Having established an ‘enviable reputation in Scotland’ for its intellectual property expertise, Brodies LLP continues to handle a broad range of transactional and dispute resolution work, covering all aspects of IP protection, commercialisation and enforcement. The team is also noted for its regulatory capabilities, advising major clients in heavily regulated industries including pharmaceuticals, biotech, food and consumer products. Leading on the non-contentious side is Grant Campbell, who regularly handles transactions for major clients in the finance, technology, aviation and utilities sectors. Iain Rutherford heads the contentious offering and is highly adept when advising on IP-related disputes including outsourcing, domain name matters, online defamation and IT supplier issues. David Gallagher brings extensive knowledge of the life sciences and biotechnology sectors, while transactional specialist Martin Sloan is particularly strong in the PE, media and food and drink sectors. Senior associate Monica Connolly is well versed in representing global IT companies in IP disputes, while associate Jennifer Murphy is highly regarded for her trade mark expertise. Alison Bryce joined from Dentons in August 2023,

Burness Paull LLP is renowned in the Scottish market for its ‘dedicated contentious IP practice with unmatched depth of knowledge’, as well as a formidable transactional offering which excels in key sectors from technology and financial services to life sciences and food and drink. Colin Hulme leads the contentious offering, overseeing a particularly broad span of work including patent, trade mark, copyright, confidential information and trade secret disputes. On the transactional side Colin Miller leads the team, his practice continuing to focus on IP licensing, collaboration and due diligence, supported by the vastly experienced David Goodbrand, who offers considerable expertise in the fintech space. Below partner level, senior associate Megan Briggs and associate Rebecca Ablett bolster the contentious offering, both regularly acting for clients in the Court of Session on patent, software and copyright disputes.

‘An expert team with genuine strength in depth’, the intellectual property group at CMS is composed of specialists who focus on a broad range of key sectors, spanning life sciences, healthcare, academic technology transfer, energy, and entertainment and sponsorship. Carina Healy leads the team from Glasgow and brings over two decades of experience of IP licensing, development and commercialisation, as well as the defence and enforcement of IP rights for both public and private sector clients. IT specialist Alan Nelson is a key contact, regularly handling a variety of software licensing, IT development projects and outsourcing deals. Neeraj Thomas is a ‘a very talented and experienced IP litigator’ and regularly appears before the Court of Session, while in Edinburgh Duncan Turner focuses on transactional matters including acquisition, disposal and exploitation of IP rights. Senior associate David Dennis is particularly strong in the life sciences sector, while associate Cara McGlynn is active across a wide range of contentious issues, including trade marks, patents and copyright.

Leveraging a comprehensive national and international presence, Pinsent Masons LLP offers a full-service contentious and non-contentious offering, particularly well regarded for its cross-border capabilities. Co-head Jim Cormack KC has vast contentious IP experience, which covers the gamut of areas from patents, copyright and trade marks to design rights and breach of confidence. Leading on the non-contentious side is George Campbell, who has a particularly strong track record advising on all aspects of IP transactions including sale and purchase, licensing, due diligence and commercial agreements. Technology specialist Chris Martin is especially renowned in the energy and education sectors, having recently seen an increase in the amount of IP mandates related to EV infrastructure, while David Woods regularly appears before the Court of Session in high-profile disputes. Contentious specialist Gillian Anderson has extensive experience in the financial services, food and drink, retail, and energy sectors.

Dentons utilises an extensive network of intellectual property specialists located in Scotland, the UK and across the globe to advise large companies across a broad range of sectors, spanning life sciences, retail, financial services, media, technology and manufacturing. Ross Nicol departed the firm in March 2023 to join Addleshaw Goddard, while former practice head Alison Bryce left to join Brodies in August 2023. Steph Innes joined in September 2023 as partner in Glasgow to lead the practice following a period as head of group legal at Aggreko.

Harper Macleod LLP caters to major domestic and international clients across a wide array of key economic sectors, spanning music, sport, and government authorities, with a particularly strong reputation for trade marks, patents and legislative implementation. Jamie Watt leads the offering and brings considerable strength in the life sciences, music and entertainment industries. Commercial litigator E-Ming Fong regularly handles high-profile IP disputes before the Court of Session, while Tom Thomas specialises in high-value technology contract work, servicing major software developers and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) service providers in the private sector, as well as having a strong niche in relation to broadcasting in the sports sector.

Morton Fraser MacRoberts is an independent Scottish firm with an ‘excellent’ intellectual property offering, working with some of the largest public and private sector organisations in the region and adept across core areas such as trade marks, copyright and other general IP strategy. One of those leading the team from Glasgow is Euan Duncan, vastly experienced in both contentious and transactional matters and particularly strong across the food and drink, manufacturing, life sciences and software sectors. David Gourlay is also a leading figure and has particular expertise in relation to the protection and commercialisation of IP rights, while co-head Valerie Armstrong-Surgenor is also highly regarded for her capabilities navigating complex brand protection, copyright and software-related matters.

Combining ‘a local feel with the benefit of world-class experience’, the intellectual property group at Thorntons Law LLP is active across a broad range of sectors including higher education, research, life sciences, sport and technology. Practice head Liam McMonagle has two decades of experience advising on all aspects of IP protection and commercialisation, with a particular strength in gambling, cybersecurity and entertainment. Alistair Lang, whose practice focuses heavily on the technology and SME sectors, is adept when it comes to international trade mark actions and related negotiations. The firm’s managing partner Lesley Larg handles a steady stream of advisory work, covering cross-border licensing arrangements, brand protection and funding negotiations. Loretta Maxfield has experience of advising a variety of clients from small start-ups to large multinational companies, while legal director Kirsty Stewart heads the in-house trade marks agency.

The intellectual property team at Anderson Strathern has a strong reputation for its skill in the Scottish public, education, and media sectors, as well as offering significant expertise in IP litigation. Katrina Lumsdaine leads the contentious offering, who as well as regularly appearing before the Court of Session and Sheriff Courts, has appeared in trade mark litigations as far afield as China. Douglas McLachlan also leads the team and has both contentious and transactional experience, representing a diverse selection of clients from large institutions to SME technology and data companies. Head of corporate Simon Brown is also a key contact, with significant procurement experience.

‘Specialists in the field of life sciences’, Bonaccord is a boutique firm which offers a ‘great deal of experience in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, animal health, innovative food products and cosmetics.’ Founding partner and practice head Patricia Barclay is ‘abundantly well-versed in IP’, regularly handling an abundance of issues, including negotiating complex licensing and cooperation agreements and intellectual property management matters.

DLA Piper’s intellectual property group continues to see significant growth in a number of key sectors, from food and retail and consumer goods to life sciences and financial services. John McKinlay heads the UK IP offering, he advises domestic and international private and public sector clients on non-contentious matters, with particular strength in the pharmaceutical sector. Below partner level, senior associate Catriona Melton has considerable expertise in outsourcing and regulatory compliance, while Jamie O’Neill handles cross-border mandates for major technology and hospitality clients.

As well as advising on significant contractual and compliance matters, BTO Solicitors LLP is well known for its contentious IP offering, regularly handling complex trade mark prosecution and opposition, copyright and database infringement, and restrictive covenant abuses. Practice head and solicitor advocate Paul Motion has an abundance of apperances in the Court of Session regarding IP disputes, overseeing a team with broad sector specialisms spanning media, retail, technology and food and drink. Lynn Richmond is adept when it comes to both contentious and advisory matters, acting for major clients on development, protection and licensing.

Despite a widely recognised strength in technology, the intellectual property group at MBM Commercial caters to a diverse range of key sectors, spanning media, financial services, retail, sport and health. Andy Harris leads the team from Edinburgh, overseeing a steady stream of mandates which includes advising clients on registered IP portfolio expansion and assisting with protection and enforcement, with particular expertise in the protection of IP rights related to infringement and misuse on social media platforms. Legal director Ian McDougall is a contentious specialist and regularly handles copyright, trade mark and design rights litigation.