and exceptionally current on movements in the IT sector’.

Taylor Wessing LLP advises on issues including software licensing, services agreements, and supply and distribution arrangements for the likes of Red Gate Software, Granta Design and Telecom Italia. The very popular Malcolm Bates heads a team that benefits from Susanna Stanfield’s expertise as special counsel.

Bill Thatcher’s technology group at Hewitsons LLP ‘compares extremely well to others because of its leadership, pragmatism and friendly, caring attitude’. Its recent workload includes software licensing, risk management and disputes, including a settlement for a national car company for breach of a software development agreement.

Taylor Vinters comes highly recommended for its client-focused approach. Patrick Farrant, Matt Meyer, Tom McGuire, Guy Wheeler and a strong associate team advise Convergys, Apollo Media, and various US financial services firms buying technology.

Locally, Greenwoods Solicitors LLP is ‘the best firm in this field’. David Woods gives ‘invaluable, professional and timely advice from his wealth of experience’ in IT contracts, software licences and e-commerce.

At Leathes Prior, Mike Barlow and rising star Kitty Rosser advise both regional and national clients. Recent highlights include online systems and privacy policy work for Countrywide Signs; motor claims internet service advice for Validus IVC; and work on an online mediation tool for Go 2 Mediation.

Intellectual property

1
- Eversheds LLP Cambridge
- Mills & Reeve LLP Cambridge
- Taylor Vinters Cambridge
- Taylor Wessing LLP Cambridge
2
- Birketts LLP Ipswich
- Hewitsons LLP Cambridge
- Leathes Prior Norwich
- Marks & Clerk Solicitors LLP Cambridge
3
- Greenwoods Solicitors LLP Peterborough
- Prettys Ipswich
- Sloan Plumb Wood LLP Peterborough
- Steeles Law LLP Norwich

Adrian Toutoungi is now a partner in Simon Crossley’s ‘consistently cutting-edge’ national IP practice at Eversheds LLP, which advised BAE Systems on complex IP separation issues.

The ‘exemplary’ team at Mills & Reeve LLP ‘knows this area of law very well and applies its knowledge in a commercial and professional manner’. Alasdair Poore, Isabel Napper and Kevin Calder count Aveva and Bupa as clients. The ‘incisive, prompt, and personable’ Richard Plaistowe is one to watch.

Taylor Vinters has ‘deep sector expertise, international reach and a proven track record’. Patrick Farrant, Matt Meyer, Tom McGuire, Guy Wheeler and David Rainford advice Animal Health Trust and easyJet, among others.

Taylor Wessing LLP sets the standard for complex, global IP licensing. All the partners in the group have science degrees and in-house industry experience, and its client base spans the UK, Europe and beyond. Malcolm Bates is a key figure.

Birketts LLP has ‘a good, young team’ that is ‘excellent value for money’. Four lawyers, led by Matthew Atkins, handle everything from IP audits to portfolio management, with recent matters including IP due diligence for Elektron plc.

At Hewitsons LLP, Bill Thatcher ‘knows clients’ businesses inside out; his work is second to none’; and Mark Elmslie has the rare skill of boiling down issues to their core. The team advises many clothing brands on anti-counterfeiting. The highly respected Niel Ackermann has sadly passed away.

Jonathan Chadd heads the team at Leathes Prior, with rising star Kitty Rosser leading the firm’s trade mark registration and management service (‘LPIP’). The firm handled protection and enforcement work for Norwich City FC.

Marks & Clerk Solicitors LLP ‘gives pragmatic and useable advice’. The ‘concise, practical’ Simon Portman advised Oakland Innovation on contracts, and Intergence Systems on IP rights.

IP rights work for a US client is among David Woods’ recent caseload at Greenwoods Solicitors LLP, where Julian Kirkpatrick’s defence work stands out.

Roland Sharp at Prettys represents various media clients in copyright infringement disputes.

Philip Sloan’s busy practice at Sloan Plumb Wood LLP advises 3G Licensing and US clients including a medical devices manufacturer.

James Tarling at Steeles Law LLP is ‘very intelligent, with a great understanding of technology’, and has a diverse client base including motorsport company Cosworth.

Media and entertainment

1
- Greenwoods Solicitors LLP Peterborough
- Mills & Reeve LLP Norwich

At Greenwoods Solicitors LLP, commercial partners David Woods and Alastair Gunn draw on employment, property and litigation expertise in the firm to assist a growing list of media and publishing companies.

Mills & Reeve LLP’s Terry Gould and Gillie Scoular have in-house experience in publishing companies, and the firm maintains a number of clients in the publishing sector, including Archant, the UK’s largest independently owned media and publishing company.

Sport

1
- Hewitsons LLP Cambridge
- Steeles Law LLP Norwich
2
- Leathes Prior Norwich
- Mills & Reeve LLP Cambridge, Norwich

Hewitsons LLP’s Luisa Leone is ‘always prepared and sensitive to the needs of a business’, and handles work for agents, clubs, sporting goods companies such as Nike, and sports federations, including some connected with the Olympics.

Steeles Law LLP is ‘quietly efficient and reassuring’. James Tarling advises Cosworth on supply agreements with motor racing teams, and Formula 1 senior management on contracts.

Leathes Prior’s Dan Chapman has ‘a great understanding of the realities of a professional sports business, and continually impresses with answers tailored to the specific needs of clients’. Norwich City FC and Litespeed F3 are clients.

Mills & Reeve LLP counts Norwich City FC as a client for regulatory, licensing and commercial issues, and advises an engineering systems supplier to Formula 1.

United Kingdom > East Anglia > TMT (technology, media and telecoms)

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