Bird & Bird LLP has the largest IP practice and more top-tier rankings than any other firm in this section, and its recent high-profile public sector mandates include advising BT on its work with the NHS. Like Bird & Bird LLP, Taylor Wessing LLP has a very strong European IP practice, and is a market leader for trade marks and brand management. Bristows is a significant force for patent litigation and has a significant presence in the pharmaceuticals sector. The firm has also hired IT and telecoms of counsel Christopher Millard from Linklaters LLP. Of the boutique TMT practices, those that genuinely compete with the top-tier firms in terms of understanding the cutting-edge issues affecting the industry include Powell Gilbert LLP and Howrey LLP for patent litigation, Rouse Legal for soft IP, and Kemp Little LLP for IT and telecoms.
Among the City law firms, Herbert Smith LLP in particular has a growing reputation in the TMT sector, and has notable patent litigation prowess. Allen & Overy LLP is also strong in IP, while Lovells LLP and Birmingham-based Wragge & Co LLP both have an international dimension to their practices. Simmons & Simmons has a genuine specialist interest in the TMT sector, while very few firms are able to compete with Baker & McKenzie LLP for its level of expertise on issues surrounding the convergence of telecoms and IT services. DLA Piper UK LLP has strong all-round IP strength, while SJ Berwin LLP is also highly regarded despite closing its top-tier film finance department.
Among the UK firms whose reputation is built on technology and media clients rather than life sciences, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP lost some ground with the high-profile departure of trade mark filing partner John Olsen and his team to Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP. The firm has, however, made up three new IP partners internally, grown its IT and telecoms team, and hired a life sciences regulatory partner and a film financing partner.
Olswang is one of the key TMT firms. Well known for its media practice, it has also been successfully growing its pharmaceuticals, and IT and telecoms practice. Lewis Silkin LLP has a leading advertising and general brand management practice, as does Bristol-based Osborne Clarke.
The move of John Olsen and his team is only one manifestation of a high degree of lateral movement of partners in the market. Other high-profile moves include that of trade mark partner Simon Tracey, who joined Mishcon de Reya from Davenport Lyons, and David Stone, who is now a trade mark partner at Simmons & Simmons, following his move from Howrey LLP.
Many of the US firms have also been growing their IT and telecoms practices. These include Latham & Watkins - also building its media and entertainment team; Morrison & Foerster (UK) LLP - also a leader for life sciences corporate work; and Mayer Brown International LLP - which has lost music industry veteran Robert Allan to niche media firm Michael Simkins LLP. Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP remains very strong at providing IT and telecoms outsourcing advice; and Weil, Gotshal & Manges and Covington & Burling LLP - which is extremely strong in life sciences - have been building their media and entertainment practices.