Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) magazine presents IAM Patent Litigation 250 – The World’s Leading Patent Litigators, a new and unique guide identifying the top patent litigation lawyers in key jurisdictions around the globe. This guide follows on from 2010’s IAM Life Sciences 250, which focused exclusively on patent litigators in the life sciences sector. For 2011, we have extended the remit of our research to reveal the top litigators and their firms working with clients across all industry sectors and technologies.

This guide contains rankings of individuals and firms offering high-level expertise in patent litigation, and covers what our readership has told us are the most significant jurisdictions in the world. Our research has not focused solely on lawyers: in jurisdictions such as Germany, there are bifurcated systems in which patent attorneys have rights of audience before the Federal Patent Court to litigate nullity proceedings. We have ranked the leading patent attorneys and patent attorneys on separate tables where appropriate. Also gaining recognition in distinct tables are the luminaries in the market: individuals who have won widespread respect and acclaim for delivering top-quality work over a long period of time, but who have taken a step back from day-to-day litigation duties. In the United States, the largest market for patent litigation, we have not ranked any individuals in this category, as the most senior and leading lawyers remain actively involved in practice.

The ranking tables have been composed following an extensive research process. Over three months, IAM conducted telephone interviews and email exchanges with numerous attorneys at law, patent attorneys and in-house counsel to gather market intelligence on the leading players in the field. Individuals qualify for a listing in the IAM Patent Litigation 250 when they receive sufficient positive feedback from peers and clients with knowledge of their practice and the market within which they operate. Only those individuals identified by market sources for their exceptional skill sets and profound insights into patent litigation feature in the IAM Patent Litigation 250.

We have also identified the leading firms in the market, as it is clear that the depth of expertise that a firm can offer beyond and in support of its star litigators is an important factor in deciding whether to engage it on a case. Firms qualify for a listing on the basis of their depth of expertise, market presence and the level of work on which they are typically engaged.

Our aim is to ensure that the IAM Patent Litigation 250 is as accurate as possible. We seek to produce the definitive list of the world’s leading patent litigators, on the basis of feedback received from those operating in the market. If you disagree with the opinions we have presented, we would like to hear from you. Our guarantee is that we will further research your input and so improve the list in the future.

The guide is accurate as of our final fact checks on 18th March. The status of a number of Howrey LLP partners was unknown at this time; they have been included in the guide for their recognition in the market, but without affiliation to firms.

Note: in jurisdictions where individuals are based in more than one city, we have indicated their locations; where all individuals are based in the capital or main business centre, we have omitted to do so.

Alastair Mitchell
Head of Research
IAM Patent Litigation 250