Top-flight patent litigators combine an in-depth knowledge of the legal process with the ability to understand their clients’ business and what is at stake. They then use their insights to develop strategies for fighting a case that will leave the client in the best position possible. When playing for high stakes, such a skill set is not a luxury; it is absolutely essential. And there are few more high-stakes activities than litigating a patent that might underpin a lucrative product line or service. One wrong call can have very expensive consequences. Bringing in top-class patent litigation expertise to fight your corner in a dispute is therefore a key business decision. The purpose of this guide is to enable companies to find that expertise in the world’s key patent jurisdictions.

Over a period of four months, a dedicated IAM research team spoke with private practice lawyers, as well as the users of their services, in more than 25 countries. Their aim was to identify the lawyers and firms that companies turn to when the going gets tough.

All those identified in this publication are there because we received substantial positive feedback about them. We cannot claim to have captured every top name in every country that we cover, but we are confident that we have included the vast majority. And we are certain that everybody who is listed deserves to be so. A full methodology detailing how the research was conducted, as well as the subsequent decision-making process about whom to include, can be found on page 4.

In addition to the editorial on leading practitioners, you will find a directory in which biographical details of some of the lawyers mentioned are featured. All those who were selected for listing in the IAM Patent Litigation 250 were offered the opportunity to publish a biography for a fee – some decided that they wished to, while others declined. Inclusion in the editorial is in no way linked to this: the research was conducted entirely independent of any commercial considerations.

Joff Wild
Editor
IAM magazine