AA Thornton ‘combines high-quality advice with the ability to listen and understand the specific needs and challenges of its clients’, ranging from multinational corporations to SMEs, individual investors and academic institutions, based across Europe, North America, India and the Far East. Noted for its capability in handling patent prosecution and opposition work at the EPO, the practice is also well-placed to leverage the expertise of the firm’s litigation group. Adrian Bennett, who has experience in the drafting and prosecution of patent applications, leads the engineering, physics and mechanical devices team, while Mike Jennings heads up the electrical engineering, electronics telecoms and IT group and is praised as ‘a thought leader in this space’. Craig Turner spearheads the chemistry, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals team and handles contentious matters, particularly in the oilfield services and pharmaceuticals sectors. Marianne Privett, who is another key member of the practice, prosecutes patent applications and manages global portfolios.

With offices in London, Reading, Cambridge, Frankfurt, Berlin and Madrid, Boult Wade Tennant LLP is well-placed to provide a ‘stable and quality service’ to its roster of clients, ranging from state-owned enterprises and financial service providers to medium-sized companies, start-ups and public entities, including hospitals and charities, on domestic and multijurisdictional mandates. The practice counts protection, filing and prosecution matters in its workload, in addition to portfolio management and enforcement mandates, and has demonstrable experience in EPO opposition and appeal proceedings. In London, Nina White heads up the biotechnology and life science group, which acts for a range of clients, including SMEs and university start-ups, in drafting patents; and Tessa Bucks spearheads the engineering and designs practice. From the firm’s office in Reading, senior partner Nick McLeish leads the high-tech and electrical group and Adrian Hayes heads up the chemical and materials team.

Praised for its ‘sophisticated patent practice’, Carpmaels & Ransford LLP houses a ‘deep bench of skilled partners who work together collaboratively and seamlessly’. The firm excels in the pharmaceuticals and biotechnology sectors, advising on the full life cycle of a patent, from invention mining, drafting and prosecution work to enforcement matters. James Warner and Mark Chapman head up the pharmaceuticals and biotechnology teams respectively and managing partner Hugh Goodfellow is also a key contact in the life sciences group, while John Brunner, who has considerable EPO opposition experience relating to medical devices, leads the engineering and technology teams. Counting Johnson & Johnson, Sun Chemical and Nexeon among its key list of clients, the chemistry and materials practice handles chemical opposition mandates before the EPO and focuses on consumer product matters. All the teams are well-placed to leverage the firm’s litigation offering.

In the technology space, CMS’ ‘efficient and commercially tuned’ practice has demonstrable experience in patent invalidity mandates, particularly through EPO opposition proceedings and often in parallel with related infringement actions. Counting technology giants, including Microsoft, as well as SMEs and start-ups, among its key roster of clients, the team is noted for its capability in drafting patent applications, and boasts enviable expertise in emerging fields, such as quantum computing technologies. Elsewhere, the practice handles prosecution, opposition and appeal proceedings before the EPO in the life sciences sector, in addition to providing due diligence and second-opinion advice. Practice leader Robert Stephen focuses on innovations in the medicine field, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, while Helen Wallis handles drafting and prosecution matters in the technology sector ‘with great diligence’. Other key members of the team include Jane Evenson, Rachel Free and Jane Hollywood, while Tobias Reker left in September 2021 to set up his own patent attorney practice.

D Young & Co LLP has a strong reputation in EPO patent prosecutions, resulting in an ever-increasing caseload of filed EPO patent applications, and is entrusted by multinational companies, top universities and research institutions. The practice, which is praised for its ‘high level of service, based on professionalism, attention to the client’s needs, punctuality and precision in providing support and great availability to take on new cases’, has a track record in EPO opposition and appeal proceedings. The electronics and engineering group and the biotechnology, chemistry and pharmaceuticals team are both well-placed to collaborate with one another on cross-disciplinary matters, particularly in the field of medical technology. Anthony Albutt, whose contentious opposition practice continues to grow in the automotive and medical device sectors, leads the electronics and engineering group, while Simon O’Brien heads up the biotechnology, chemistry and pharmaceuticals team.

Dehns maintains its reputation as one of the leading EPO filing practices and counts patent applications relating to physics and engineering, medical devices, electronics, oil and gas and chemistry in its caseload. The practice’s key roster of direct clients ranges from multinational corporates and SMEs to universities and private investors from across the UK and Scandinavia, as well as the US. Following the retirement of Alexander Piésold, Elizabeth Jones took over as senior partner in January 2022 and Adrian Samuels was promoted to managing partner in the same month. The EPO opposition and appeals practice is well-placed to leverage the expertise of the firm’s litigation team, which is led by Paul Harris, who joined from Venner Shipley LLP in June 2021. Head of biotechnology Hanna Dzieglewska is praised for understanding ‘new innovations quickly, in order to grasp the crux of a matter’ and Louise Golding spearheads the chemical group, while John Tothill leads the engineering team. The firm has further expanded into the regions and opened a Birmingham office in March 2022.

EIP’s dual practice of patent attorneys and litigators advises its rosters of direct clients on the full life cycle of a patent, from protection matters through to rights of enforcement, including high-profile litigation, often involving a cross-border element. Noted for its demonstrable capability in the high-tech sector, the opposition and appeals practice, which is praised for its ‘vast array of technical expertise and experience before the EPO’, continues to expand its caseload in the life sciences and medtech arenas. In the London office, digital expert Jerome Spaargaren and Heather McCann, who is commended by one client as ‘a sharp-minded and skilled, not to mention tireless, advocate and adviser’, lead the team alongside Bath-based Matt Lawman, who focuses on technology and software mandates. Other key members of the group include Laurence Brown, whose practice covers the engineering field, and Leeds-based Tim Belcher, who was promoted to partner in April 2022 and handles matters arising out of the pharmaceuticals and biochemistry sectors.

With offices in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Paris and Munich, J A Kemp has a diverse client roster, including start-ups, spinouts, multinational companies and academic institutions, based in the UK and across Europe, and ‘provides an excellent service’ to clients situated in the US and Japan. The practice is noted for its standout expertise in the pharmaceuticals sector (Ravi Srinivasan heads up the team) and is well-versed in patent prosecution matters, often involving a cross-border element, as well as EPO opposition and appeal proceedings. Praised for his ‘wise counsel, professionalism and timeliness’, senior partner Nigel Price leads the engineering and IT group, while Amanda Simons spearheads the chemistry and pharmaceuticals practice, and Patrick Campbell is the biotechnology and life sciences lead. Mark Roberts heads up the medical devices team, John Leeming leads the software group, Samuel Smith heads up the electronics team and the plant science and agriculture practice is led by Andrew Bentham.

As highlighted by one client, Kilburn & Strode LLP has ‘remarkable bench strength, both in depth of knowledge, experience and breadth of subject matter expertise’, particularly across the pharmaceutical and chemistry arenas, as well as the automotive and consumer goods sectors. Patent prosecution takes up a large proportion of practice’s workload, as well as EPO opposition and appeal proceedings. Notable changes in the sizeable life sciences and chemistry team, which is led by Nick Lee, include the retirement of Kristina Cornish and recruitment of Jo Bradley from Marks & Clerk in August 2021. The technology group is led by Gareth Fennell, while Jim Miller leads the engineering practice. The firm also continues to consolidate its presence in San Francisco and the Netherlands.

Marks & Clerk counts patents covering emerging technologies such as 3D printing, machine learning and artificial intelligence in its workload, and is noted for its demonstrable capability in filing patent applications relating to artificial intelligence in Europe. The team, which is jointly led by Oxford-based Daniel Talbot-Ponsonby and London-based Simon Mounteney, also provides ‘timely and pragmatic advice’ on matters pertaining to medical devices and software, and counts SMEs, universities and large corporates among its key roster of clients. The practice has experienced multiple changes; Stephen Blake and Douglas Rankin left in June 2021 to set up their own firm, while Steven Gurney departed in August 2021 and Maureen Kinsler moved to Schwegman, Lundberg, Woessner & Kluth in December 2021. The following patent attorneys were promoted to partner in August 2021: Matthew Jefferies, James Shearman, Lara Sibley and Daniel Sizer, all of whom operate from the firm’s London office, as well as Manchester-based Giles Pinnington and Cambridge-based Andrea Williams.

With offices in London, Bristol, Manchester, Cambridge and Munich, Mewburn Ellis LLP is well-placed to offer a seamless European service to its roster of clients and handles both the filing and prosecution of UK and German patent applications, as well as managing global IP portfolios for multinational companies. In Manchester, Jeremy Webster heads up the chemistry practice, which focuses on the full range of chemical innovations, as well as advanced material materials, such as graphene and battery technologies, and polymers. The engineering and ICT team, which is led by Manchester-based Graeme Moore and houses both patent attorneys and design specialists, has demonstrable experience in software, bioinformatics and quantum computing mandates. From the firm’s Bristol office, Simon Kiddle spearheads the life sciences practice. The team advises on patents in biologics, bioinformatics, cell therapies, vaccines, precision medicines and future food. The firm has recently seen an uptick in contentious matters, demonstrating a strong track record in high-value oppositions at the EPO. In a notable appointment, biopharma specialist Robert Andrews recently became the firm’s first chief inclusion and diversity officer.

Praised as ‘truly irreplaceable’, Venner Shipley LLP’s mechanical and engineering, chemical and life sciences and electronics and software teams ‘have demonstrated a capability of cross-disciplinary collaboration, which produces better outcomes on complex patent cases’. The firm not only houses an experienced filing and prosecution practice but continues to consolidate its expertise in EPO opposition and appeals, handling matters ranging from medical devices and orthopaedic devices to antibodies, vaccines and consumer products. The practice’s client roster is testament to its knowledge in mandates concerning artificial intelligence and machine learning. Ian Grey leads the mechanical and engineering group and Siân Gill spearheads the chemistry and life sciences team, while Jan Walaski heads up the electronics and software group, and Simon Taor leads the standards practice. In Cambridge, patent director Emma Longland joined from HGF Limited in June 2021 and London-based patent director Louis Trichard arrived from Dentons in August 2021. Other key members of the team include Cambridge-based Pawel Piotrowicz and Allie Elend, as well as Guildford-based Anton Hutter.

The ‘highly motivated and client-oriented team’ at Appleyard Lees has demonstrable experience in the drafting and prosecution of patent applications, and with offices in Cambridge, Halifax, Manchester and Leeds, the firm is close to numerous areas of innovation across the UK. Praised for its ‘technical expertise and deep experience of patent portfolio development’, the practice is well-versed in the chemistry, electronics and software, engineering and pharmaceutical sectors. Led by Cambridge-based Barbara Fleck and with the support of Manchester-based Simon Bradbury, the team continues to consolidate its focus in the life sciences space and counts pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and biotechnology entities among its key roster of clients. In the firm’s Manchester office, David Clark leads the practice and focuses on patent drafting and prosecution work arising out of the electronics sector.

Noted for its capability in the computer-implemented technologies, physics and material sectors, Barker Brettell LLP’s ‘extremely knowledgeable, friendly and approachable’ team also has demonstrable experience across the life sciences and chemistry, medical devices, artificial intelligence and electronic fields, and counts the drafting, filing and prosecution of patent applications in its workload. Senior partner John Lawrence, who heads up the aerospace group and assists US law firms with patent prosecution, leads the practice alongside managing partner Andy Tranter and Alan Wilson. Yvonne Johnson leads the EPO oppositions and appeals team, while Jennifer Atkinson is a key contact for the practice’s roster of UK universities and Nicholas Braddon focuses on inventions relating to materials science, physical sciences and engineering. Members of the practice operate from the firm’s offices in Birmingham and Southampton.

Cleveland Scott York has demonstrable capability in drafting and prosecuting EU patent applications, as well as EPO opposition and appeal proceedings, and counts freedom to operate matters, due diligence issues, competitor analysis mandates and UK registered design filings in its workload. Praised for its ‘availability, responsiveness and unique ability to translate legal turbulences’, the team counts large UK-based corporations and medium-sized enterprises, multinational companies, US attorney firms, in addition to academic institutions, technology transfer departments and pharmaceutical companies in Eastern Europe as clients. In Hertfordshire, Andrew Mackenzie and Jonathan Midgley lead the practice alongside Fraser Brown and Adrian Bradley, who operate from the firm’s Thames Valley office, and London-based Michael Williams and Tom Faulkner. The engineering, automotive, healthcare and chemical sectors are key areas of expertise for the team, which is also well-placed to collaborate with the firm’s solicitors in patent litigation.

Dentons’ patent prosecution practice counts national and global technology companies among its key roster of clients and has demonstrable experience across the automotive, artificial intelligence, electronics and pharmaceutical sectors. The team’s expertise in the space and defence arena is highlighted by the launch of the Seraphim Space Camp Accelerator, aimed at attracting space technology companies globally, and the firm’s TechConcierge, a programme to support all aspects of the development and growth of technology companies. With a base in Cambridge, the team acts as a destination practice for the UK’s leading research and development facilities, and on account of the firm’s global presence, the group is well-placed to handle cross-border mandates. Practice leader Justin Hill heads up the patent and opposition teams across all the firm’s European offices, including the UK and Germany, and manages global patent portfolios.

Demonstrating its continued capability and success in EPO opposition and appeal proceedings, Elkington + Fife LLP is ‘efficient, knowledgeable and experienced in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors’, and advises its roster of clients on patent prosecution matters. The team counts biotechnology mandates in its workload, as well as patent drafting for multinational companies, such as Philips and IBM, in the electronics field. From the firm’s office in London, senior partner Richard Gillard leads the chemistry and life sciences group, and is the firm’s key contact for EPO opposition and appeals work, while Sevenoaks-based Nick Ertl heads up the electrical and mechanical team, and has experience in drafting patent applications, particularly for corporate clients. London-based Jens Grabenstein is another key member of the team, who assists biotechnology companies in building their patent portfolios.

Gill Jennings & Every LLP stands out for its capability in opposition and appeal proceedings before the EPO and handles a vast number of contentious matters for key clients, such as Procter & Gamble. As well as consumer goods, the team has demonstrable experience across the fintech, IT, chemistry and pharmaceutical sectors, and counts patent prosecution mandates in its workload. Praised for its ‘quality of service and professionalism’, the practice is jointly led by managing partner Stephen Haley, who has experience in managing and prosecuting the portfolios of clients in the electronics, telecoms and software arenas, and Michael Lord. Both Ian Jones and Ross Cummings were promoted to partner in January 2022, and Sam Jones left in May 2022 to go to in-house. With an office in London, the firm is well-placed to leverage the expertise of its Munich office.

With offices across the UK, as well as in Munich, the Netherlands and Guangzhou, Haseltine Lake Kempner LLP is noted for its impressive capability in preparing original patent applications for its roster of direct corporate clients in the technology sector and enjoys a high success rate in EPO opposition and appeal proceedings. Maintaining its stance as one of the most active filers of applications in the UK and before the EUIPO, the ‘friendly and professional’ practice is divided into three groups; Frances Wilding, who has notable experience in the field of artificial intelligence, heads up the high-tech team and Ashley Giles leads the engineering group, while Alex Rogers spearheads the chemistry and life sciences practice, where Isobel Finnie also advises. All three groups are well-placed to leverage the expertise of the firm’s litigation practice, which is led by Richard Kempner, who splits his time between the firm’s London and Leeds offices. In January 2022, Daniel Chew was appointed as vice-president of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys.

On account of its strong European presence, with offices in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria and Ireland, HGF Limited is well-placed to manage the patent portfolios of multinational corporations and continues to demonstrate its capability in EPO opposition and appeal proceedings. The team, which has an impressive track record in original patent drafting for universities in the UK, is well-versed across the healthcare (including pharmaceutical, life sciences and medical devices), electronics, chemistry and engineering sectors. In Manchester, Chris Benson leads the electronics practice and Andrew Wells heads up the chemistry group, while Lucy Johnson spearheads the engineering team. Kate Taylor leads the life sciences team from the firm’s office in York, and Birmingham-based Chris Moore heads up the oppositions practice. In Leeds, Martyn Fish stepped in as the firm’s CEO, following the retirement of Paul Sanderson in July 2021, and Jason Lumber is the firm’s chairman, while London-based Rachel Fetches is head of law.

Mathys & Squire LLP has demonstrable experience and success in opposition proceedings, and divides its practice into two groups, with one team focusing on matters arising out of the life sciences and chemistry sector, and the other advising clients on IT and engineering mandates. The team, which has seen an increase in the number of filed patents in the last year, is well-placed to not only leverage the expertise of the firm’s litigation practice, but also handle multi-jurisdictional patent prosecution work, with offices in Germany, Luxembourg and France, in addition to Shenzhen, China, and Tokyo. In London, Jane Clark leads the practice alongside Paul Cozens, Chris Hamer, Martin MacLean and Cambridge-based Alan MacDougall, who has considerable experience in the electronics and communications sectors. Annabel Hector was promoted to partner in April 2021, while Peter Gray left in July 2021 to join Kilburn & Strode LLP and life sciences expert Iain Armstrong arrived in May 2022 from HGF Limited.

With offices in the UK, Germany, Switzerland and China, Anglo-German firm Maucher Jenkins is well-placed to handle cross-border matters, such as filing and prosecuting patent applications, as well as carry out portfolio and freedom to operate reviews in fast moving areas of technology. The team is also able to leverage the expertise of its patent litigators in the UK and Germany when disputes arise. The practice is collectively led by the following partners, who are based across the firm’s London, Farnham, Cambridge and Edinburgh offices: James Cross leads on IT, software and electronics mandates and acts for key clients, including Sky and British Airways, while Reuben Jacob heads up the life sciences team, which includes Fiona Kellas. Hugh Dunlop is the firm’s go-to contact for telecoms and green energy technology work, while Holly Whitlock and Phil Treeby jointly lead on engineering, physics and mathematics patenting. Stuart Rowlands is also noted for his experience in the engineering sector.

Potter Clarkson LLP takes a cross-disciplinary approach to assist its client roster, including start-ups, SMEs and international corporates, on patent drafting and prosecution matters arising out of the life sciences, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology sectors in particular, as well as the chemistry, consumer products, engineering and electronic industries. The team, which continues to focus on consolidating its presence in the UK and Nordic countries, also has demonstrable experience in opposition and appeal proceedings before the EPO. In the firm’s Nottingham offices, managing partner Stephen Smith leads the practice alongside Charlotte Crowhurst, Caroline Marshall, Jane Wainwright and London-based Peter Finnie. Stephanie Pilkington stepped down from partnership in December 2021 and now acts as a consultant, and Helen Johnstone retired in January 2022. Key clients include Danish multinational pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, Acacia Pharma and Alligator Bioscience, among others.

The ‘professional, helpful and knowledgeable’ team at Reddie & Grose LLP has recently created five multidisciplinary technology groups to better advise its roster of clients on a range of matters, including original drafting and prosecution work, as well as EPO opposition and appeal proceedings. These include chemistry and materials, digital healthcare, energy and renewables, future transport and oppositions groups. ‘Dedicated’ chairman Alice Findlay and executive partner Jan Vleck oversee the practice, with Nick Reeve leading the electronics and software group and Neil Thornton heading up the life sciences team, while Julie Millburn spearheads the engineering, materials and consumer products team. Simon Goodman heads up the firm’s office in Cambridge, and in the London office, both Georgina Ainscow and Zack Mummery were promoted to partners in April 2022.

With offices in London, Paris and Munich, Withers & Rogers has demonstrable experience in drafting and prosecuting patent applications, as well as acting before the UKIPO and EPO in opposition and appeal proceedings, and is well-placed to leverage the expertise of the firm’s litigation practice. The sizeable electronics, computing and physics team, which is led by London-based Nick Wallin, acts for a range of domestic and multinational clients, including telecoms providers, software companies, consumer electronics manufacturers, research departments and technology transfer companies of universities in the UK, to name a few. Led by Munich-based Adrian Tombling, the life sciences and chemistry group counts matters in the chemical, biochemical and pharmaceutical sectors in its workload, while the engineering team, which is led by Dave Croston in Leamington Spa, counts US and Japan-based automotive suppliers, medical device manufacturers and European-based aerospace suppliers among its key roster of clients. Bristol-based Richard Worthington heads up the firm’s designs practice.

Praised as a ‘highly skilled, friendly and reliable team’, Beck Greener LLP has a strong track record in contentious matters, notably patent oppositions and appeals before the EPO, and counts multinational corporates across the chemicals, engineering, technology, life sciences, pharmaceutical, artificial intelligence and automotive sectors among its key roster of clients. Avi Freeman, who has experience in handling patent prosecutions relating to computer hardware and software, leads the electronics, physics and mechanical engineering team, while James Stones heads up the chemical, pharmaceutical and chemical engineering group, and focuses on gas separation and green energy matters. Ben Muir spearheads the medical and life sciences practice, and handles original filing and prosecution matters in the UK, the US and at the EPO.

Praised for providing ‘high-quality and strategic patent protection and portfolio management advice’, Greaves Brewster LLP has notable strength in the chemistry, life sciences, materials science and engineering sectors, and continues to grow its caseload of electronic and technology work, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence. The team also has demonstrable capability in EPO opposition and appeal proceedings, as well as freedom to operate reviews and due diligence matters. With offices in Cheddar, London and Bristol, Rachel Wallis, who focuses on mandates relating to medical device technology, leads the practice alongside head of the firm’s chemistry group, Jakob Bumke, and David Spinner, who has experience in antibody and vaccine technology.

Keltie has a strong track record in EPO oppositions and appeal hearings, and handles patent prosecutions and freedom-to-operate matters, as well as cross-border disputes. With offices across the UK and Ireland, the team is well-placed to advise its roster of international clients, as well as start-ups, spinouts and high-growth companies across the pharmaceutical, medical devices, biotech and engineering sectors. Key members of the team include Judith Caldwell, Devanand Crease, who acts for biotech and chemicals clients based in the UK, Europe and the US; and Richard Lawrence, who splits his time between the firm's London and Cotswolds offices.

The patent prosecution practice at Lewis Silkin has seen an increase in the number filings at the EPO, in addition to opposition and appeal proceedings, across the technology, manufacturing, consumer goods, life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors. The firm’s Hong Kong desk grew its international offering to UK clients filing patent applications and the firm also consolidated its IP offering in Northern Ireland by merging with specialist firm Forde Campbell at the beginning of 2022. Tom Gaunt leads the practice and handles EPO oppositions and infringement opinion work arising out of the mechanical, electrical and software sectors. Other key members of the team include Graham Ablett, Paul Williams and, on the solicitor side, Antony Craggs.

Murgitroyd has grown exponentially, having strategically acquired Ireland-based European attorney firm Hanna Moore + Curley in September 2021, shortly followed by the acquisition of well-established IP firm UDL Intellectual Property in October 2021, and Glasgow-based specialist firm Creation IP in April 2022. With several offices across the UK, as well as Europe and the US, the ‘incredibly proficient and professional’ team is well-placed to handle cross-border patent prosecution work for clients in the software, electronics, mechanical engineering, chemistry and life sciences sectors. Managing director Keith Jones, who operates from the firm’s York office, leads the practice alongside Glasgow-based regional director Russell Thom.

The UK-based practice at Simmons & Simmons frequently collaborates with the firm’s offices in Amsterdam and Munich to advise its roster of key clients, including Apple, Lecia Biosystems and 3M, on patent drafting and prosecution matters. Sitting comfortably within the international firm's network, the attorney practice is well-placed to leverage the expertise of solicitors in patent litigation and transaction-related mandates. Focusing on electronics, telecoms, and medical device patents, Kevin Cordina leads the team and has experience before the EPO in opposition and appeal proceedings, while Lawrence King is the group’s go-to contact for chemical and biotechnology matters. Managing associate Frederick Nicolle is another key member of the team.

Slingsby Partners LLP’s ‘first-class’ practice acts for national and European technology companies in the engineering, electronics and physical sciences sectors on a range of patent procurement and exploitation matters, from due diligence and licensing work to opposition and appeal proceedings before the EPO and UK IPO. Also noted for its expertise in the artificial intelligence, medical devices and healthcare arenas, the team’s caseload has seen an increase in patent prosecution mandates, particularly for US law firms. Practice leader Philip Slingsby has experience in the procurement and licensing of US patents, as well as litigation issues, while Paul Roberts has an interest in the patentability of software and computer-implemented inventions. Other key members of the team include Rosalind Fenwick, who focuses on portfolio management, and David King, who advises on third-party patents and the related infringement risks.

With a strong focus in the fields of electronics and engineering, Swindell & Pearson Ltd has demonstrable experience in drafting and prosecuting patent applications for its roster of domestic and international clients, spanning the automotive, mechanics, medical engineering and electronics sectors. The practice is also noted for its niche expertise in satellite technology, as demonstrated by its ongoing advice to global communications company, Viasat. Based in Derby, Paul Higgin leads the team and has experience in asserting and defending patents in contentious proceedings concerning patent licensing, while IP director Scott Harrison focuses on technology and engineering prosecution matters.

Praised for providing ‘excellent advice and a superior service’, Wilson Gunn is noted for its expertise in the automotive sector, counting major manufacturers such as Bentley Motors among its key roster of clients, in addition to other major UK and European patent filers, including large technology companies, UK-based academic institutions and SMEs. The team also has demonstrable experience in the software and IT, food technology and healthcare sectors. In Manchester, Mark Goodwin took on a consultancy role in May 2022 and James Robey now solely leads the practice. Birmingham-based Ben Appleton has notable expertise in patent matters relating to food chemistry, packaging and manufacturing processes.

WP Thompson counts UK-based start-ups and multinational companies, as well as research centres, university technology transfer departments and spinouts among its key roster of clients, with notable expertise in the electronics engineering and material sciences arenas. With offices in London, Liverpool, Cardiff and Munich, the practice has demonstrable experience in the filing and prosecution of patent applications in the UK and EU, and is well-placed to leverage the firm’s litigation offering. Julian Potter, who is also a Higher Courts litigator, jointly leads the practice alongside David Gill, Alistair McKinnon and Stuart Forrest, who represent clients at opposition and appeal proceedings before the EPO.