Intellectual property: patents (contentious and non-contentious) in London

‘I can say without hesitation that Allen & Overy should undoubtedly be listed amongst the top three firms in this category. They have a whole suite of young, hard-working and strategically astute partners who have lifted the firm to the summit of IP litigation in this country.‘

‘Mark Ridgway – A class act from start to finish and everything in between. From initial advice through to conclusion of the trial, Mark should be your first port of call for any patent litigation.‘

‘Neville Cordell – An extremely sophisticated and astute lawyer.‘

‘Mark Heaney – Combines his incredible technical knowledge with a ferocious appetite to ensure the best outcome for his clients. You want Mark on your side for any high-tech litigation, you definitely don’t want him against you.‘

‘James Fox – Bright, extraordinarily charming and tactically astute. An outstanding associate who is destined not to be one for much longer!‘

‘The outstanding features of Allen & Overy are its multidisciplinary capabilities on an international scale.  A&O really do have direct access to specialists in all areas of the law on an international scale. This makes the firm outstanding in handling cases which have an international dimension and/or those which engage a range of legal issues outside of TMT/IP.‘

‘Marjan Noor is a stand out partner. She gets very involved in the case and manages at the right level. She is also very good at providing realistic budgets, which is refreshing and helpful for in-house counsel.‘

‘The team is good at learning about and understanding our industry. They give good and honest advice, taking into account practicalities (not just esoteric legalities and possibilities).‘

‘Morag Macdonald – very experienced, and gives blunt but honest (and trusted) advice. Good at strategy in positioning case before the court and thinking several steps ahead.‘

‘Practical, knowledgeable, collaborative.‘

‘Seasoned experts with good working knowledge of the technology industry.‘

‘Morag Macdonald knows patent law and understands patent litigation like no other. She always gave us the comfort that our case was in very capable hands.’

‘Bristows remains top tier and for good reason. They are all accomplished litigators with a particular strength in life sciences cases. The individuals live and breathe their subject matter, know the industry inside out and are supported by their excellent regulatory and competition colleagues, which helps them stand out in global pharma litigation.‘

‘Probably the best UK-focused IP and TMT firm around The outstanding quality of both partners and associates is second to none.‘

‘Brian Cordery deserves all of the accolades he gets. A brilliant lawyer and tactician, and always prepared to roll up his sleeves and get stuck in to the detail of the legal work when needed. Amy Cullen is a future star (if she isn’t one already)- clever, great at drafting and unfailingly calm and pleasant to work with, even under pressure.‘

‘Myles Jelf is absolutely exceptional. Hugely experienced in international patent litigation, including working for some of the biggest names in the TMT sector, and with a very strong technical background, he is an amazing asset at the head of a litigation team.‘

‘Richard Pinckney has a wealth of legal and technical experience; bringing pragmatic and cost-effective solutions to the most complex of litigation problems he repeatedly delivers top-rate results for household-name international corporations.‘

‘Brian Cordery and Andrew Bowler are excellent – astute litigators as well as approachable and client-friendly. Matthew Raynor and Gemma Barrett have also impressed me greatly.‘

‘James Boon – Exceptionally smart. Great to work with.‘

‘The firm has exceptional breadth of experience and technical know-how – both legally and in the TMT sector. there are very few firms in the UK which have the breadth of experience and quality of personnel. Quite simply – you cannot go wrong instructing Powell Gilbert and they will work exceptionally hard and with considerable talent and expertise to secure the best outcome for their clients.‘

‘Simon Ayrton, Zoe Butler and Alex Wilson are exceptional in the TMT area and have acted for some of the largest players in this sector. Ari Laakkonen has a wealth of technical and industry experience.‘

‘Penny Gilbert and Tim Powell are amongst the very best patent litigators, particularly in life sciences. But, frankly, their strapline that everyone there is excellent is pretty much accurate.‘

‘Powell Gilbert are one of the leading firms in the telecoms IP litigation market. They are one of the very best specialist technical patent firms in this area but also have an exceptional broader commercial understanding of the field and are one of the very best firms for FRAND litigation.’

‘Simon Ayrton is an incredibly astute and considered litigator with a track record in the biggest cases.‘

‘Zoë Butler is a brilliant team leader and superb with clients.‘

‘Tim Whitfield, one of the younger, but already very experienced partners is very knowledgeable in all issues of patent litigation. Tom Oliver, one of the latest additions to the partnership is very client orientated and will find a good solution to any problem the clients might have.‘

‘They are able to quickly assemble a diverse team with all skills necessary to deal with complex matters, namely litigation.‘

‘Huw Evans and Gordon Harris are outstanding patent litigators with huge experience of the patent courts.‘

‘Gowlings WLG has a first rate patent litigation team. Well organised and resourced, providing sound, clear legal advice. Client focused with huge experience of the practicalities of conducting complex patent litigation. Very commercial outlook. Able to work effectively with patent attorney firms providing technical support.’

‘Very hands-on, pragmatic and down to earth people. Ahead of developments. I love Kate Swaine!’

‘Huw Edwards is a very experienced litigator. Jon Ball is easy to work with: commercial and down to earth. They’re both clearly dedicated and hard working patent litigators.’

‘Nicola Dagg is one of the leading IP partners in the market.‘

‘Jin Ooi is very effective and extremely responsive.‘

‘The Kirkland & Ellis team offers broad-based skills throughout its experience range. Bright, insightful analysis is assured – delivered with appropriate reverence and humor.‘

‘Nicola Dagg is the genuine article. Experienced, smart, ever-prepared, thoughtful, and well informed beyond the immediate task/case at hand.‘

‘Daniel Lim is devoted to delivering thorough and thoughtful analysis and work product. The work product speaks for itself.‘

‘Steven Baldin is a pleasure to work with. He is fantastic both in his grasp of the detail and clear strategic thinking. High customer focus. Attention to detail and prepared to think outside the box.‘

‘Peter Pereira – High expertise, Excellent work commitment, dedication to case, prepared to consider novel approaches to achieve practical goals.‘

‘The team has developed novel, cutting-edge and coordinated global strategies which play out in litigation across the world, including China.‘

‘Katie Coltart is incredibly responsive and astute. A real pleasure to work with.‘

‘They thoroughly explained special aspects of British law. They keep up to date in recent court decisions and apply them to the current case where appropriate.’

‘Graham Burnett-Hall quickly reaches a good understanding of the technology and discusses the core problems in detail. He is also good at predicting and explaining the legal assessment.’

‘Very experienced and respected team, very good value for money, well able to handle technically and legally complex cases, pragmatic, great knowledge of the pharma industry, great team work, work well with firms in other jurisdictions, transparent, open to dialogue, always responsive.’

‘Mike Gilbert is very experienced and respected, capable of handling legally and technically complex cases. He is pragmatic and sees the whole picture when providing legal advice, has a really good knowledge of the pharma/life sciences industry, and stays calm under pressure. He is client oriented, and transparent and open to discussion about case management, resource allocation etc. A great team leader.’

‘Graham Burnett-Hall is excellent. He really understands the scope of our patents and explains the legal issues clearly and practically. He is very responsive and helpful.’

‘This team combines a high level of domain expertise in biotech, along with great knowledge of current commercial norms. They also provide a high-value service at a very reasonable price for early-stage companies.‘

‘Colin McCall has been exceptionally supportive of our business. He is always responsive, even when he is away from his desk. He is very knowledgeable of biotech, the commercial landscape and the law. He offers flexibility on fees as he recognises our stage and is looking to build a long-term relationship. I enjoy working with him as well.‘

‘They keep winning. In the end, that’s all that really matters.‘

‘The EIP team have unparalleled experience in the heaviest of telecoms litigation, having run or been involved in virtually every leading patent case in that area in the past five years. They are incredibly easy to work with, responsive and strategically excellent.‘

‘Gary Moss is the strategic mastermind behind the whole FRAND industry in the UK, and has unparalleled experience in this area. Very bright and hard working too, he has an excellent rapport with clients and an ability to understand and pre-empt their commercial needs and concerns. Robert Lundie-Smith has an excellent technical understanding, and an eye for details which makes him a leading choice for technical patent actions. He works unceasingly to push forwards the strategically and tactically best possible case.‘

‘I highly recommend Robert Lundie Smith. He is very hardworking, conscientious, and has a real understanding of the technical, legal and strategic aspects of the cases he is working on.‘

‘The team is composed of extremely smart people who have the ability to analyse complicated issues. Their strength is in the interdisciplinary way of looking at things from various angles in order to find the most efficient solution for the matter.‘

‘Ian Karet brings a wealth of invaluable experience with him and is a major asset to any client embroiled in high-stakes patent litigation. He is clever, strategic, technically excellent and a pleasure to deal with.‘

‘Yohan Liyanage continues to grow a well-deserved reputation as a top patent litigator. He continues to be instructed on some of the best mandates which is testament to his talent and the confidence that clients have in him.‘

‘Stephanie Farrington is a rising talent at the firm. She is diligent, hard working and always a pleasure to deal with.‘

‘Ian Karet has a unique way of looking at things. He is also able to very quickly look at a set of complex facts and identify the key issues and succinctly describe and address them. I have not seen that talent elsewhere, at least not to the same extent. He is also quick to respond to any inquiries.‘

‘Mishcon de Reya continues to provide excellent patent services alongside the full spectrum of intellectual property rights in the context of a full-service firm.‘

‘David Rose is an extremely experienced practitioner who, unusually, operates across the full spectrum of intellectual property, enabling him to be the first port of call for all of a client’s intellectual property needs, and handle complex multi-faceted litigation involving multiple different rights.‘

‘Great speed and quality – the best combination they can provide. Real experts, which are ready to react promptly and professionally.‘

‘Very dynamic and experienced team. It provides practical solutions with an outstanding quality.’

‘Campbell Forsyth is a market-leading patent litigator with huge experience both in the pharmaceutical and telecoms sectors. He has an extraordinary eye for detail, whilst also being able to structure a case to maximise pressure and get the result which his client wants.’

‘Campbell Forsyth is always thinking several steps ahead, and able to caution well in advance of any pitfalls or traps. He is always keeping track of the numerous issues and questions to be resolved.’

‘This is an excellent team that has top-flight clients. It has operated slightly under the radar until recently, quietly delivering huge litigation successes in important cases. That is changing and people are starting to see the Osborne Clarke crowd more and more – they are becoming difficult to fail to notice! The combination of a really friendly face with detail-oriented technical work makes for an excellent service and has delivered some astounding results.‘

‘Chris Pratt is a stand-out who has been vitally involved in some enormous pieces of litigation in recent years. He is surely destined for great success‘

‘Will James is a warm and thoughtful leader of a litigation team. He is always on top of the technical detail, and making excellent contributions to the right strategy, but at the same time clearly feels able to trust his team to an appropriate degree to allow the client’s money to be spent most efficiently. It is impressive to watch.‘

‘Arty Rajendra is rightly an IP celebrity in this jurisdiction; she has been involved in many high-profile cases for large and small clients. She fights hard, but thoughtfully, and deserves all of her considerable successes.‘

‘The group is up and coming and they are making their mark in the field with some recent high profile hires. I have worked with them in a major life sciences case and they are simply top notch.‘

‘Will James is an exceptional individual.‘

‘Stephenson Harwood’s TMT practice is a very collaborative and knowledgeable group of individuals who provide practical no-nonsense advice, make an effort to learn your business in order to anticipate problems, and are always accessible.‘

‘Everyone I’ve had the pleasure to work with has shown high work ethic, great interest in the issues posed, and pragmatism in addressing them. Dan Holland, Alexandra Pygall and Naomi Leach in particular have been fantastic!‘

‘The team has a deep understanding of the commercial aspects of the law. They seek to understand the business and its goals to enable the best results. They are also excellent at crystallizing legal issues in a way that makes a path forward clear.‘

‘The team is intelligent, easy to work with, hardworking, and responsive. We have worked with them on complex multinational projects. The team is always organised and has a terrific grasp and management of complex issues.‘

‘Alexandra Pygall: Excellent commercial advice; timely and practical advice to clients.‘

‘Wiggin’s patent practice is one of the best in London. It is led by Sara Ashby who is one of the most exceptional litigators I have worked with. She has built an exceptional team.‘

‘Michael Browne is a very capable litigator in the fields of TMT matters with an IP element.‘

‘Advice is always pertinent, specific and delivered in a timely manner.‘

‘Beatriz San Martin is skilled in all areas of IP and provides thoughtful, rounded advice. She identifies and responds to the client’s needs. I’m always happy to recommend her, because I know the client will be well looked after and very satisfied with the work she does.‘

‘One of Beatriz San Martin’s strengths is how she combines her excellent analytical skills and inquisitiveness, to provide tailored strategic advice to a particular problem or dispute. I am always impressed by the attention that Beatriz pays to client service and responsiveness, irrespective of the subject matter.‘

‘They work quickly and to an exceptionally high standard whilst also being collaborative and practical.‘

‘Beatriz San Martin and Ewan Townsend are both great. I value their straight-forwardness, and ability to navigate complex scenarios as reported on our previous telephone discussion.‘

‘The team is responsive, knowledgeable and pragmatic. What separates them from some of the other firms, is their ability to make their judgment with the specific business area in mind. Their views are balanced and tailored to their customers.‘

‘Their knowledge and expertise in the area of pharmaceutical products and medical devices is, in my opinion, more robust and broad than in cases of some of their competitors. They also demonstrate very strong commercial knowledge and understanding of the business. In a relatively niche area, that is extremely valuable.‘

‘With fantastic support from the patent attorney team, who have often clocked up years of experience with the cases in the EPO and beyond, this is one of the best all round European patent litigation teams in London.‘

‘David Wilson is enormously experienced on the life sciences side. Ian Kirby is a very canny litigator.‘

‘Jennifer Antcliff is a new partner with huge potential.‘

‘Ian Kirby is a thoughtful, pragmatic and astute litigator.‘

‘We were highly impressed with both the breadth and the depth of the experience of the team.‘

‘The Carpmaels team is very thorough in their approach to the matters and consistently provided a high-quality work product. Their strong attention to detail and hard work allowed them to develop a strategy quickly and refine it as the matter progressed.‘

‘Carpmaels has a large team in the pharmaceutical/life sciences space that is very knowledgeable about the industry. Carpmaels does a very good job of keeping on top of their matters and communicating with the client to ensure the client is aware of important issues and deadlines.‘

‘Camilla Balleny does an excellent job of overseeing a large team responsible for running a large contentious pharmaceutical patent litigation/enforcement program on a pan-EU basis.‘

‘A hardworking, experienced and tight-knit team, which know what their clients want and will work unceasingly to achieve it.‘

‘Their breadth of experience makes them very easy to work with as they can tackle any of our very varied inventions.‘

‘Fantastic team that know their stuff inside and out.‘

‘For all UK-related IP matters we use the services of AA Thornton. The patent attorneys are very highly-skilled and the advice provided is always well-explained and clear, including the related costs. They are quickly responsive to any communication and are nice people to do business with. This is an outstanding firm.‘

‘Their work is very detailed and professional, on another level compared to other firms I have used. Their analysis and conclusions are so well written that even an ignorant person in the field would be able to understand everything.‘

‘It is clear that Stephen Reese is a mentor and sets the tone for others.‘

‘Very good value for money – a firm with international reach and experience, and with very high quality patent advisors, but charges less than the leading firms for equally good work.’

‘Ralph Cox has a very extensive knowledge of patent practice and procedure such that he is fully up-to-date of all and any developments in the area. This means that he is very well placed to advice clients on the latest matters in the law. He is very good with clients, giving clear commercially alert advice. He is also very supportive of clients during what is sometimes a difficult process of IP proceedings.’

‘Enormously varied skills that can be called on to meet any issue.‘

‘I work with Rebecca Halford-Harrison who is a highly gifted adviser. She takes a very commercial view, is able to deal with any IP matter and draws on her superb litigation skills to inform her advice in transactional matters. She is swift, provides clear urgent advice and is a superb resource.‘

‘Rebecca Halford-Harrison is utterly brilliant at what she does and goes above and beyond. For that, we are very grateful to have her represent us, looking after a very complicated matter that’s currently ongoing.‘

‘James Tumbridge has impressive knowledge and a pragmatic approach.‘

‘Friendly and responsive. Willingness to help. Sticking to timelines. Billing transparency – good information given in advance and then keeping to the costs given – this is important when the bills are relatively high.‘

‘Charlotte Tillett is very responsive and friendly with a can-do attitude – if she can’t help, she will direct me to a colleague that can.‘

‘Tom Collins is very thorough. Good input which my client found very helpful on a collaboration/MTA agreement where IP was an issue.‘