The Legal 500

Boult Wade Tennant continues to be internationally recognised as one of the leading UK firms of chartered patent attorneys and European patent and trade mark attorneys. In 2011 the firm achieved top rankings in The Legal 500 (for patents and trade marks in London and the regions). The firm was recognised in the Managing Intellectual Property Global IP Awards as ‘UK Trade Mark Prosecution Firm of the Year’ in 2011 and 2009 and the ‘UK Patent and Trade Mark Firm of the Year’ in 2007. Boult Wade Tennant is a firm at the cutting edge of its practice areas.

The firm: Boult Wade Tennant’s practice is structured into five highly regarded groups. There are four patent groups which are divided by technologies, namely high-tech and electrical; engineering and designs; biotechnology and life sciences; and chemical and materials. The fifth group is the trade mark and domain names group. The firm also has a number of in-house support departments including a large renewals practice and a search department.

The firm has a number of attorneys who are involved in shaping the profession and sit on various CIPA and ITMA committees. One partner, Catherine Wolfe, is currently president of ITMA, another now sits on IPREG. The firm’s attorneys also speak regularly at conferences in the UK and overseas. The firm offers a training programme to graduates and has an excellent track record in the qualification rates amongst its trainees in the CIPA, EPO and ITMA professional exams.

Types of work undertaken: The firm prides itself in the strong relationships it develops with its long-term clients and much of its work comes through recommendation. Clients range from individuals to SMEs and multinational organisations. The firm enhances its offering by carefully selecting and working with a worldwide network of foreign associates who supply high quality services to the firm.

Boult Wade Tennant’s attorneys are experts in their fields. The patent groups are experienced in conducting oral proceedings before the examining and opposition divisions of the European Patent Office and the boards of appeal. Boult Wade Tennant has handled several hundred European Patent Office oppositions with a high success rate for clients. The attorneys have been involved in a number of noteworthy pieces of patent litigation in the UK, EU and other territories. Attorneys have extensive experience in the drafting of original patent specifications, evaluation of rights, IP portfolio management, the handling of oppositions, advice on infringement, and enforcement matters. Boult Wade Tennant also offers a range of additional services with fee-earners specialising in freedom to operate and IP due diligence exercises, recording assignments and licences worldwide and managing the transfer of large incoming portfolios, patent searching services, competitor watching services, in house renewals and translation services.

The trade mark group assists in the selection, protection, management and enforcement of trade marks, domain name disputes and advises on copyright and other IP issues for high-profile brands most notably in the retail, food and drink, events, travel, sports merchandising, media and theatre sectors. The firm is amongst those filing the most community trade marks in Europe and has experience at OHIM in overcoming objections, successfully prosecuting and defending oppositions, and prosecuting appeals. The group also regularly handles complex opposition, invalidity and revocation proceedings before the UKIPO. The group also has significant expertise in rebranding programmes and in providing litigation support in High Court and European level litigation to long-term clients of the firm.

Other offices: Reading, Oxford, Cambridge

Breakdown of work %
High-tech and electrical 32
Engineering and designs 20
Biotechnology and life sciences 12
Chemical and materials 15
Trade mark and domain name 21

Number of partners 24

Number of other fee-earners 43

Total staff 180